Reciprocating type electric shaver

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a reciprocating electric shaver.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, for the purposes of higher shaving speed using multiple heads as well as finishing ability for shortly shaved beard, a combination of a roughly shaving blade and a finishing blade has been proposed. Such examples include a shaver having a slit-like blade placed at the centre and web-like blades at the outer sides.

In this regard, the slit blade introduces long or kinked beard and cuts such beard to be short. Thereafter, the web blades finish the shorted beard to become shorter.

However, slit blades generally have a high ability of introducing the beard, but the beard lying around the chin or the like impinges on bars formed between slits of a slit outer blade, then passes thereover. Therefore, there arises a problem in which such beard cannot be introduced into the slits. Furthermore, blade edges arranged at the side edges on the upper surface of the slit outer blade each must have more reduced curvature radius to more effectively introduce such lying beard. However, sharpened blade edge will largely stimulate to the skin, to thereby give an uncomfortable feeling to the skin.

Heretofore, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 40-16113 specification describes a proposed example having a structure in which a pair of slit blades are juxtaposed adjacent each other at the same level, the slit blades each having the upper surface thereof slant in a V shape with each blade edge down. Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 49-595 specification described another proposed example in which a slit blade having a structure wherein blade edges project beyond the outer edges on the upper surface of a slit outer blade has slant faces in the direction where the blade edges are down toward the outer edges of the blade edges from the vicinity of the blade edges on the upper surface thereof. Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 2,325,606 publication describes still another proposed example having a structure in which a slit outer blade is formed with a gently curved convexity over the upper surface, and each slit inner blade is slidable at the inside the upper surface of the slit outer blade and a blade edge portion.

However, with the structure proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 40-16113 specification, in which adjacent slit blades are juxtaposed at the same level the slit blades each having the upper surface thereof slant in a V shape with each blade edge down, the slit blades each having no horizontal upper surface when each slit blade is arranged between web blades are caused to be unstably contacted with the skin. In addition, the slit blades each is formed with a groove at the centre on the upper surface thereof, and the groove is formed with a projection on the side surface which is forcibly contacted with the skin. This gives an uncomfortable contact with the skin. Furthermore, the blade edge portion having each inner blade slidable does not substantially contact with the skin, while each inner blade is not slidable on the upper surface in the vicinity of the groove at the centre where the skin is contacted. In this connection, the effects of guiding and cutting the beard are low, so that the slit blades may not sufficiently function.

With such a structure proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 49-595 specification as described above, in which a slit blade is formed on the upper surface thereof with slant faces in the direction where the blade edges are down, the slit blades having no horizontal upper surfaces when each slit blade is arranged between web blades are caused to be unstably contacted with the skin. Then, each blade edge portion is forcibly contacted with the skin, giving an uncomfortable contact with the skin. Further, since each inner blade is slidable only on the slant faces, there occurs such a problem that the beard cannot be shortly shaved.

With such a structure proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,325,606, publication, in which a slit inner blade is slidable at the inside between the upper surface of the slit outer blade and the blade edge portion, the thickness in the vicinity of the blade edge on the upper surface of the slit outer blade is thinned, and the inner blade can be also slidable at the blade edge portion. Therefore, there is a problem in which the skin may be damaged by cutting.

In view of the foregoing conventional examples, the present invention has been made and an object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating type electric shaver capable of guiding the beard and having reduced stimulation to the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the foregoing problems, according to the present invention,

With such an arrangement, a flat portion

15

formed on the upper surface of the slit outer blade

2

is stably contacted with the skin. The guiding function is effectively performed at each blade edge

5

. Furthermore, the tapered face

16

allows the skin between the adjacent web blades

11

to be contacted with the flat portion

15

of the slit outer blade

2

under a stable condition. The tapered face

16

further prevents each blade edge

5

from contacting with the skin, and allows the skin to closely contact therewith so that it ensures that the beard can be introduced. Therefore, the ability of guiding the beard can be enhanced without an uncomfortable contact with the skin. Furthermore, since the slit inner blades

3

are slidable only inside the flat portion

15

, the tapered face

16

contacting with the skin would not be stimulated to the skin.

Preferably, the width dimension L of each bar formed between the slits of the slit outer blade

2

is reduced as approaching each blade edge

5

. In this case, the tapered face

16

prevents each blade edge

5

reduced in width from being sunk into the skin, realizing a high degree of the opening formed at each blade edge

5

without an uncomfortable contact with the skin.

Preferably, the slit outer blade

2

has is at the centre on the upper surface thereof a recess portion

81

recessed at a lower level than the flat portion

15

. This enables the lying beard to be raised within the recess portions

81

. Thus, opportunity of guiding the beard can be doubled.

Preferably, a cooperating portion is provided for moving the slit blade

1

cooperated with the downward motion of web blades

11

when the web blades

11

are down. In this case, the cooperation of the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

prevents the relative distance formed between the peaks of the web blades

11

and the upper surface of the slit blade

1

from being increased. With such an arrangement, the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

is not so exposed beyond the peaks of the web blades

11

. This prevents the skin from being damaged and the skin from being pinched between the web blades

11

and the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

.

Preferably, this enables the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

to effectively introduce the beard without giving an uncomfortable feeling to the skin.

Preferably, a cooperating portion between the slit blade

1

and the web blades

11

are provided at the position inner than the side walls

4

of the slit outer blade

2

. This enables, for example, the cooperating position of the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

to be at substantially the same level in the direction of the thickness of the slit blade

1

.

Therefore, the slit blade

1

can be more smoothly floated during the cooperation.

Preferably, the cooperating portion of the slit blade

1

and the web blades

11

is arranged at the ends in the direction where the slit inner blade

3

is slidable. Therefore, the relative step difference between the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

is made constant at any place in the slidable direction thereof, and the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

is prevented from being exposed.

Preferably, the blade edge

5

of the slit outer blade

2

is projected outward C in a substantially triangular manner from each side wall

4

of the slit outer blade, the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

projecting in a substantially triangular manner being formed on a convexity

6

, a recess portion

7

recessed substantially opposite to the projecting direction of the blade edge

5

being formed in the vicinity of the blade edge

5

, the recess portion

7

being downward faced at any place within the recess portion with the normal Z downwardly faced to the horizontal line. In this regard, the beard impinging upon the blade edge

5

is captured into the recess portion

7

which is downwardly faced at any place.

Therefore, the beard captured into the recess portion

7

can ensure to be raised, trimmed and introduced, so that the beard can be effectively shaved. In addition, projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

is formed with a convexity

6

, and this can reduce the stimulation to the skin.

Preferably, the recess portion

8

is plural. This arrangement can increase a chance of picking up the beard and improve the guiding ability.

Further, preferably, the recess portion

8

is arranged only on each side edge

5

b

of each bar of the blade edge

5

.

This arrangement can more ensure the strength of the blade edge

5

.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view showing a blade head side of a reciprocating type electric shaver in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 3

is a perspective view explaining a slit outer blade in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view showing the blade head in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view showing a slit blade cassette in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 6

is a front view in the state where the slit blade cassette of

FIG. 5 and a

holder member are assembled in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view explaining the slit blade cassette, the holder member, and a body frame in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 8

is an exploded perspective view explaining the state where the blade head is mounted to the casing in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the slit blade is brought into contact with the skin in accordance with the above-described embodiment

FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view explaining a recess portion formed at the blade edge of the slit outer blade in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIGS. 11A

to

11

C are cross-sectional views each explaining the shaving mechanism with the recess portion in accordance with the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional view explaining a recess portion in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13

is a perspective view explaining a recess portion in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14

is a cross-sectional view explaining the state where the slit blade and the web blades are cooperated with each other; and

FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional view explaining the floating state of either web blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment in accordance with of the present invention will now be described.

In a reciprocating type electric shaver of this embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 2

, a triple blade head

10

is arranged at the top of a casing

9

, and inner blades

3

,

13

received within these three blade heads

10

are driven by a linear motor

14

.

The blade head

10

will now be described with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

8

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the blade heads

10

include a single slit blade

1

for roughly shaving, and a pair of web blades

11

disposed outside the slit blade

1

. The slit blade

1

comprises a slit outer blade

2

and a comb-like slit inner blade

3

slidable abutting to the interior of the slit outer blade

2

and reciprocating. The web blades

11

each comprises foil-like outer blade

12

having a plurality of perforations for guiding the beard, being held in a curved shape, a inner blade

13

slidable abutting the interior of the outer blade

12

and reciprocating. The slit blade

1

and the web blades

2

can be floated in the vertical direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the slit inner blade

3

and web inner blade

13

. The linear motor

14

reciprocatinly drives the inner blades

3

,

13

corresponding to the outer blades

2

,

12

in the slit blade

1

and each web blade

11

, respectively.

FIG. 4

shows a construction of the blade head

10

. A foil-like outer blades

12

are mounted to an outer blade frame

21

so as to be held in a curved shape, and the outer blade frame

21

is mounted from below to a floating supporting frame

22

, and an engagement piece

91

is engaged with an engagement hole

92

. Then, a web blade cassette

20

is assembled. A skin expanding member

24

having a plurality of thin elastic ribs

23

for expanding the skin to raise the beard is arranged between the floating supporting frame

22

and the outer blade frame

21

.

The skin expanding member

24

is assembled by fitting into projections

25

formed on the inner surface of the floating supporting frame

22

. The floating supporting frame

22

is formed with outer and inner walls

26

,

27

at the ends thereof, which are successive to each other via engagement pieces

28

, as illustrated in FIG.

7

. Projections

29

are formed on the opposing faces of each outer and inner wall

26

,

27

, respectively. Above each engagement piece

28

is provided with an elongated hole

30

with which a hook

51

of a holder member

50

is engaged as described later.

FIG. 5

shows a construction of a slit blade cassette

31

. Supporting bodies

32

are arranged at the ends in a longitudinal direction of the slit outer blade

2

. While heat sealing bosses

33

formed in each supporting body

32

engage engagement portions

34

of the slit outer blade

2

, each supporting body

32

is affixed to the slit outer blade

2

by heat sealing. Each supporting body

32

is provided with a spring bearing

35

at the inner surface side, and a cover piece

36

at the outer surface side which is formed with a longitudinal rib

37

on the inner surface. Each supporting body

32

includes at the lower end an retaining portion

38

, a spring stopper

39

, and a projection receiving face

40

, which project downward. The slit inner blade

3

is pinched at the both sides by projecting walls

42

of each slit joint

41

. Then, under such a condition, mounting holes

43

formed in a groove at the centre of the slit inner blade

3

is engaged with projections

44

and heat sealing bosses

45

formed on the upper surface of the slit joint

41

. The heat sealing bosses

45

are then heat sealed to fit the slit inner blade

3

to the slit joint

41

in a heat sealing fashion. Spring receiving portions

46

are provided to the slit joint

41

at the lower end thereof. The spring receiving portions

46

each is allowed to engage with the top of a raised spring

47

, while the bottom of the raised spring

47

is engaged with each spring bearing

35

of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit outer blade

2

. As a result, the slit inner blade

3

slidable abut the inner surface of the slit outer blade

2

, ensuring appropriate contact pressure on the sliding surfaces of the both blades, so that good shaving ability can be guaranteed.

The web blade cassette

20

and the slit blade cassette

31

are mounted to the casing

9

containing therein the linear motor

14

via a rectangular holder member

50

shown in

FIG. 4 and a

rectangular outer blade frame

60

shown in FIG.

7

.

As shown in

FIG. 4

, the holder member

50

has a plurality of floating spring

52

integrally projected upward from the upper edge of the both edges. The holder member

50

is formed with end walls

53

in the elongated direction where elongated grooves

54

are formed in the outer surface above the centre widthwise. Button portions

56

having hooks

55

are provided below on the outer surface. Further, hook pieces

59

each having an elongated groove

57

are formed on an inner surface at the centre widthwise of the end walls

53

, while spring receiving pieces

58

are attached at the lower portion of the hook pieces

59

. When the retaining portions

38

of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

are engaged with the hook pieces

59

of the holder member

50

, the slit blade cassette

31

is prevented from dropping against the holder member

50

. In addition, floating springs

49

are disposed between the spring stoppers

39

of the supporting bodies

32

and the spring receiving pieces

58

of the holder member

50

. This arrangement enables a spring force to be upward applied to the slit blade cassette

31

which can be floated up and down. At this time, each retaining portion

38

of the supporting bodies

32

is slidable within the elongated groove

57

on the inner surface of the holder member

50

. Then, each longitudinal rib

37

formed in the inner surface of each cover piece

36

which is located outside the supporting bodies

32

is slidable within each elongated groove

54

formed in the outer surface of the holder member

50

. Thus, the slit blade cassettes

31

are introduced in the vertical directions with respect to the holder member

50

, vertically. For this reason, the slit blade cassette

31

is held at the centre portion widthwise of the holder member

50

to be freely vertically reciprocated.

As shown in

FIG. 7

, slit holes

48

opening upward are formed, respectively, in the end sides widthwise of the end walls

53

of the holder member

50

. A hook

51

is projected from either upper side wall formed within each slit hole

48

. The floating member frame

22

and the outer blade frame

21

are integrated with each other in the web blade cassette

20

, and this integral component is deposited over each end side widthwise of the holder member

50

. Engagement pieces

28

provided to the floating supporting frame

22

are engaged with the slit holes

48

of the holder member

50

. Then, the hook

51

of the holder member

50

is fitted into the elongated hole

30

located above each engagement piece

28

. Each projection portion

29

of the floating supporting frame

22

is brought into contact with the inner and outer surfaces of a introduce piece

61

about each slit hole

48

of the holder member

50

. This prevents the floating supporting frame

22

from dropping by the hook

51

of the holder member

50

. As a result, a pair of the web blade cassettes

20

can be held to br movable vertically between the ends widthwise of the holder member

50

. At this time, a floating spring piece

52

of the holder member

50

comes into contact with a lower surface of a projection portion

21

a

of the outer blade frame

21

. The upward spring force is then applied to the web blade cassette

20

, capable of floating up and down. This up/down motion of the web blade cassette

20

is introduced by a slidable movement between the slit hole

48

of the holder member

50

and the engagement piece

28

of the floating supporting frame

22

, and by the slidable movement between the projection portion

29

of the floating supporting frame

22

and the introduce piece

61

of the holder member

50

.

In this connection, the slit blade

1

and the web blades

11

are independently floated up and down within the holder member

50

. The lower surface of a projection

62

formed on either side surface of the outer blade frame

21

(see

FIG. 4

) is connected to projection receiving faces

40

(see

FIG. 5

) attached to the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

. In such assembling, when the web blades

11

are floated, the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

are integrally down after the web blades

11

move down to a predetermined position.

The hook

55

inside the button portion

56

shown in

FIG.7

is attachably/detachably engaged with a projection portion

66

on the inner surface of a groove

65

in each end of the longitudinal direction of the outer blade frame

60

. With this arrangement, the holder member

50

can be mounted to the outer blade frame

60

, while the button portion

56

is placed at the outer surface side of each end of the outer blade frame

60

.

As shown in

FIG. 8

, the inner blade

13

within the web blade cassette

20

is mounted onto the upper surface of a pair of driver-elements

70

projecting from the upper surface of the casing

9

, with the upward spring force applied to the inner blade

13

, by an inner blade raised spring

72

. When the web blade cassette

20

is mounted to the casing

9

through the holder member

50

and the outer blade frame

60

, the inner blade

13

contacts the inner surface of the outer blade

12

. At this time, the reciprocating oscillation of the linear motor

14

contained in the casing

9

is transmitted to the inner blade

13

via the driver-elements

70

. The motion of the linear motor

14

is also transmitted to the slit inner blade contained in the slit blade cassette

13

by connecting slit driver-elements

71

attached to the driver-elements

70

to the slit joints

41

(see FIG.

5

). Reference numeral

73

of

FIG. 8

denotes a stopper for preventing the inner blade raised springs

72

from dropping.

Now, description will be given in detail to the slit outer blade

2

.

Referring now to

FIG. 3

, the slit outer blade

2

is made up by bending a single plate, and is formed with a plurality of bars

80

spanning the side walls

4

,

4

. Each of the bars

80

is jointly aligned a recess portion

81

formed at the centre on the upper surface of the slit outer blade

2

. Each bar

80

is formed with a flat portion

15

which is substantially parallel to an axis Y where the peaks of the web blades

11

are aligned in a line. The slit inner blade

3

(see

FIG. 1

) is slidable inside the flat portion

15

. Each bar

80

is formed with blade edges

5

at the both side edges which are located lower than the flat portion

15

and extend outward in a substantially triangular manner from the side walls

4

. Each of the blade edges

5

is made up by machining each bar

80

to be bent at 120°. Each blade edge

5

machined to be bent at 120° is formed with a tapered face

16

on the upper surface. The tapered face

16

is successive to the flat portion

15

, and is slant lower than the flat portion

15

as approaching a projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

. The tapered face

16

is located inner by about 0.5 mm than the projecting peak

5

a

to the blade edge

5

, having a slant angle set to about 12°. Of course, this angle is not to be limited to 12°. This tapered face

16

has a double functions to contact under a stable condition the skin between a pair of the web blades

11

to the flat portion

15

of the slit outer blade

2

, and to closely contact with the skin so as to avoid the blade edge

5

from contacting with the skin to surely introduce the beard through the blade edge

5

thereby improving the ability of guiding the beard without an uncomfortable contact with the skin. In short, the blade edge

5

is designed to introduce the beard while the beard is cut on the flat portion

15

inside which the slit inner blade

3

is slidable.

Further, in an embodiment shown in

FIG. 3

, the width dimension L of each bar

80

is reduced in a tapering manner toward the outer end of the blade edge

5

. The width dimension L of each bar

80

is reduced from the position by, for example, about 0.5 mm inner than the projecting peak

5

a

toward the blade edge

5

, so as to bring the width dimension L

1

at the tip of the tapered face

16

into about two third of the original width dimension L. With this arrangement, the opening degree at the blade edge

5

, that is, a width dimension between the bars

80

can be made larger than a width dimension of each bar

80

, so that the guidance of beard can be facilitated.

As shown in

FIG. 10

, the blade edge

5

is formed with a convexity

6

gently curving toward the outer end. The blade edge

5

is also formed with a recess portion

7

for raising the beard. The recess portion

7

is recessed substantially opposite to the projecting direction of the blade edge

5

, which lies lower than the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

. The recess portion

7

is a thin portion

8

reduced in thickness of each bar

80

. The recess portion

7

has an upper end arranged in the vicinity of the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

and an lower end arranged below the projecting peak

5

a

. In this connection, the recess portion

7

is downwardly faced at any place with the normal Z at least downward to a horizontal line.

The slit blade

1

is arranged between a pair of the web blades

11

, rendering the upper surface of the slit outer blade

2

the flat portion

15

substantially parallel to an axis where the peaks of the web blades

11

are aligned in a line. This arrangement allows the skin to contact with the upper surface of the slit outer blade

2

under a stable condition, causing the guiding function at the blade edge

5

to be more effectively performed. In this connection, the blade edge

5

is formed with a tapered face

16

at the upper surface. Therefore, as shown in

FIG. 9

, by the tapered surface

16

, the skin E between a pair of the web blades

11

can be brought into contact with the flat portion

15

of the slit outer blade

2

under a stable condition. In addition, the tapered face

16

prevents the blade edge

5

from contacting with the skin and allows the skin E to closely contact therewith so that it ensures that the beard can be introduced at the blade edge

5

. Therefore, the ability of guiding the beard can be improved without an uncomfortable contact with the skin.

Incidentally, without the tapered face

16

formed on the upper surface of the blade edge

5

, the projection of the blade edge

5

will stimulate to the skin, causing an uncomfortable contact with the skin. However, formation of the tapered face

16

will prevent the blade edge

5

from impinging on the skin E to obtain a comfortable contact with the skin.

In addition, the blade edge

5

is designed to introduce the beard. Since the slit inner blade

3

is slidable only inside the flat portion

15

but are not slidable inside the tapered face

16

nor the blade edge

5

, the beard is cut at the flat portion

15

. Accordingly, even if the tapered face

16

is come into contact with the skin, the slit inner blade

3

cannot impinge on the skin. Therefore, a comfortable contact with the skin can be obtained, achieving an improvement of the shaving ability.

Further, as shown in

FIG. 3

, the width dimension L of each bar

80

is reduced in a tapering manner toward the blade edge

5

. This enables the degree of the opening formed between the blade edges

5

,

5

to more improve the guiding ability. Incidentally, with the width of each bar of the blade edge

5

reduced, an uncomfortable contact with the skin will be anticipated because the bars

80

are sunk into the skin. However, the tapered face

16

is provided on the upper surface of the blade edge

5

, so as to prevent the blade edge

5

from impinging on the skin. Therefore, the bars

80

having the reduced width will not be sunk into the skin, realizing a high degree of the opening formed between the blade edges

5

,

5

without an uncomfortable contact with the skin. Further, the recess portion

81

is formed at the centre on the upper surface of the bars

80

, and this enables the lying beard to be raised within the recess portion

81

. Thus, opportunity of guiding the beard can be doubled with such a compact arrangement.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the recess portion

7

that is downwardly faced at any place is formed in the vicinity of the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

. Then, the beard that impinges upon each blade edges

5

is captured in by the recess portion

7

to be raised and be surely introduced to the slit blade. This enables the beard captured into the recess portion

7

to be surely trimmed and introduced. As a result, with a comfortable contact with the skin, the ability of guiding the beard can be remarkably improved to shave the beard more effectively.

Referring now to

FIGS. 11A

to

11

C, illustrated is a trimming mechanism by the recess portion

7

. In

FIG. 11A

, an arrow A indicates an advancing direction of the skin E. As shown in

FIG. 11A

, the lying beard H first impinges upon the blade edge

5

to be captured into the recess portion

7

. As indicated by an arrow B of

FIG. 11B

, the beard H is raised stepwise as the blade edge

5

approaches the root of the beard H. At this time, as indicated by the normal Z of

FIG. 10

, the recess portion

7

is downwardly faced at any place, or there is no face upward. Then, as shown in

FIG. 11C

, the captured beard H by the recess portion

7

is surely raised, and the lying beard H can be trimmed and be introduced. This ability can be also effective on the guidance of the laterally kinked beard which is difficult to be introduced in general. Furthermore, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the downwardly facing recess portion

7

is provided to the blade edge

5

formed on the upper surface at the ends of the slit outer blade

2

. The beard can be positively trimmed and introduced whenever the beard is shaved from either direction of the slit outer blade

2

. Also, the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

becomes the convexity

6

, and this can reduce the stimulation to the skin. As a result, with a comfortable contact with the skin improved, the ability of guiding the beard can be remarkably improved to shave the beard more effectively.

FIG. 12

shows that the recess portion

7

is plural. According to this embodiment, three successive recess portions

7

are arranged at the lower level than the projecting peak

5

a

of the blade edge

5

. With such an arrangement that the recess portion

7

is plural, a chance of shovelling the beard can be increased, more improving the guidance ability. Of course, the number of the recess portions

7

is not to be limited to three, but may be three or less, or three or more.

FIG. 13

shows that the recess portion

7

is arranged only at the side edges

5

b

of the bar

80

of the blade edge

5

. According to this embodiment, the recess portion

7

is formed at each side edge

5

b

of the bar

80

constituting the blade edge

5

. Such an arrangement that the recess portion

7

is formed only at each side edge

5

b

enables the ability of guiding the beard to be improved as well as the strength of the bar

80

to be more guaranteed. Also, the recess portion

7

may be formed only at either side edge

5

b

of the bar

80

.

Alternatively, the slit outer blade

2

may not be formed with a recess portion (see

FIG. 1

) at the centre on the upper surface thereof, while the entire upper surface of the slit blade may be rendered a flat portion

15

. In this connection, the effects of trimming and guiding the beard can be attained at the ends of the blade edge

5

, and the structure of the bar

80

and the structure of the slit inner blade

3

can be more simplified.

A description will now be given to floating cooperating portion between the slit blade and the web blades.

The outer blade frame

21

of the web blade

1

is formed with a projection

62

, and the lower surface of the projection

62

is connected to a projection receiving face

40

provided to the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

, constituting a floating cooperating portion. The web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

are integrally down by cooperating with the down motion of the web blades

11

after the web blades

11

move down to a predetermined position. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the projection receiving face

40

is formed on the side faces of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

. In the state where the slit blade

1

is floated solely, the slit blade

1

is floated solely. When the both or either of a pair of the web blades

11

is floated, the projection

62

is contacted to the projection receiving face

40

so that the slit blade

1

can be also cooperated therewith to be floated.

Incidentally, in the case where the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

are all independently floated, as the web blades

11

are pushed in the direction of an arrow T of

FIG. 2

, the relative distance between the peaks of the web blades

11

and the top face of the slit blade

1

is made larger. Then, there will occur a risk in which the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

which may be exposed will stimulate the skin, or the skin will be pinched between the web blades

11

and blade edges

5

of the slit blade

1

. In order to obviate such disadvantages, according to this embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 14

, the web blades

11

are independently floated until the web blades

11

reach in the vicinity of a tapered extension V extending the upper surface of the slit blade

1

. In addition, at the lower level than this, the positional relation between the projection

62

and the projection receiving face

40

is set so that as shown in

FIG. 15

, as the web blades

11

are down, the slit blade

1

is also down integrally therewith. With this arrangement, the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

can effectively introduce the beard without giving uncomfortable feeling to the skin. Thus, more effective guiding ability can be ensured, improving the following ability to the skin, in particular, at the irregular sites such as a site extending from the throat to the chin, and a site extending from the chin to the tip of chin. Further, as shown in

FIG. 14

, as the web blades

11

are down, the slit blade

1

is down by cooperating therewith. Thus, when the web blades

11

are passed through the above-noted irregular sites, as the web blades

11

are down, the slit blade

1

is also down by cooperating therewith prior to the exposure of the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

. Alternatively, in the state where convex shaped sites such as chin are brought into contact with the space formed between the pair of web blades

11

, the slit blade

1

is caused to be floated independently. Therefore, the blade edge

5

of the slit blade

1

does not stimulate the skin, and the following ability to the skin can be improved.

The projections

62

of the outer blade frame

21

of the web blades

11

and the projection receiving faces

40

of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade

1

are provided to the ends in the longitudinal direction (the sliding direction of the blades) thereof, respectively. In this connection, it is in the both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof that the web blades

11

are connected to the slit blade

1

. Therefore, the relative step difference between the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

is made constant at any place in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the blade edges

5

of the slit blade

1

are not exposed, so that the following ability to the skin can be improved. With such an arrangement of the present invention, the foregoing advantages can be achieved.

Further, as shown in

FIG. 15

, a connection between the slit blade

1

and the web blades

11

, or a connection between the projection

62

of the outer blade frame

21

of the web blades

11

and the projection receiving face

40

of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

, is located inner than the side wall

4

of the slit outer blade

2

. With this arrangement, the position where the retaining portion

38

attached to the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

shown in

FIG. 5

can be at substantially the same level in the direction of the thickness of the slit blade

1

as the position where the projection

62

is connected to the projection receiving face

40

. For this reason, no twisting moment will occur, and therefore the friction or the like can be reduced between the longitudinal rib

37

of the supporting bodies

32

of the slit blade cassette

31

(see

FIG. 5

) and the longitudinal groove

54

of the holder member

50

(see FIG.

6

). As the web blades

11

and the slit blade

1

are down, the slit blade

1

can be smoothly floated.

As described above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, the flat portion of the slit outer blade can be brought into contact with the skin under a stable condition so that a function of guiding the blade edge can effectively work. In addition, the tapered face allows the skin between a pair of the web blades to be contacted with the flat portion of the slit outer blade under a stable condition. Further, the tapered face prevents the blade edge from contacting with the skin and allows the skin to closely contact therewith so that it ensures that the beard can be introduced. Therefore, the ability of guiding the beard can be improved without an uncomfortable contact with the skin. Further, the slit inner blade is slidable only inside the flat portion. Accordingly, even if the tapered face is come into contact with the skin, the slit inner blade cannot impinge on the skin, with a comfortable contact with the skin, achieving an improvement of the shaving ability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the first aspect of the present invention, the width dimension of each bar formed between the slits is reduced toward the blade edge. With this arrangement, the blade edge having reduced width cannot be sunk into the skin by virtue of the tapered face formed on the upper surface thereof, realizing a high degree of the opening formed at the blade edge without an uncomfortable contact with the skin. This also allows the guiding ability to be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the first aspect of the present invention, the bar is formed with the recess portion at the centre on the upper surface thereof, and this enables the lying beard to be raised within the recess portion. Thus, opportunity of guiding the beard can be doubled with such a compact arrangement.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the first aspect of the present invention, a cooperating portion is provided for moving the slit blade together with the downward motion of the web blades when the web blades are down. Such a cooperation of the web blades and the slit blade prevents the relative distance formed between the peaks of the web blades and the upper surface of the slit blade from being increased. With such an arrangement, the blade edge of the slit blade are not so exposed beyond the peaks of the web blades. This prevents the skin from being stimulated and the skin from being pinched between the web blades and the blade edge of the slit blade. As a result, the skin cannot be stimulated by the blade edge in the course of the shaving at irregular sites such as chin, improving the following ability to the skin, so that more stimulation to the skin can be reduced to ensure the guiding ability.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the blade edge of the slit blade allows the beard to be effectively introduced without giving an uncomfortable feeling to the skin, more effectively ensuring the guiding ability.

Still further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the fourth aspect of the present invention, a cooperating portion between the slit blade and the web blades are provided inner than the side walls of the slit outer blade. This arrangement enables, for example, the cooperating position of the web blades and the slit blade to be coplanar in the direction of the thickness of the slit blade. For this reason, no twisting moment will occur, enabling the slit blade to be more smoothly floated during the cooperation.

Still further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cooperating portion of the slit blade and the web blades is provided at the ends in the direction of sliding the slit inner blade. Therefore, the relative step difference between the web blades and the slit blade is made constant at any place in the slidable direction thereof, and the blade edge of the slit blade are not exposed, so that the following ability to the skin can be improved.

Still further, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the first aspect of the present invention, the blade edge of the slit outer blade is projected outward in a substantially triangular manner from a side wall of the slit outer blade, the projecting peak of the blade edge projecting in a substantially triangular manner being formed on a convexity, a recess portion recessed substantially opposite to the projecting direction of the blade edge being formed in the vicinity of the blade edge, the recess portion being downward faced at any place within the recess portion with the normal downwardly faced to a horizontal line. This arrangement ensures that the beard captured in the recess portion can be trimmed and introduced. In addition, the projecting peak is formed with a convexity, reducing the stimulation to the skin. As a result, with a comfortable contact with the skin, the ability of guiding the beard can be remarkably improved to shave the beard more effectively.

Still further, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the recess portion is plural. This arrangement can increase a chance of picking up the beard and improve the guiding ability.

Still further, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operational effect in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the site where the recess portion is formed is located only at the side edges of the bar of the blade edge. This arrangement ensures the strength of the blade edge.

Reciprocating type electric shaver

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (1)