SHAVING UNIT HAVING CUTTING UNITS WITH PRIMARY PIVOT AXES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a shaving unit, comprising at least a first cutting unit and a second cutting unit.

A further aspect of the invention is a shaving apparatus incorporating such a shaving unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shaving units and apparatuses are used for shaving, in particular for shaving a men's skin in the lower facial region and the neck region. In such shaving applications it is a specific task of such shaving units and apparatuses to follow the contour of the skin to reach a good shaving result. Such contour following is particularly difficult in the region of the chin or the lower edge of the jaw.

Generally, shaving apparatuses are known wherein the cutting units are pivotal in relation to the handle of the shaving apparatus such as to improve the ability of the cutting units to follow the contour of the skin. However, such simple pivoting action always results in some sectors or even large sectors of the shaving tracks of the external cutting members of the cutting units being not in contact with the skin. Thus the shaving efficiency is not satisfying.

WO 2006/067721A1 discloses a shaving apparatus comprising a main housing accommodating a motor, and a shaving unit which is releasably coupled to the main housing by means of a central coupling member. The central coupling member of the shaving unit accommodates a central drive shaft, which is coupled to a motor shaft of the motor in the main housing when the shaving unit is coupled to the main housing. The shaving unit comprises three cutting units, which are each pivotal about an individual pivot axis relative to a central support member of the shaving unit. The cutting units each comprise a housing which accommodates a driven gear wheel coupled to an internal cutting member of the cutting unit. The driven gear wheels of the cutting units are driven by a central gear wheel accommodated in the central support member and coupled to the central drive shaft. To maintain the engagement of the central gear wheel with the driven gear wheels during the pivotal motion of the cutting units relative to the central support member, the pivot axis of each cutting unit coincides with a tangential line between the central gear wheel and the driven gear wheel of the cutting unit. Whilst this design has proven to improve the ability of the cutting units of the shaving unit to follow the skin contours even in difficult skin regions like the chin and the jaw bone edge, it has been observed that the pressure distribution along the shaving tracks of the external cutting members of the cutting units can be further improved to avoid pressure peaks between the shaving tracks and the skin during the shaving operation. Such pressure peaks have shown to be inconvenient and uncomfortable for the user and to reduce the quality of the shaving result.

US 2007/0277379A1 discloses a shaving apparatus wherein the housings of the rotary cutting units are coupled to each other via film hinges arranged between the cutting units. As a result of these film hinges, the cutting units are pivotal relative to each other in a symmetrical way about pivot axes which lie in the outer periphery of the shaving unit, i.e. in portions of the outer peripheries of the cutting units remote from a central axis of the shaving unit. This design was found to not fulfil the ability to follow the skin contours in difficult regions for the reason that the positions of the pivot axes and the coupling of the rotary cutting units via the film hinges require a synchronous pivotal movement which is not well suited for skin contour following in all regions of the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a shaving unit and a shaving apparatus incorporating such a shaving unit which are better suited to follow the skin contours and which avoid pressure peaks between the skin and the shaving tracks of the external cutting members of the cutting units during skin contour following.

This object is achieved by a shaving unit comprising at least a first cutting unit and a second cutting unit; wherein said first cutting unit comprises a first external cutting member having a plurality of hair entry openings which define a first shaving track, a first internal cutting member which is rotatable relative to the first external cutting member about a first axis of rotation, and a first housing accommodating a first hair collection chamber; wherein said second cutting unit comprises a second external cutting member having a plurality of hair entry openings which define a second shaving track, a second internal cutting member which is rotatable relative to the second external cutting member about a second axis of rotation, and a second housing accommodating a second hair collection chamber; wherein the shaving unit further comprising a central support member comprising a coupling member by means of which the shaving unit can be releasably coupled to a main housing of the shaving apparatus; wherein said first housing is pivotally mounted to said central support member by means of a first primary pivot axis arranged between the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation; wherein said second housing is pivotally mounted to said central support member by means of a second primary pivot axis arranged between the second axis of rotation and the first axis of rotation; wherein, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, the first primary pivot axis is arranged between the first shaving track and the second axis of rotation, and wherein, seen in a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation, the second primary pivot axis is arranged between the second shaving track and the first axis of rotation.

According to the invention, the shaving unit comprises at least two cutting units and may in particular comprise three, four, five or even more cutting units. Each cutting unit comprises an external cutting member, which may be part of a cap structure. A plurality of hair entry openings is provided in the external cutting member. These hair entry openings define a shaving track of the external cutting member, which is preferably an annular shaving track. The shaving track of the external cutting member of a cutting unit is to be understood to fully include the surface region of the external cutting member in which a shaving action is effected by motion of the internal cutting member relative to the external cutting member. The shaving track is to be understood to include the entirety of all hair entry openings of the external cutting member. The hair entry openings may be provided as a plurality of openings, like circular bores or slit openings. The shaving track is preferably to be understood as an annular surface region of the external cutting member wherein the totality of hair entry openings is present and wherein each hair entry opening is present in its full extent. In such a configuration, the shaving function of the cutting unit will be delimited by the inner and the outer circumferential boundary of the shaving track.

The external cutting member has cutting edges at the hair entry openings which interact with cutting edges provided on the internal cutting member which is rotatable relative to the external cutting member. As a result of the rotation of the internal cutting member relative to the external cutting member, a shearing force is imparted by the cutting edges of the internal and the external cutting members onto hairs which reach through the hair entry openings. This shearing or cutting force results in the shaving action.

Further, each cutting unit comprises a housing and this housing accommodates a hair collection chamber wherein cut hairs are collected. For this purpose, the hair collection chamber is arranged in such a position in relation to the internal and external cutting members that hairs which are cut by the interaction of the internal and external cutting members are received by the hair collection chamber. It is to be understood that the housings of the cutting units are separate entities, and that each housing comprises a hair collection chamber separated from the hair collection chambers of the other cutting units.

Further, the shaving unit comprises a central support member. The central support member may be an integral component or may be composed of two or more separate components. The central support member serves as a base member to carry the first and second cutting units each in a pivotal arrangement in relation to the central support member. In this regard, the first and second housings are each pivotally mounted to said central support member in such a way as to be pivotal about a first primary pivot axis and a second primary pivot axis, respectively. In particular, the cutting units are individually pivotal relative to the central support member, i.e. the cutting units may each perform a pivotal motion relative to the central support member independently from a pivotal motion of the other cutting unit or units. This mutual independency of the pivotal motions of the cutting units does however not exclude that, in some embodiments of the invention, the first and second primary pivot axes may coincide. It is to be understood that said first and second primary pivot axes are not parallel to the first and second axes of rotation, respectively, of the internal cutting members. Preferably the first and second primary pivot axes are arranged obliquely, in particular perpendicularly, to the first and second axes of rotation, respectively. Further, the first and second primary pivot axes are preferably arranged parallel to a plane defined by the first shaving track and the second shaving track, respectively.

The central support member further comprises a coupling member by means of which the shaving unit can be releasably coupled to a main housing of the shaving apparatus. Said coupling member may be centrally arranged relative to the cutting units, and may accommodate a single central drive shaft which is coupled to a main drive shaft of a motor in the main housing when the shaving unit is coupled to the main housing. The shaving unit may have a transmission unit to transmit the rotation of the single central drive shaft into the rotations of the internal cutting members of the cutting units.

According to the invention, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, the first primary pivot axis is arranged between the first shaving track and the second axis of rotation and similarly, seen in a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation, the second primary pivot axis is arranged between the second shaving track and the first axis of rotation. By this particular arrangement of the first and second primary pivot axes of the cutting units it is achieved that the first shaving track can pivot about the first primary pivot axis in such a way that the whole first shaving track not only makes a pivoting movement, but in addition makes a translational movement in a tangential direction in relation to the first primary pivot axis. In particular, any section of the shaving track is moved into a position at a distance from the respective primary pivot axis, seen in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the internal cutting member of the cutting unit. As a result, the shaving track in its entirety will conduct a translational movement along a curved path in the same direction, i.e. either in the direction towards the skin or in a direction away from the skin, when the cutting unit makes a pivotal movement. It is understood that some sections of the shaving track may make a larger movement than other sections, depending on the distance of a particular section to the primary pivot axis. It is however avoided that any section of the shaving track is not able to make such a translational movement in a single direction, but is maintained in a stationary position relative to the skin and/or only changes its angular orientation relative to the skin when following the contours of the skin. It is also avoided that some sections of the shaving track may conduct a translational movement opposite to the translational movement of the other sections of the shaving track. The inventors have found that, in particular by avoiding, during skin-contour following, such stationary positions of particular sections of the shaving track relative to the skin and by avoiding such translational movements of particular sections of the shaving track opposite to the other sections of the shaving track, pressure peaks between the skin and the skin contact surface of the shaving tracks can be substantially reduced or avoided, which results in a more comfortable and more convenient shaving procedure with higher shaving efficiency.

According to the invention, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, the first primary pivot axis is arranged between the first shaving track and the second axis of rotation. This implies that the first primary pivot axis is positioned outwardly from the first shaving track in a radial direction with respect to the first axis of rotation, and consequently does not cross or cover any of the hair entry openings of the external cutting member, seen in the direction of the first axis of rotation. The first primary pivot axis may however be positioned at no distance or at a relatively small distance from the first shaving track seen in an axial direction with respect to the first axis of rotation. It has been found that such positioning of the first primary pivot axis effects an advantageous pivoting movement of the first shaving track when following the contours of the skin during shaving. It is to be understood that the same applies for the second primary pivot axis of the second cutting unit, and that the same may also apply for a third, fourth or any further cutting unit. Still further, it is to be understood that a shaving unit according to the invention may comprise two cutting units which each have an arrangement of their primary pivot axis radially outward from the shaving track with respect to the respective axis of rotation, but may comprise a third, fourth or even further cutting not having such a specific arrangement of the primary pivot axis. However, it is preferred that all cutting units provided in the shaving unit are adapted to pivot relative to the central support member about a primary pivot axis which is positioned between the shaving track and an axis of rotation of an adjacent cutting unit, seen in a direction of the axis of rotation of the respective cutting unit.

In a first preferred embodiment of the shaving unit according to the invention, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, the first primary pivot axis is arranged between the first external cutting member and the second external cutting member, and, seen in a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation, the second primary pivot axis is arranged between the second external cutting member and the first external cutting member. Whilst it is preferred that the primary pivot axis of a cutting unit is positioned at a relatively large distance from the shaving track of the cutting unit to allow a significant translational, i.e. tangential movement of each section of the shaving track during the pivoting motion of the cutting unit about the primary pivot axis, it is at the same time preferred that the primary pivot axis is positioned close to the skin, i.e. close to the skin contact surface of the shaving track, seen in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the internal cutting member. Since the first and second cutting units are preferably arranged at a short distance relative to each other, the preferred configuration wherein the primary pivot axis of a cutting unit is positioned at a relatively large distance from the shaving track would require a position of the primary pivot axis of a particular cutting unit inside an adjacent cutting unit, which may not be possible. According to this preferred embodiment of the shaving unit, the first and the second primary pivot axes are arranged between the first external cutting member and the second external cutting member. This positioning of the first and second primary pivot axes results in both primary pivot axes being positioned between the first shaving track and the second shaving track, and at the same time allows to position the first and second cutting units close to each other with their primary pivot axes being arranged at a rather short or even no distance from the shaving tracks, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation, respectively.

In particular, in this embodiment, the first primary pivot axis and the second primary pivot axis may be parallel to each other and may in particular coincide. Such coinciding, i.e. coaxial alignment of the first and second primary pivot axes will allow for a close relationship between the first and second cutting units, and at the same time will enable a rigid mechanical setup of the pivoting action about the first and second primary pivot axes.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first housing and the second housing have a height, seen in respective directions parallel to the first axis of rotation and parallel to the second axis of rotation, and a distance between the first primary pivot axis and a first skin contact surface comprising the first shaving track and a distance between the second primary pivot axis and a second skin contact surface comprising the second shaving track are smaller than 50% of said height. According to this embodiment, during use the distance of the first and the second primary pivot axes from the skin, seen in directions parallel to the first and second axes of rotation, respectively, is limited, i.e. the primary axes of rotation are close to the shaving tracks, i.e. close to the skin in contact with the shaving track during the shaving procedure. As a result, the pivotal movement of the first and the second cutting units can be achieved by applying low forces on the cutting units, so that a smooth contour-following property of the cutting units along the skin is achieved. It is to be understood that the first and second primary pivot axes may preferably be arranged inside the shaving unit, such that the first and second primary pivot axes can be provided by an axle or shaft with a physical presence in the shaving unit. However, in particular embodiments the first and second primary pivot axes may be positioned outside the shaving unit, in particular in positions above the shaving tracks, and in such embodiments they may constitute virtual axes, e.g. obtained by physically guiding the first and second housings of the cutting units relative to the central support member by a bearing shell, a guiding path or the like comprising a curved path incorporated in the shaving unit.

In particular, in this embodiment it is preferred that the distance between the first and second primary pivot axes and the first and second skin contact surfaces, respectively, is smaller than 25%, or even smaller than 10% of said height. It has been found that a relatively short distance between the primary pivot axis and the skin contact surface of e.g. less than 10% of the height of the housing is particularly preferred for a comfortable and convenient contour following property of the cutting units.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the central support member comprises a stationary portion, which comprises the coupling member, and a movable portion, which is pivotal relative to the stationary portion about a secondary pivot axis, wherein the first housing is pivotally mounted to said movable portion by means of the first primary pivot axis and the second housing is pivotally mounted to said movable portion by means of the second primary pivot axis, and wherein the secondary pivot axis is not parallel to the first and second primary pivot axes. According to this embodiment, a secondary pivot axis is provided, so that the first and second cutting units can pivot relative to the stationary portion of the central support member both about, respectively, the first and the second primary pivot axes and about said secondary pivot axis. The secondary pivot axis is not parallel to the first and the second primary pivot axes. For this purpose, the central support member comprises two portions, namely a stationary portion and a movable portion, wherein the movable portion is pivotal relative to the stationary portion about said secondary pivot axis. The stationary portion comprises the coupling member by means of which the shaving unit can be releasably coupled to the main housing of a shaving apparatus. It is to be understood that such pivotal movement of the movable portion relative to the stationary portion may be achieved by a physical axle or shaft mutually coupling the movable portion and the stationary portion. Instead of such a coupling by means of a physical axle or shaft, the movable portion and the stationary portion of the central support member may be mutually coupled by means of a guiding structure, e.g. comprising a curved path or the like, such that the secondary pivot axis may be provided as a virtual axis outside of the central support member, in particular outside of the shaving unit like e.g. in a plane or close to a plane defined by the skin contact surface of the first and second shaving tracks. The secondary pivot axis is not arranged parallel to the first and second primary pivot axes so that, with the pivotal movement about the secondary pivot axis, the cutting units follow a different path and direction than with the pivotal movement about the first and the second primary pivot axes. The first primary pivot axis, the second primary pivot axis and/or the secondary pivot axis may lie in planes which are parallel to each other. It is to be understood that, whilst the first and second cutting units can pivot individually and independently from each other about the first and second primary pivot axes, respectively, the pivotal movement of the first and second cutting units about the secondary pivot axis is a synchronous pivotal movement of both cutting units.

The embodiment comprising a secondary pivot axis may be further improved in that the first housing and the second housing have a height, seen in respective directions parallel to the first axis of rotation and parallel to the second axis of rotation, and that a distance between the secondary pivot axis and a first skin contact surface comprising the first shaving track and a distance between the secondary pivot axis and a second skin contact surface comprising the second shaving track are smaller than 50% of said height. According to this embodiment, the position of the secondary pivot axis, seen in directions parallel to the axes of rotation of the internal cutting members, is relatively close to the skin contact surfaces of the first and second shaving tracks. It is to be understood that the secondary pivot axis may be positioned inside or outside the shaving unit. In particular, the secondary pivot axis may be formed as a virtual pivot axis and may be located outside the shaving unit, i.e. inside the skin of the user if the shaving unit is in contact with the skin during operation.

By such a close position of the secondary pivot axis relative to the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks, the position of the secondary pivot axis is optimized for a smooth pivotal movement of the first and second cutting units about said secondary pivot axis, with only relatively low pivotal forces being required for realizing the pivotal movement. It is to be understood that the height of the first housing and the height of the second housing may be similar, so that said height corresponds to the height of a single one of said two housings and the distance between the secondary pivot axis and each of the first and second skin contact surfaces is less than half of the height of the first and second housings. In particular, the position of the secondary pivot axis, seen in directions parallel to the first or second axis of rotation, may be in a plane which includes the first or second primary pivot axis. Alternatively, the secondary pivot axis may be arranged outside the shaving unit such that the first and second shaving tracks are positioned between the secondary pivot axis and the first and second internal cutting members, respectively. The secondary pivot axis may be realized as a physical axle or as a virtual pivot axis.

In particular, it is preferred in this embodiment that the distance between the secondary pivot axis and the first skin contact surface and the distance between the secondary pivot axis and the second skin contact surface are smaller than 25%, or even smaller than 5% of said height. It has been found that a relatively small distance between the secondary pivot axis and the skin contact surface of e.g. less than 5% of the height of the housings is particularly preferred for a comfortable and convenient skin-contour following property of the cutting units.

It is particularly preferred that the secondary pivot axis extends perpendicularly to the first and second primary pivot axes. The secondary pivot axis may in particular be perpendicular to the first and second primary pivot axes, so that the first and second cutting units each have a freedom to pivot in two dimensions in order to follow the skin contours.

In a further preferred embodiment, the shaving unit comprises a third cutting unit comprising a third external cutting member having a plurality of hair entry openings which define a third shaving track, a third internal cutting member which is rotatable relative to the third external cutting member about a third axis of rotation, and a third housing accommodating a third hair collection chamber, wherein said third housing is pivotal relative to said central support member about a third primary pivot axis, and wherein, seen in a direction parallel to the third axis of rotation, the third primary pivot axis is arranged between the third shaving track and the first and second axis of rotation. In this embodiment, a third cutting unit is provided which is pivotal relative to the central support member about a third primary pivot axis. Said third primary pivot axis is arranged radially outward from the third shaving track and may in particular be positioned radially outward from the third external cutting unit, with respect to the third axis of rotation, as this was described beforehand with respect to the corresponding positions of the first and the second primary pivot axes of the first and the second cutting units. In particular, seen in a direction parallel to the third axis of rotation, the third primary pivot axis may be arranged between the third external cutting member and the first and second axes of rotation.

The third housing of the third cutting unit may be pivotally mounted to the central support member directly or may be pivotally mounted to the first housing, to the second housing or to the first and the second housing. In particular, the third primary pivot axis may be mounted to the first housing and to the second housing in such a way that it allows independent pivotal movements of the first housing and the second housing about the first primary pivot axis and the second primary pivot axis, respectively, but at the same time provides a pivotal bearing of the third housing about the third primary axis of rotation.

It is further preferred that the third primary pivot axis extends perpendicularly to the first and second primary axes. In particular in embodiments wherein the first and second primary pivot axes coincide, the third primary pivot axis may form a T-like arrangement with the first and the second primary pivot axes. Said T-like arrangement formed by the first, second and third primary pivot axes may be positioned between the first, second and third cutting units. In another preferred embodiment, the first, second and third primary pivot axes may be arranged in a triangular arrangement relative to each other, e.g. such that a triangle formed by said three primary pivot axes is positioned between the first, second and third cutting units.

In a further preferred embodiment of the shaving unit according to the invention, the first housing and the second housing are mutually connected by means of a first hinge structure, and an assembly of the mutually connected first and second housings is connected to the central support member by means of a second hinge structure, wherein the first and second hinge structures have coinciding hinge axes which define the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes. According to this embodiment, the first housing and the second housing are pivotally connected to each other and to the central support member, and this pivotal connection defines both the first primary pivot axis and the second primary pivot axis, which are arranged as coinciding pivot axes. The second hinge structure, connecting the assembly of the mutually connected first and second housings to the central support member, may be formed by a direct pivotal connection of only the first housing to the central support member, or by a direct pivotal connection of only the second housing to the central support member, or by a direct pivotal connection of both the first housing and the second housing to the central support member, wherein the second hinge structure is e.g. formed by two coaxial hinges, one of which connecting the first housing to the central support member, and the other one connecting the second housing to the central support member. This may in particular allow to provide the first housing and the second housing with an identical geometry, thereby saving manufacturing costs.

Each of the first and the second primary pivot axes may be formed by at least two bearing pins accommodated in at least two bearing bushes, wherein at least one of said bearing pins or bearing bushes is provided in the first housing and the associated other bearing bush or bearing pin, respectively, is provided in the second housing. The pivoting motions of the first and second housings are thus guided by a bearing pin and a bearing bush provided in the first housing and in the second housing, respectively. As a result, a compact and reliable pivot structure providing the first and the second primary pivot axes is realized in that the first and the second housings are directly coupled to each other. It is to be understood that additional bearing pins accommodated in additional bearing bushes are preferred to achieve a rigid and resilient guidance for the pivotal movements about the primary pivot axes. Further, it is to be understood that the first housing and/or the second housing is preferably coupled to the central support member via a bearing pin inserted into a bearing bush. By this, a combination of a pivotal connection of any or both of the first and the second cutting units to the central support member is achieved, and the pivotal connection of the first and the second cutting units allows for a compact and resilient design of the pivot structure providing the first and second primary pivot axes and, optionally, the third primary pivot axis.

In a shaving unit comprising a third cutting unit as described beforehand, it is further preferred that the first and second primary pivot axes are mutually parallel or coinciding, and that the third housing is connected to the first housing and to the second housing by means of, respectively, a first hinge structure and a second hinge structure, wherein the first and second hinge structures each comprise a bearing pin engaging a bearing bush, wherein the bearing bush, seen in a longitudinal sectional view along the third primary pivot axis, has a non-cylindrical, in particular a convex bearing surface such as to allow mutual rotation of the bearing pin and the bearing bush about an axis parallel to the first and second primary pivot axes. Generally, it is preferred that the third primary pivot axis is not parallel to the first and/or the second primary pivot axis such as to allow a non-parallel pivotal movement of the three cutting units to achieve a good contour following efficiency of the shaving unit. Whilst generally the pivotal coupling of each cutting unit might be established directly between the housing of the cutting unit and the central support member, according to this embodiment it is preferred that the housing of the third cutting unit is pivotally coupled directly to the housings of both the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit. This allows for a close arrangement of the three cutting units with a relatively small distance between each of the three cutting units, which is preferred for an efficient shaving procedure. The first and second hinge structures provided for the third primary axis in this case compensate for any pivotal movement of the first and/or the second cutting unit about the first and second primary pivot axes, respectively. For this purpose, in the first and second hinge structures the bearing bush receiving the bearing pin is not formed as a straight cylindrical bush, but has a convex bearing surface to allow a tilting motion of the associated bearing pin in the bearing bush to a certain degree. This allows the bearing pin to follow any pivotal motion of the bearing bush about, respectively, the first or the second primary pivot axis while being accommodated in the bearing bush, and thus to compensate a tilted arrangement of the bearing pin, when mounted in a fixed position relative to the housing of the third cutting unit, relative to the bearing bush, when mounted in a fixed position relative to the housing of the first or the second cutting unit, respectively. The shape of the bearing surface of the bearing bush may be bevelled, e.g. convergent, i.e. funnel-shaped to allow such tilting of the bearing pin, or the bearing surface may have a central portion with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bearing pin, wherein the diameter of the bearing bush widens from the central portion towards both end portions of the bearing bush. As a result, a double-bevelled shape of the bearing surface, as e.g. known from an hour-glass, is provided, which allows tilting of the bearing pin in the bearing bush to a certain degree. The third primary pivot axis may be formed by at least one bearing pin extending along the third primary pivot axis, said bearing pin being accommodated in a corresponding at least one bearing bush, wherein said bearing pin or bearing bush is provided in the first or second housing and said bearing bush has a converging shape or an hourglass shape to allow pivoting of the bearing pin about the first or the second primary pivot axis.

In a further preferred embodiment, the secondary pivot axis is formed by a connecting link guidance comprising at least one connecting member guided along a corresponding curved guidance path. According to this embodiment, the secondary pivot axis is not realized as a physical axle or shaft, but is arranged as a virtual pivot axis defined by said connecting link guidance. This allows to position the secondary pivot axis close to or even coplanar with the primary pivot axes, such that a smooth skin-contour following property of the cutting units is achieved, wherein only relatively small forces are required to establish the pivoting motions of the cutting units. The connecting link guidance may comprise a guiding pin sliding in a curved recess or slot, wherein the curvature e of said curved recess or slot has a radius which determines the position of the secondary pivot axis. It is to be understood that the connecting link guidance may comprise two, three or four, or even more of such guiding pins each being guided along a guidance path. The guidance paths may have a curvature having a radius, wherein the radii of the guidance paths have a single common curvature centre defining the position of the secondary pivot axis. By this, a resilient pivotal movement about the secondary axis is realized.

A further aspect of the invention is a shaving apparatus comprising a main housing accommodating a motor, and comprising a shaving unit as described beforehand, wherein the shaving unit is releasably coupled to the main housing by means of the coupling member. Said shaving apparatus may incorporate in said main housing a drive unit, like an electric motor, to drive the first, second and, if present, third internal cutting member when the shaving unit is coupled to the main housing by means of the coupling member. The drive unit may have a main drive shaft, which may be coupled to a central drive, shaft accommodated in the coupling member of the shaving unit, when the shaving unit is coupled to the main housing. The main housing may further comprise a main coupling member to cooperate with the coupling member of the shaving unit.

It shall be understood that a shaving unit according to the invention and a shaving apparatus according to the invention may have similar and/or identical preferred embodiments, in particular as defined in the dependent claims.

It shall be understood that a preferred embodiment of the present invention can also be any combination of the dependent claims or above embodiments with the respective independent claim.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1a-1c show a frontal view of three pivoted configurations of a shaving unit according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2a-2c show a side view of three pivoted configurations of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1a-1c;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1a-1c along the line 1 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 shows a partial cut away top view of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1a-1c;

FIG. 5 shows a partially sectioned frontal view of parts of a shaving unit according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the shaving unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective, partially cut away upper-frontal view of the shaving unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a partial cut away perspective view of the shaving unit as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of the arrangement of the primary pivot axes in a third embodiment of the shaving unit according to the invention;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of the arrangement of the primary pivot axes in a fourth embodiment of the shaving unit according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a sectional frontal view of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1a-1c, depicting a drive train for the cutting units of the shaving unit;

FIG. 12 shows a sectional side view of the shaving unit of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a detailed view of a cutting unit and part of the drive train in the shaving unit of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows a further detailed view of the shaving unit as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a detail of the shaving unit as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrating a flushing procedure of a cutting unit of the shaving unit;

FIG. 16 shows a top view onto a part of a housing of a cutting unit incorporated in the shaving unit of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 shows a top view according to FIG. 16 with an external cutting member mounted into the housing; and

FIGS. 18a and 18b show a perspective view from an upper frontal side of a housing of the shaving unit of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1a-1c a shaving unit for a shaving apparatus according to the invention is shown. The shaving unit has two cutting units, i.e. a first cutting unit 10a and a second cutting unit 10b, which are shown in three different pivoted positions with respect to each other. Each cutting unit 10a, 10b comprises an external cutting member 12, which is partially visible in FIG. 3. The external cutting member 12 comprises a plurality of hair entry openings 13, e.g. in the form of elongated slits. Via the hair entry openings 13, hairs present on the skin can enter the cutting units 10a, b. The hair entry openings 13 define a first shaving track 11a of the first cutting unit 10a and a second shaving track 11b of the second cutting unit 10b. In FIGS. 1a-1c the shaving tracks 11a, 11b are partially visible as protruding relative to, respectively, an upper surface of a first housing 20a of the first cutting unit 10a and an upper surface of a second housing 20b of the second cutting unit 10b. Each cutting unit 10a, 10b further comprises an internal cutting member, which is accommodated in the respective housing 20a, 20b and rotatable relative to the external cutting member 12 about a respective first and second axis of rotation 6a, 6b. The internal cutting members of the cutting units 10a, 10b are not visible in the FIGS. 1a-1c. They may have a structure with a plurality of cutting elements, as is well known for the person skilled in the art, and will not be described in further detail. Each internal cutting member is coupled via a respective drive spindle 40a, 40b to a transmission unit 60 of the shaving unit. The transmission unit 60 may comprise a set of transmission gear wheels for transmitting the rotational motion of a central drive shaft, which is rotatable about a main drive axis 9, into rotational motions of the drive spindles 40a, 40b. The central drive shaft, which is not visible in FIGS. 1a-1c, is accommodated in a coupling member 70 of the shaving unit. By means of the coupling member 70, the shaving unit can be releasbly coupled to a main housing of the shaving apparatus, which is also not shown in the figures. The coupling member 70 is part of a central support member 50 of the shaving unit. The central support member 50 supports the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b.

The first housing 20a of the first cutting unit 10a is pivotally mounted to the central support member 50 by means of a first primary pivot axis la, and the second housing 20b of the second cutting unit 10b is pivotally mounted to the central support member 50 by means of a second primary pivot axis 1b. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-1c, the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b coincide. According to the invention, however, the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b may also be non-coincident, i.e. they may constitute two separate parallel or non-parallel primary pivot axes about which the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b are pivotal relative to the central support member 50, respectively. In any embodiment according to the invention, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-1c, the first and second primary pivot axis 1a, 1c are arranged between the first and second axes of rotation 6a, 6b of the internal cutting members. More particular, according to the invention, seen in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation 6a, the first primary pivot axis 1a is arranged between the first shaving track 11a and the second axis of rotation 6b and, seen in a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation 6b, the second primary pivot axis 1b is arranged between the second shaving track 11b and the first axis of rotation 6a. Such an arrangement of the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b is shown in FIGS. 1a-1c. Such an arrangement of the primary pivot axes 101a, 101b is also visible in the embodiment of the shaving unit as shown in FIG. 6, which will be further described hereinafter. In the embodiments of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 1a-1c and in FIG. 6, seen in directions parallel to the first and second axes of rotation 6a, 6b, the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b; 101a, 101b are in particular arranged between the external cutting members 12; 114a, 114b of the cutting units 10a, 10b; 110a, 110b, respectively. However, in an alternative embodiment of a shaving unit according to the invention, the primary pivot axes may be arranged in positions which are not or not fully between the external cutting members of the cutting units, e.g. in positions wherein the primary pivot axes cross the external cutting members in circumferential areas of the external cutting members. In each embodiment according to the invention, however, the first primary pivot axis is arranged between the first shaving track and the second axis of rotation, and the second primary pivot axis is arranged between the second shaving track and the first axis of rotation. I.e. the first primary pivot axis 1a is positioned outwardly from the first shaving track 11a in a radial direction with respect to the first axis of rotation 6a, and consequently does not cross or cover any of the hair entry openings 13 of the external cutting member 12 of the first cutting unit 10a, seen in the direction of the first axis of rotation 6a. The same applies for the second primary pivot axis 1b relative to the second shaving track 11b and the second axis of rotation 6b. Furthermore, the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b each extend parallel to a plane wherein, respectively, the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b extend.

As will be described further in detail in the following, the central support member 50 comprises a stationary portion, which comprises the coupling member 70, and a movable portion. The first and second housings 20a, 20b of the cutting units 10a, 10b are pivotal about the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b relative to the movable portion of the central support member 50. The movable portion of the central support member 50 is pivotal relative to the stationary portion of the central support member 50 about a secondary pivot axis 3 as indicated in FIGS. 1a-1c. In general, in accordance with the invention, the secondary pivot axis 3 is not parallel to the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-1c, wherein the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1c coincide, the secondary pivot axis 3 extends perpendicularly to the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b.

FIG. 1a shows the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b in a spring-biased neutral pivoted position, wherein the first cutting unit 10a is pivoted about the first primary pivot axis 1a in a clockwise direction into a maximum pivot angle, delimited by a mechanical stop not shown in the figures, and wherein the second cutting unit 10b is pivoted about the second primary pivot axis 1b in an anti-clockwise direction to a maximum pivot angle, which is also delimited by a mechanical stop not shown in the figures. These pivoted positions of the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b result in a concave V-shaped configuration of the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b and the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b.

FIG. 1b shows pivoted positions of the cutting units 10a, 10b, wherein the first and the second cutting units 10a, 10b are both pivoted about the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b in an anti-clockwise direction. In these pivoted positions of the cutting units 10a, 10b, the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b extend in a common plane shape which is oriented obliquely in relation to the main drive axis 9.

FIG. 1c shows pivoted positions of the cutting units 10a, 10b, wherein the first cutting unit 10a is pivoted about the first primary pivot axis 1a in an anti-clockwise direction, while the second cutting unit 10b is pivoted about the second primary pivot axis 1b in a clockwise direction. These pivoted positions of the cutting units 10a, 10b result in a convex V-shaped configuration of the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b and the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b. It is to be understood that the pivoted positions of the cutting units 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 1a-1c are possible because the cutting units 10a, 10b are individually and mutually independently pivotal about the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b. I.e. the first cutting unit 10a can perform any pivotal motion about the first primary pivot axis 1a independently of any pivotal motion of the second cutting unit 10b about the second primary pivot axis 1b, and v.v.

FIGS. 2a-2c show a side view of the first and second cutting units 10a, 10b in three different pivoted positions about the secondary pivot axis 3. In FIG. 2a the movable portion of the central support member 50, with the cutting units 10a, 10b connected thereto via the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b, is pivoted relative to the stationary portion of the central support member 50 in an anti-clockwise direction about the secondary pivot axis 3. FIG. 2b shows a neutral position of the movable portion with no pivoting of the cutting units 10a, 10b about the secondary pivot axis 3. FIG. 2c shows a third pivoted configuration wherein the movable portion of the central support member 50, with the cutting units 10a, 10b connected thereto via the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b, is pivoted relative to the stationary portion of the central support member 50 in a clockwise direction about the secondary pivot axis 3.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 1a-1c, and FIG. 4 shows a top view of said shaving unit with parts of the cutting units 10a, 10b being removed. As can be seen in these figures, both the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and the secondary pivot axis 3 extend in a direction perpendicular to the main drive axis 9 in a non-pivoted position of the cutting units 10a, 10b about the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and the secondary pivot axis 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first housing 20a of the first cutting unit 10a accommodates a first hair collecting chamber 27a, and the second housing 20b of the second cutting unit 10b accommodates a second hair collecting chamber 27b. The first and second hair collecting chambers 27a, 27b each have an annular shape. The first hair collecting chamber 27a surrounds a central opening 25a which is provided in a bottom wall 28a of the first housing 20a. Likewise, the second hair collecting chamber 27b surrounds a central opening 25b which is provided in a bottom wall 28b of the second housing 20b. As can be seen in FIG. 4, coupling elements 41a, 41b, which are provided on upper end portions of, respectively, the drive spindles 40a, 40b, extend through, respectively, the openings 25a, 25b. In the assembled condition of the cutting units 10a, 10b, the coupling elements 41a, 41b engage the internal cutting members of, respectively, the first cutting unit 10a and the second cutting unit 10b to transfer a rotational motion of the drive spindles 40a, 40b to the internal cutting members. It is to be understood that the internal cutting members and the external cutting members of the cutting units 10a, 10b are not shown in FIG. 4, while in FIG. 3 only the external cutting member 12 of the first cutting unit 10a is visible.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b are defined by a first hinge structure, which mutually connects the first housing 20a and the second housing 20b, and by a second hinge structure, which connects an assembly of the mutually connected first and second housings 20a, 20b to the movable portion 51 of the central support member 50. FIG. 3 further shows the stationary portion 52 of the central support member 50. Said first and second hinge structures have coinciding hinge axes. The first hinge structure comprises cooperating first and second hinge elements 21a, 21b, which are connected to, respectively, the first housing 20a and the second housing 20b, and cooperating third and fourth hinge elements 22a, 22b, which are connected to, respectively, the first housing 20a and the second housing 20b. A bearing pin formed on the second hinge element 21b engages a bearing cavity formed in the first hinge element 21a, and a bearing pin formed on the third hinge element 22a engages a bearing cavity formed in the fourth hinge element 22b. The second hinge structure comprises two bearing pins 55 and 55′ which are integrally formed on the moveable portion 51 of the central support member 50. The two bearing pins 55 and 55′ are arranged coaxially and face each other. The bearing pin 55 engages a bearing cavity, which is formed in the second hinge element 21b and is arranged coaxially with the bearing pin formed on the second hinge element 21b. The bearing pin 55′ engages a bearing cavity, which is formed in the third hinge element 22a and is arranged coaxially with the bearing pin formed on the third hinge element 22a. The first and second hinge structures, comprising the hinge elements 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b formed on the housings 20a, 20b and the two bearing pins 55, 55′, formed on the movable portion 51 of the central support member 50, provide the coincident primary pivot axes 1a, 1b in a simple and robust manner. During assembly of the shaving unit, the hinge elements 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b can be simply snapped into each other thereby forming an assembly of the first and second housings 20a, 20b. Subsequently said assembly can be simply snapped in between the two bearing pins 55, 55′. Finally, as shown in FIG. 3, filling elements 24a, 24b may be arranged between, respectively, the hinge elements 21a, 22b and the movable portion 51 of the central support member 50 to fill the gaps which are required for assembling the first and second hinge structures. The filling elements 24a, 24b prevent unintentional disassembling of the first and second hinge structures during use of the shaving unit.

The bearing pins 55, 55′ define the position of the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b relative to the housings 20a, 20b. The bearing pins 55, 55′ are arranged between the housings 20a, 20b, seen in directions parallel to the axes of rotation 6a, 6b of the cutting units 10a, 10b as e.g. in FIG. 4. As can further be seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, seen in a direction parallel to the secondary pivot axis 3, in the neutral pivoted position of the first cutting unit 10a (FIG. 1a) the first primary pivot axis 1a is arranged between a skin contact surface of the first shaving track 11a and a bottom of the first housing 20a. Similarly, seen in a direction parallel to the secondary pivot axis 3, in the neutral pivoted position of the second cutting unit 10b (FIG. 1b) the second primary pivot axis 1b is arranged between a skin contact surface of the second shaving track 11b and a bottom of the second housing 20b. The first and second housings 20a, 20b each have an identical height H, seen in respective directions parallel to the first axis of rotation 6a and parallel to the second axis of rotation 6b. In an intermediate pivoted position of the cutting units 10a, 10b between the pivoted positions as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1c, wherein the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b extend in a common plane, a distance D between the first primary pivot axis 1a and the skin contact surface of the first shaving track 11a, in particular measured in a central imaginary plane comprising the first primary pivot axis 1a and the central drive axis 9, is smaller than 50% of the height H. Likewise, in said intermediate pivoted position of the cutting units 10a, 10b, a distance D′ between the second primary pivot axis 1b and the skin contact surface of the second shaving track 11b, in particular measured in a central imaginary plane comprising the second primary pivot axis 1b and the central drive axis 9, is smaller than 50% of the height H.

The movable portion 51 of the central support member 50 is pivotally guided along a curved path 57 relative to the stationary portion 52 of the central support member 50. Seen in the cross-sectional view of the shaving unit in FIG. 3, the curved path 57 comprises a circle segment having a radius and a center point, which defines the position of the secondary pivot axis 3 as a virtual axis. The secondary pivot axis 3 extends perpendicularly to the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and lies approximately in a common plane with the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b. Said common plane extends approximately parallel to the skin contact surfaces of the first shaving track 11a and the second shaving track 11b in an intermediate pivoted position of the cutting units 10a, 10b between the pivoted positions as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1c, wherein the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b extend in a common plane. As a result, in said intermediate pivoted position of the cutting units 10a, 10b, a distance D″ between the secondary pivot axis 3 and the skin contact surfaces of the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b, in particular measured in a central imaginary plane comprising the secondary pivot axis 3 and the central drive axis 9, is equal to the distances D, D′ between the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and the skin contact surfaces of the first and second shaving tracks 11a, 11b as shown in FIG. 1b, i.e. said distance D″ is smaller than 50% of the height H of the housings 20a, 20b of the cutting units 10a, 10b. It will be clear that, in embodiments wherein the secondary pivot axis 3 and the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b do not extend in a common plane, the distance D″ may be different from the distances D, D′.

As can be further seen in FIG. 3, two spring elements 23a, 23b are arranged below the coinciding primary pivot axes 1a, 1b in the movable portion 51 of the central support member 50. The spring elements 23a, 23b exert a spring load on the housings 20a, 20b of the cutting units 10a, 10b such as to bias the cutting units 10a, 10b in their concave pivoted positions as shown in FIG. 1a, wherein the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks 11a, 11b have a V-shaped geometry. It is to be understood that, in variations of the embodiment of the shaving unit, the spring elements may bias the cutting units 10a, 10b into different pivoted positions, e.g. into pivoted positions wherein the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks 11a, 11b extend in a common plane and, thus, have a flat geometry, or into pivoted positions wherein the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks 11a, 11b have a convex geometry.

Furthermore, the assembly of the cutting units 10a, 10b is biased into a neutral pivoted position relative to the secondary pivot axis 3 by a further spring element 23c. The further spring element 23c is arranged in the stationary portion 52 of the central support member 50 and exerts a biasing force on the movable portion 51 of the central support member 50. Starting from the neutral pivoted position relative to the secondary pivot axis 3 as shown in FIG. 3, the assembly of the cutting units 10a, 10b may conduct a pivotal movement in a clockwise direction or in an anti-clockwise direction about the secondary pivot axis 3.

FIGS. 5-8 show a shaving unit according to a second embodiment of the invention. This shaving unit comprises three cutting units, i.e. a first cutting unit 110a, a second cutting unit 110b, and a third cutting unit 110c. Each of the three cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c comprises a housing 120a, 120b, 120c, an external cutting member 114a, 114b, 114c with a plurality of hair entry openings which define an annular shaving track 161a, 161b, 161c, and an internal cutting member (not shown in detail in the figures) which is rotatable relative to the external cutting member 114a, 114b, 114c about an axis of rotation 106a, 106b, 106c and which is arranged in the housing 120a, 120b, 120c. The annular shaving tracks 161a, 161b, 161c each have a skin contact surface. The external cutting members 114a, 114b, 114c are each arranged in and held by an annular cover portion 112a, 112b, 112c of, respectively, the housings 120a, 120b, 120c. Each of the cover portions 112a, 112b, 112c also has a skin contact surface surrounding the skin contact surface of the associated shaving track 161a, 161b, 161c. The housings 120a, 120b, 120c each accommodate a hair collecting chamber.

The first cutting unit 110a and the second cutting unit 110b are pivotal relative to a central support member 150 of the shaving unit about, respectively, a first primary pivot axis 101a and a second primary pivot axis 101b. Like the first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b in the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 1-4, the first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b are arranged as coinciding first and second primary pivot axes. By means of the first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b, the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b are pivotal relative to a movable portion 151 of the central support member 150. The coincident first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b are realized by similar hinge structures used to realize the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes 1a, 1b in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-4.

The third cutting unit 110c is pivotal relative to the central support member 150 about a third primary pivot axis 102, which extends perpendicularly to the coinciding first and second pivot axes 101a, 101b. Seen in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 106c of the third cutting unit 110c, the third primary pivot axis 102 is arranged between the shaving track 161c of the third cutting unit 110c and the axes of rotation 106a, 106b of the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b, as is shown in FIG. 6. Seen in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation 106c of the third cutting unit 110c, the third primary pivot axis 102 is in particular arranged between the external cutting member 114c of the third cutting unit 110c and the axes of rotation 106a, 106b of the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b. However, in alternative embodiments, the third primary pivot axis 102 may be arranged in a position which is not or not fully between the external cutting member 114c of the third cutting unit 110c and the axes of rotation 106a, 106b of the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b, e.g. in a position wherein the third primary pivot axis 102 crosses the external cutting member 114c of the third cutting unit 110c in a circumferential area thereof. In such alternative embodiments, the third primary pivot axis 102 may still be arranged between the shaving track 161c of the third cutting unit 110c and the axes of rotation 106a, 106b of the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b, i.e. arranged outwardly from the shaving track 161c of the third cutting unit 110c in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 106c of the third cutting unit 110c and, consequently, not crossing or covering any of the hair entry openings of the external cutting member 114c of the third cutting unit 110c, seen in the direction of the axis of rotation 106c of the third cutting unit 110c.

In the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 5-8, the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c is pivotally mounted to both the housing 120a of the first cutting unit 110a and the housing 120b of the second cutting unit 110b. Thus, the third primary pivot axis 102, about which the third cutting unit 110c is pivotal relative to the central support member 150, is a pivot axis about which the third cutting unit 110c is pivotal relative to both the central support member 150 and the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b. The third primary pivot axis 102 is realized by means of a first hinge structure, by means of which the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c is connected to the housing 120a of the first cutting unit 110a, and by means of a second hinge structure, by means of which the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c is connected to the housing 120b of the second cutting unit 110b. As shown in detail in FIG. 8, said first hinge structure comprises a bearing pin 126a, mounted in a fixed position to the housing 120a of the first cutting unit 110a, and a bearing bush 127a mounted in a fixed position to the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c. Likewise, said second hinge structure comprises a bearing pin 126b, mounted in a fixed position to the housing 120b of the second cutting unit 110b, and a bearing bush 127b mounted in a fixed position to the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c. The bearing pins 126a, 126b engage and are received by, respectively, the bearing bushes 127a, 127b. The bearing bushes 127a, 127b are coaxially arranged on the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c and, thereby, define the position of the third primary pivot axis 102 relative to the housing 120c of the third cutting unit 110c. As shown in FIG. 8, seen in a longitudinal sectional view along the third primary pivot axis 102, the bearing bushes 127a, 127b each have a non-cylindrical, in particular a convex internal bearing surface which is in contact with the associated bearing pin 126a, 126. In other words, the internal bearing surfaces of the bearing bushes 127a, 127b have a beveled shape towards both their ends, i.e. said internal bearing surfaces have a shape like an hour glass. As a result, the bearing pin 126a and the bearing bush 127a of the first hinge structure can mutually rotate about an axis parallel to the first primary pivot axis la. Likewise, the bearing pin 126b and the bearing bush 127b of the second hinge structure can mutually rotate about an axis parallel to the second primary pivot axis 1b. As a result, the first and second hinge structures are adapted to independently follow both a pivotal movement of the housing 120a of the first cutting unit 110a about the first primary pivot axis 101a and a pivotal movement of the housing 120b of the second cutting unit 110b about the second primary pivot axis 101b. Thus, the third cutting unit 110c is free to pivot about the third primary pivot axis 102 in any pivotal position of the first and second cutting units 110a, 110b about the first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the central support member 150 is arranged below the cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c and comprises the moveable portion 151 and a stationary portion 152. The stationary portion 152 comprises a coupling member 170 by means of which the shaving unit can be releasably coupled to a main housing of a shaving apparatus. The movable portion 151 is pivotal relative to the stationary portion 152 about a secondary pivot axis 103, which extends perpendicularly to the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b and parallel to the third primary pivot axis 102, as shown in FIG. 6. The secondary pivot axis 103 is realized by means of a connecting-link-guidance mechanism comprising at least one connecting member guided along a corresponding curved guidance path. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-8, the connecting-link-guidance mechanism comprises a plurality of connecting members in the form of connecting pins 153a, 153b, 153c mounted in fixed positions to the stationary portion 152 of the central support member 150. The connecting pins 153a, 153b, 153c are each guided in a respective curved guidance slot 154a, 154b, 154c provided in a fixed position in the movable section 151 of the central support member 150. The curved guidance slots 154a, 154b, 154c each have a similar radius and coinciding center axes, which form a virtual axis defining the secondary pivot axis 103. By means of said connecting-link-guidance mechanism, the movable portion 151 of the central support member 150, carrying the three cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c, is pivotal relative to the stationary portion 152 of the central support member 150 about the secondary pivot axis 103.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-8, the coinciding first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b, the third primary pivot axis 102 and the secondary pivot axis 103 each extend parallel to a common plane, in which the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks 161a, 161b, 161c of the cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c extend when the cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c are in intermediate pivotal positions, as shown in FIG. 7, wherein the skin contact surfaces of the shaving tracks 161a, 161b, 161c each extend perpendicularly to a central axis 109 of the shaving unit and wherein the axes of rotation 106a, 10b, 106c of the cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c are mutually parallel. As a result of the presence of the first and second primary pivot axes 101a, 101b, the third primary pivot axis 103, and the secondary pivot axis 103, a twofold pivotal motion is provided for each cutting unit 110a, 110b, 110c, wherein the three cutting units 110a, 110b, 110c can perform a common pivotal movement about the secondary pivot axis 103 and wherein each cutting unit 110a, 110b, 110c can further perform an individual and independent pivotal movement about, respectively, the first, second and third primary pivot axis 101a, 101b, 102.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of a shaving unit according to the invention having three cutting units 210a, 210b, 210c and three primary pivot axes 201, 202, 203, i.e. a first primary pivot axis 201 for the first cutting unit 210a, a second primary pivot axis 202 for the second cutting unit 210b and a third primary pivot axis 203 for the third cutting unit 210c. Like the primary pivot axis 1a, 1b; 101a, 101b, 102 in the first and second embodiments, the primary pivot axes 201, 202, 203 each constitute a pivot axis about which the cutting units 210a, 210b, 210c are respectively pivotal relative to a central support member of the shaving unit, which is not shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the three primary pivot axes 201, 202, 203 are arranged in a triangular configuration. The first primary pivot axis 201 is arranged between a shaving track (not shown) of the first cutting unit 210a and the axes of rotation of the internal cutting members (not shown) of the second and third cutting units 210b, 210c. Likewise, the second primary pivot axis 202 is arranged between a shaving track (not shown) of the second cutting unit 210b and the axes of rotation of the internal cutting members (not shown) of the first and third cutting units 210a, 210c, and the third primary pivot axis 203 is arranged between a shaving track (not shown) of the third cutting unit 210c and the axes of rotation of the internal cutting members (not shown) of the first and second cutting units 210a, 210b.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a shaving unit according to the invention, having three cutting units 310a, 310b, 310c and having primary pivot axes 301 and 302. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the primary pivot axes 301, 302 is similar to the arrangement of the primary pivot axes 101a, 101b, 102 in the second embodiment explained beforehand. The first and second cutting units 310a, 310b have a common primary pivot axis 301, i.e. they have coinciding primary pivot axes about which the cutting units 310a, 310b can each individually and independently pivot relative to a central support member (not shown) of the shaving unit. The third cutting unit 310c has a primary pivot axis 302 about which the third cutting unit 310c can pivot relative to the central support member. The primary pivot axis 302 extends perpendicularly to the common primary pivot axis 301 of the first and second cutting units 310a, 310b. The common primary pivot axis 301 and the primary pivot axis 302 constitute, respectively, a leg and a crossbar of a T-shaped configuration of the primary pivot axes 301, 302.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional frontal view of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1-4 and shows a drive train for the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b of the shaving unit. The shaving unit as shown in FIG. 11 comprises a coupling member 470 at a bottom side of the shaving unit, by means of which the shaving unit can be releasably coupled to a main housing of a shaving apparatus. At its outer circumference the coupling member 470 comprises a stationary coupling component 471 for releasably mounting the shaving unit to the main housing, i.e. a handle section, of the shaving apparatus. Inside the coupling member 470, a rotatable coupling component 472 is accommodated. The rotatable coupling component 472 is mounted to an end portion of a central drive shaft 478 accommodated in the coupling member 470. The rotatable coupling component 472 is adapted to be coupled to a drive shaft of a drive unit incorporated in said handle section of the shaving apparatus for torque transmission from the drive shaft in the handle section to the central drive shaft 478, when the shaving unit is coupled to the handle section.

The rotatable coupling component 472 and the central drive shaft 478 are parts of the drive train of the shaving unit. The central drive shaft 478 is connected to a central transmission element, embodied as a central gear wheel 473. Said central gear wheel 473 is rotatable about a central transmission axis 409, which corresponds to the main drive axis 9 described beforehand with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. During operation, with the shaving unit coupled to the handle section of the shaving apparatus, the central gear wheel 473 is driven into rotation about the central transmission axis 409 by the drive unit of the handle section via the rotatable coupling component 472 and the central drive shaft 478.

A first driven transmission element and a second driven transmission element, embodied as, respectively, a first driven gear wheel 475a and a second driven gear wheel 475b, are arranged to be driven by the central gear wheel 473. The first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b are positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of the central gear wheel 473 and each engage the central gear wheel 473 for torque transmission. The first driven gear wheel 475a and the second driven gear wheel 475b are positioned, relative to the central transmission axis 409, radially outwardly from the central gear wheel 473, and are each arranged in a slightly oblique orientation with respect to the central transmission axis 409. Thus, the first driven gear wheel 475a is rotatable about a first transmission axis 405a, which has a slightly oblique orientation with respect to the central transmission axis 409. Likewise, the second driven gear wheel 475b is rotatable about a second transmission axis 405b, which also has a slightly oblique orientation with respect to the central transmission axis 409. The first and second transmission axes 405a, 405b are symmetrically arranged with respect to the central transmission axis 409.

The first and second transmission axes 405a, 405b and the central transmission axis 409 are each arranged in a stationary position relative to the coupling member 470 and relative to the stationary portion 452 of the central support member 450 of the shaving unit. The central gear wheel 473 and the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b are accommodated in a transmission housing 479, which is also arranged in a stationary position relative to the coupling member 470 and relative to the stationary portion 452 of the central support member 450 of the shaving unit. The central gear wheel 473 and the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b are arranged as a transmission unit, accommodated in the transmission housing 479, between the coupling member 470 and the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b. Between the transmission housing 479 and the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b, an open space 490 is present which surrounds the central support member 450 as shown in FIG. 11. The open space 490 between the transmission housing 479 and the first and second cutting units 410a, 410 is generally open and, thereby, accessible from any radial direction with respect to the central transmission axis 409. The transmission housing 479 is thus arranged between the coupling member 470 and the open space 490.

The internal cutting member 480a of the first cutting unit 410a is connected to the first driven gear wheel 475a by means of a first drive spindle 476a, and the internal cutting member 480b of the second cutting unit 410b is connected to the second driven gear wheel 475b by means of a second drive spindle 476b. The first drive spindle 476a extends from the transmission unit in the transmission housing 479 to the internal cutting member 480a of the first cutting unit 410a via the open space 490 and through the opening 425a in the bottom wall of the housing 420a of the first cutting unit 410a. Likewise, the second drive spindle 476b extends from the transmission unit in the transmission housing 479 to the internal cutting member 480b of the second cutting unit 410b via the open space 490 and through the opening 425b in the bottom wall of the housing 420b of the second cutting unit 410. The openings 425a, 425b in the bottom walls of the housings 420a, 420b of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b shown in FIG. 11 correspond to the openings 25a, 25b in the bottom walls of the housings 20a, 20b of the first and second cutting units shown in FIG. 4.

The first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b are circumferentially provided and integrally formed on, respectively, a first cup-shaped rotatable carrier 474a and a second cup-shaped rotatable carrier 474b. A lower end portion of the first drive spindle 476a engages the first rotatable carrier 474a, and a lower end portion of the second drive spindle 476b engages the second rotatable carrier 474b. The lower end portions of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are configured in such a manner that the drive spindles 476a, 476b can slide in the two opposite directions parallel to, respectively, the first transmission axis 405a and the second transmission axes 405b inside, respectively, the first cup-shaped rotatable carrier 474a and the second cup-shaped rotatable carrier 474b. A mechanical spring is arranged in each of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b, as shown in FIG. 11. The first drive spindle 476a is displaceable towards the first driven gear wheel 475a against a spring force of the associated mechanical spring in a direction parallel to a spindle axis of the first drive spindle 476a, which generally extends substantially or nearly parallel to the first transmission axis 405a. Likewise, the second drive spindle 476b is displaceable towards the second driven gear wheel 475b against a spring force of the associated mechanical spring in a direction parallel to a spindle axis of the second drive spindle 476b, which generally extends substantially or nearly parallel to the second transmission axis 405b.

Furthermore, the lower end portions of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are configured in such a manner that the drive spindles 476a, 476b can pivot relative to, respectively, the first driven gear wheel 475a and the second driven gear wheel 475b to a limited extent about any axis perpendicular to, respectively, the first transmission axis 405a and the second transmission axes 405b. Finally, the lower end portions of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are configured in such a manner that the first and second cup-shaped rotatable carriers 474a, 474b can transmit a driving torque to, respectively, the first drive spindle 476a and the second spindle 476b by engagement with the lower end portions thereof.

As further shown in FIG. 11, coupling elements 477a, 477b are provided on an upper end portion of, respectively, the first drive spindle 476a and the second drive spindle 476b. The coupling elements 477a, 477b couple the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b with, respectively, the internal cutting member 480a of the first cutting unit 410a and the internal cutting member 480b of the second cutting unit 410b. The coupling elements 477a, 477b are configured in such a manner that the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b can transmit a driving torque to, respectively, the internal cutting member 480a of the first cutting unit 410a and the internal cutting member 480b of the second cutting unit 410b. Thus, the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are able to transmit a rotational movement from the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b via the coupling elements 477a, 477b to the internal cutting members 480a, 480b of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b, respectively. Furthermore, the coupling elements 477a, 477b are configured in such a manner that the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b can pivot to a limited extent relative to, respectively, the internal cutting member 480a of the first cutting unit 410a and the internal cutting member 480b of the second cutting unit 410b about any axis perpendicular to, respectively, the first transmission axis 405a and the second transmission axes 405b. This can e.g. be achieved by a triangular cross-sectional geometry of the coupling elements 477a, 477b and by providing each internal cutting member 480a, 480b with a coupling cavity having a corresponding geometry for receiving the associated coupling element 477a, 477b, as is well known to the person skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the coupling elements 477a, 477b correspond with the coupling elements 41a, 41b of the shaving unit shown in FIG. 4.

During operation, the internal cutting members 480a, 480b of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b are driven into a rotational movement about the first and second axes of rotation 406a, 406b relative to the external cutting members 460a, 460b of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b by the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b, respectively. As described here before, the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are displaceable against a spring force in directions parallel to their spindle axes relative to, respectively, the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b. Furthermore, as described here before, the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b are pivotally arranged relative to, respectively, the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b and relative to the internal cutting member 480a, 480b of, respectively, the first and second cutting units 410a. As a result, the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b can follow pivotal movements of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b about their primary pivot axis 1a, 1b as described with respect to the embodiment of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1-4. The mechanical springs arranged in the drive spindles 476a, 476b bias the drive spindles 476a, 476b towards the internal cutting members 480a, 480b and thus maintain a permanent contact and engagement between the coupling elements 477a, 477b and the internal cutting members 480a, 480b in any pivotal position of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b about the primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and in any angular orientation of the first and second axis of rotation 406a, 406b relative to, respectively, the first and second transmission axis 405a, 405b.

In the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 1-4 and in FIG. 11, the spindle axes of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b and the secondary pivot axis 3 extend in a common imaginary plane, as can best be seen in FIG. 4. As a result, during pivotal movements of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b about the secondary pivot axis 3, the drive spindles 476a, 476b will remain in said common imaginary plane and their positions in said common imaginary plane do not substantially change. This will particularly be the case when the secondary pivot axis 3 extends through the coupling elements 477a, 477b of the drive spindles 476a, 476b. In alternative embodiments wherein the spindle axes of the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b and the secondary pivot axis 3 do not extend in a common imaginary plane, the layout of the drive spindles 476a, 476b and the coupling elements 477a, 477b as described here before will allow the drive spindles 476a, 476b to also follow pivotal movements of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b about the secondary pivot axis 3 as described with respect to the embodiment of the shaving unit of FIGS. 1-4, as well as combined pivotal movements of the first and second cutting units 410a, 410b about both their primary pivot axes 1a, 1b and the secondary pivot axis 3.

It is to be understood that, in embodiments of a shaving unit comprising three cutting units as e.g. shown in FIGS. 5-8, the internal cutting member of the third cutting unit may be connected to the transmission unit by means of a third drive spindle extending from the transmission unit to said internal cutting member via the open space and through an opening in a bottom wall of the housing of the third cutting unit. In such embodiments, the third drive spindle may have a similar layout as the first and second drive spindles 476a, 476b in the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIG. 11. It will be clear that, in such embodiments, the transmission unit may comprise a third driven transmission element, e.g. a third driven gear wheel, arranged to be driven by the central gear wheel of the transmission unit in a manner similar to the first and second driven gear wheels 475a, 475b in the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIG. 11. In such embodiments, the internal cutting member of the third cutting unit is connected to said third driven gear wheel via the third drive spindle.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are detailed views of the first cutting unit 410a of the shaving unit of FIG. 11. In the following, further structural elements of the first cutting unit 410a of the shaving unit of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. It is to be understood that the second cutting unit 410b of the shaving unit of FIG. 11 has similar structural elements. It is further to be understood that also the cutting units of the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 5-10 may have similar structural elements. FIGS. 13 and 14 show the internal cutting member 480a in a position in the housing 420a below the external cutting member 460a. The external cutting member 460a has a plurality of hair entry openings which define the shaving track 461a along which, during operation, hair-cutting actions will take place by interaction between the external cutting member 460a and the internal cutting member 480a rotating relative to the external cutting member 460a about the axis of rotation 406a. Any cut hairs will be received by and collected in the hair collecting chamber 427a which is accommodated in the housing 420a. FIGS. 13 and 14 further show in detail the first drive spindle 476a which extends through the opening 425a provided in the bottom wall 424a of the housing 420a. The opening 425a is provided centrally around the axis of rotation 406a. The hair collecting chamber 427a is annularly arranged around the opening 425a and around the axis of rotation 406a. The coupling element 477a of the first drive spindle 476a engages a coupling cavity 435a, which is centrally provided in a central carrying member 436a of the internal cutting member 480a. The central carrying member 436a carries a plurality of cutting elements 481a of the internal cutting member 480a.

The opening 425a is in fluid communication with the hair collecting chamber 427a. As a result, the hair collecting chamber 427a can be cleaned by providing a flow of a cleaning liquid, e.g. water, via the opening 425a into the hair collecting chamber 427a. Such a flow of e.g. water can be easily provided to the opening 425a via the open space 490 which is present between the transmission housing 479 and the cutting units 410a, 410b. To prevent cut hairs and other shaving debris from escaping from the hair collecting chamber 427a via the opening 425a into the open space 490 during normal use of the shaving unit, a sealing structure 465a is provided in the flow path between the opening 425a and the hair collecting chamber 427a. The sealing structure 465a is configured and arranged to prevent cut hairs from escaping from the hair collecting chamber 427a via the opening 425a, but to allow a cleaning liquid, in particular water, to flow or flush via the opening 425a into the hair collecting chamber 427a. An embodiment of the sealing structure 465a will be described in the following. It is to be understood that the second cutting unit 410b has a similar sealing structure.

As shown in detail in FIG. 14, the sealing structure 465a comprises opposed sealing surfaces 426a, 428a and 466a, 468a. The sealing surfaces 426a, 428a are provided on the housing 420a, in particular on an edge structure 423a which is provided in the bottom wall 424a around the opening 425a. The sealing surfaces 466a, 468a are provided on the internal cutting member 480a, in particular on the central carrying member 436a of the internal cutting member 480a. The opposed sealing surfaces 426a, 428a and 466a, 468a are rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a. As a result, the sealing structure 465a is rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a.

In particular, the sealing structure 465a comprises a first sealing gap 467a, which is rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a and has a main direction of extension parallel to the axis of rotation 406a. The first sealing gap 467a is bounded by a first sealing surface 468a of said opposed sealing surfaces, which is provided on the central carrying member 436a of the internal cutting member 480a, and by a second sealing surface 428a of said opposed sealing surfaces, which is provided on the edge structure 423a in the bottom wall 424a of the housing 420a. The first and second sealing surfaces 468a, 428a are each rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a and each have a main direction of extension parallel to the axis of rotation 406a. In particular, the first and second sealing surfaces 468a, 428a and the first sealing gap 467a, bounded by the first and second sealing surfaces 468a, 428a, are each annular.

Further, the sealing structure 465a comprises a second sealing gap 469a, which is rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a and has a main direction of extension perpendicular to the axis of rotation 406a. The second sealing gap 469a is bounded by a third sealing surface 466a of said opposed sealing surfaces, which is provided on the central carrying member 436a of the internal cutting member 480a, and by a fourth sealing surface 426a of said opposed sealing surfaces, which is provided on the edge structure 423a in the bottom wall 424a of the housing 420a. The third and fourth sealing surfaces 466a, 426a are each rotationally symmetrical relative to the axis of rotation 406a and each have a main direction of extension perpendicular to the axis of rotation 406a. In particular, the third and fourth sealing surfaces 466a, 426a and the second sealing gap 469a, bounded by the third and fourth sealing surfaces 466a, 426a, are each annular.

Seen in a cross-sectional view along the axis of rotation 406a, the axially oriented first sealing gap 467a and the radially oriented second sealing gap 469a together provide the sealing structure 465a with an L-shaped gap structure provided between the edge structure 423a and the central carrying member 436a, which is rotatable relative to the edge structure 423a about the axis of rotation 406a. In order to achieve an effective preventing of cut hairs from escaping from the hair collecting chamber 427a via the sealing structure 465a during a shaving procedure, while allowing an effective flow of water from the opening 425a via the sealing structure 465a into the hair collecting chamber 427a, a minimum distance between the first sealing surface 468a and the second sealing surface 428a, measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation 406a, is preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm. For similar reasons, a minimum distance between the third sealing surface 466a and the fourth sealing surface 426a, measured in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 406a, is preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm. To further improve the sealing function of the sealing structure 465a, the first and second sealing gaps 467a, 469a may each converge, seen in a direction of the water flow from the central opening 425a to the hair collecting chamber 427a.

FIG. 15 shows a flushing procedure to clean the hair collecting chamber 427a of the first cutting unit 410a. In FIG. 15 the shaving unit is shown in an upside-down position to facilitate a flow of water via the open space 490 into the opening 425a in the bottom wall 424a of the housing 420a. As illustrated in FIG. 15, in said upside-down position of the shaving unit the open space 490 allows a flow of water 500, e.g. from a water tap 501, to directly enter the cutting unit 410a via the opening 425a. This can be simply realized by directing a stream of water 500 from the tap 501 via the open space 490 onto the bottom wall 424a of the cutting unit 410a. The flushing water is directed into the opening 425a by a funnel 429a, provided in the bottom wall 424a of the housing 420a, and passes into the hair collecting chamber 427a via the L-shaped sealing structure 465a, which is provided in the flow path between the opening 425a and the hair collecting chamber 427a. As indicated in FIG. 15 by broken arrows which show the flow of water through the cutting unit 410a, the hair collecting chamber 427a is flushed by the flow of water. Under the influence of both the gravity force and the hydraulic pressure of the flow of water, the flow of water is forced to leave the hair collecting chamber 427a via the plurality of hair entry openings provided in the shaving track 461a of the external cutting member 460a. This is indicated by two broken arrows pointing in downward direction in FIG. 15. The flow of water will take up and carry cut hairs and other shaving debris collected in the collecting chamber 427a. As a result, the cut hairs and other shaving debris are removed from the hair collecting chamber 427a by the flow of water leaving the hair collecting chamber 427a via the hair entry openings in the shaving track 461a. Thus, the hair collecting chamber 427a can be cleaned in a simple and efficient way by flushing the cutting unit 410a by means of a flow of water supplied via the open space 490 and via the opening 425a into the hair collecting chamber 427a. It is clear for the skilled person that the second cutting unit 410b can be cleaned in a similar way, preferably together with the first cutting unit 410a.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18
a-18b are detailed views of the first cutting unit 410a of the shaving unit of FIG. 11. In the following, further structural elements of the first cutting unit 410a of the shaving unit of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16, 17 and 18a-18b. It is to be understood that the second cutting unit 410b of the shaving unit of FIG. 11 has similar structural elements. It is further to be understood that also the cutting units of the embodiment of the shaving unit shown in FIGS. 5-10 may have similar structural elements. As shown in FIG. 18a, the housing 520 of the first cutting unit 410a comprises a base portion 551 and a cover portion 530. The cover portion 530 is releasably coupled to the base portion 551. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18a, the cover portion 530 is pivotally coupled to the base portion 551 by means of a first hinge mechanism 531. By pivoting the cover portion 530 relative to the base portion 551, the housing 520 can be brought from an opened condition, as shown in FIG. 18a, to a closed condition, as e.g. shown in FIG. 11. In the closed condition of the housing 520, the cover portion 530 rests on a circumferential rim portion 529 of the base portion 551 and is releasably coupled to the base portion 551. For this purpose, the housing 520 may comprise any suitable releasable coupling mechanism, such as e.g. snapping elements 553 as shown in FIG. 18a. In the closed condition of the housing 520, the hair collecting chamber 527 provided in the base portion 551 is closed and not accessible for a user. In the opened condition of the housing 520, the cover portion 530 is released from the snapping elements 553 and, thereby, released and removed from the base portion 551, except for the permanent connection with the base portion 551 via the first hinge mechanism 531. In the opened condition of the housing 520, the hair collecting chamber 527 is accessible for the user. In alternative embodiments, the cover portion 530 may be completely removable from the base portion 551. In such alternative embodiments, a hinge mechanism connecting the cover portion 530 to the base portion 551 may not be present.

FIG. 16 shows a top view onto the base portion 551 of the housing 520. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18a, first and second hinge elements 521, 522 are integrally formed on the base portion 551. The first and second hinge elements 521, 522 correspond with, respectively, the first hinge element 21a and the third hinge element 22a of the first cutting unit 21a in the shaving unit as shown in FIG. 4. The first and second hinge elements 521, 522 define the primary pivot axis 501 about which the cutting unit is pivotal relative to the central support member of the shaving unit. The base portion 551 is thus connected to the central support member of the shaving unit by means of a pivot structure comprising the first and second hinge elements 521, 522. FIGS. 16 and 18a further show that the base portion 551 comprises the bottom wall 524 of the housing 520, and that the opening 525 is provided in the bottom wall 524 in a central position around the axis of rotation 506.

As further shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b, the cutting unit comprises a holding component 517 which is releasbly coupled to the cover portion 530 of the housing 520. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b, the holding component 517 is pivotally coupled to the cover portion 530 by means of a second hinge mechanism 532. The first and second hinge mechanisms 531, 532 may be integrally formed. However, in any embodiments of the first and second hinge mechanisms 531, 532 the holding component 517 should be pivotal relative to the cover portion 530 by means of the second hinge mechanism 532 independently of a pivotal motion of the cover portion 530 relative to the base portion 551 by means of the first hinge mechanism 531. In its position shown in FIG. 18a, the holding component 517 is coupled to an inner side of the cover portion 530 by means of a releasable coupling mechanism 533a, 533b, which may be embodied as a simple snapping mechanism. In this position, the holding component 517 serves to hold the external cutting member 560 and the internal cutting member 580 in an operating position in the cover portion 530. In said operating position, the external cutting member 560 is held in the cover portion 530 by engagement of a circumferential rim 569, provided on a lower side of the external cutting member 560 facing towards the hair collecting chamber 527, with suitable positioning elements (not shown) provided on the inner side of the cover portion 530. The holding component 517 prevents the external cutting member 560 and the internal cutting member 580 from falling out of the cover portion 530 when the housing 520 is opened by pivoting the cover portion 530 relative to the base portion 551. By manually releasing the coupling mechanism 533a, 533b and pivoting the holding component 517 relative to the cover portion 530 into the position shown in FIG. 18b, the external cutting member 560 and the internal cutting member 580 can be simply removed from the cover portion 530, e.g. for cleaning the cutting members 560, 580 separately or for replacing the cutting members 560, 580 by new cutting members. In alternative embodiments, the holding component 517 may be completely removable from the cover portion 530. In such alternative embodiments, a hinge mechanism connecting the holding component 517 to the cover portion 517 may not be present.

As shown in FIG. 16, the base portion 551 of the housing 520 comprises a supporting structure 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d for supporting the external cutting member 560 in the closed condition of the housing 520. In the embodiment shown, the supporting structure 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d is provided on an inner side of the bottom wall 524 of the base portion 551, and the supporting structure 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d is arranged around the central opening 525 in a radial position, relative to the axis of rotation 506, outward of the central opening 525. In the embodiment shown, the supporting structure comprises four supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d which are arranged with distances between each other around the axis of rotation 506. The supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d each comprise an abutting surface 595, which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation 506 and, in the closed condition of the housing 520, faces towards the external cutting member 560. The abutting surfaces 595 of the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d extend in a common plane. In FIG. 16, the abutting surface of only the supporting element 519b is indicated by the reference number 595 for simplicity. Preferably, the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d are integrally formed at the base portion 551 of the housing 520, e.g. by means of an injection molding process, and preferably they are evenly distributed around the axis of rotation 506. In the embodiment shown, the four supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d are arranged around the axis of rotation 506 with angular separations of approximately 90° between them. The abutting surfaces 595 of the four supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d together form an abutment structure for the external cutting member 560 in the closed condition of the housing 520.

Starting from the opened condition of the housing 520 with the external cutting member 560 and the internal cutting member 580 being held in their operating positions in the cover portion 530 by the holding component 517 as shown in FIG. 18a, a user has to close the housing 520 by pivoting the cover portion 530 relative to the base portion 551 until the cover portion 530 is coupled to the base portion 551 by means of the snapping elements 553. When the housing 520 is closed in this way and the cover portion 530 is coupled to the base portion 551 by means of the snapping elements 553, the circumferential rim 569 of the external cutting member 560 will abut against the abutting surfaces 595 of the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d and will remain in abutting contact with the abutting surfaces 595. As a result, in the closed condition of the housing 520, the external cutting member 560 is directly supported by the abutting surfaces 595 of the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 506. As a result, pressure forces, which are exerted on the external cutting member 560 during use mainly in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 506, will be mainly transferred by the external cutting member 560 directly to the supporting structure formed by the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d and, thereby, directly to the base portion 551 of the housing 520. As a result, the holding component 517 does not need to receive and transfer said pressure forces, or may need to receive and transfer only a minor portion of said pressure forces. For this reason, the holding component 517 and also the coupling mechanism 533a, 533b, by means of which is holding component 517 is releasably coupled to the cover portion 530, do not need to have a relatively rigid structure which would be required to receive and transfer said pressure forces. The holding component 517 should only be able to maintain the external cutting member 560 and the internal cutting member 580 in their operating positions in the cover portion 530 when the cover portion 530 is pivoted relative to the base portion 551 to open the housing 520. For this purpose, the holding component 517 and also the coupling mechanism 533a, 533b only need to have a relatively weak structure. Such a relatively weak structure enables an easy and simple manipulation by the user of the holding component 517 during cleaning or replacing the cutting members 560, 580.

In particular, in this embodiment the abutment structure formed by the abutting surfaces 595 of the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d provides, in the closed condition of the housing 520 and in said axial direction, a form-locking engagement with the external cutting member 560, wherein the external cutting member 560 is locked in the axial direction between the abutting surfaces 595 and the cover portion 530. Preferably, the abutment structure also provides a form-locking engagement with the external cutting member 560 in radial directions perpendicular to the axis of rotation 506. For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d each comprise a further abutting surface 596, which extends in a tangential direction with respect to the axis of rotation 506. In FIG. 16, the further abutting surface of only the supporting element 519b is indicated by the reference number 596 for simplicity. The further abutting surfaces 596 of the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d have equal distances to the axis of rotation 506. As a result, in the closed condition of the housing 520, the annular circumferential rim 569 of the external cutting member 560 is also held in a radially centered position relative to the axis of rotation 506 by the further abutting surfaces 596. FIG. 17 shows the external cutting member 560 in a position supported by the supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d, but does not show the cover portion 530.

It is to be understood that a direct support of the external cutting member 560 by the base portion 551 of the housing 520 in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 506 may also be achieved by a supporting structure different from the supporting structure having the four supporting elements 519a, 519b, 519c, 519d as described here before. The supporting structure may have a different number of supporting elements, although in embodiments having a plurality of supporting elements at least three supporting elements are preferred for a stable support of the external cutting member. Instead of being provided on the bottom wall 524 of the base portion 551, the supporting structure may alternatively be provided on e.g. a side wall of the base portion 551, e.g. as a supporting surface extending circumferentially around the hair collecting chamber 527. A skilled person will be able to define suitable alternative embodiments wherein the supporting structure is provided in the base portion of the housing such as to support the external cutting member at least in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation in the closed condition of the housing of the cutting unit.

The invention further relates to a shaving apparatus comprising a main housing accommodating a motor and comprising a shaving unit as described here before. In particular, the shaving unit is or may be releasably coupled to the main housing by means of the coupling member 70, 170, 470. The main housing accommodating the motor and any further components of such a shaving apparatus, such as a rechargeable battery, user interface, and electrical control circuitry, are not shown in the figures and are not described in any further detail, as they are generally known to a person skilled in the art.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

SHAVING UNIT HAVING CUTTING UNITS WITH PRIMARY PIVOT AXES

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