A shaving device comprises a head structure (2) and a base structure (4). The head structure (2) is configured to retain and support at least one shaving head (30A, 30B, 30C). The head structure (2) is releasably retainable on the base structure (4). The base structure (4) is free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure (2) such that the head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is not supported in the area of its outer circumference. The head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is substantially only retained on the base structure (4) by a retaining force provided by a retaining structure of the base structure (4). When an overloading force is exerted on the head structure (2), the force is transferred to a coupling element (8) arranged in a central area (2A) of the head structure (2) such that the coupling element (8) is released from the retaining structure of the base structure (4) in order to prevent damage to the head structure (2).
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1. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises:
a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head;
a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; and
wherein the base structure comprises:
a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and
the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially only retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element,
wherein the coupling element is a shaft-like element protruding from the central area of the head structure and comprising, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure,
wherein the retaining structure comprises
a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and
a spring element at least partly provided in the retaining recess, the spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess,
and wherein the sloped surface protrudes from the shaft-like coupling element.
0. 13. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises:
a head support structure configured to hold at least two rotary shaving heads;
a coupling element arranged in a center of a substantially circular area, the substantially circular area being bounded by a radial center of each rotary shaving head; and
wherein the base structure comprises:
a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and
the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element,
wherein the coupling element protrudes from the substantially circular area of the head structure and comprises, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure,
wherein the retaining structure comprises
a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and
a spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess,
and wherein the sloped surface protrudes from the shaft-like coupling element.
6. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises:
a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head;
a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure; and
wherein the base structure comprises:
a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and
the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially only retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element,
wherein the coupling element is a shaft-like element protruding from the central area of the head structure and comprising, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure,
wherein the retaining structure comprises
a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and
a spring element at least partly provided in the retaining recess, the spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess,
and wherein a collar is provided around the coupling element for abutting on an edge around the a circumference of the retaining recess.
0. 14. A shaving device comprising a base structure and a head structure, wherein the head structure comprises:
a head support structure configured to hold at least two rotary shaving heads;
a coupling element arranged in a center of a substantially circular area, the substantially circular area being bounded by a radial center of each rotary shaving head; and
wherein the base structure comprises:
a retaining structure configured for releasably retaining the coupling element for coupling the head structure to the base structure; and
the base structure being free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure such that the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is not supported in the area of its outer circumference, and the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, being substantially retained on the base structure by a retaining force exerted by the retaining structure on the coupling element,
wherein the coupling element protrudes from the substantially circular area of the head structure and comprises, at a distal end thereof, a sloped surface facing the head support structure,
wherein the retaining structure comprises
a retaining recess for receiving the coupling element; and
a spring element being arranged for engaging the sloped surface of the coupling element such that the coupling element is retainable in the retaining recess,
and wherein a collar is provided around the coupling element for abutting on an edge around a circumference of the retaining recess.
2. The shaving device as claimed in
3. The shaving device as claimed in
4. The shaving device as claimed in
5. A head structure for use in the shaving device as claimed in
a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head;
a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure;
wherein the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is retainable on the base structure substantially only by a retaining force provided by the coupling element.
7. The shaving device as claimed in
8. The shaving device as claimed in
9. The shaving device as claimed in
10. The shaving device as claimed in
11. The shaving device as claimed in
12. A head structure for use in the shaving device as claimed in
a head support structure configured to hold at least one shaving head;
a coupling element arranged in a central area of the head structure;
wherein the head structure, when coupled to the base structure, is retainable on the base structure substantially only by a retaining force provided by the coupling element.
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Referring to
It is noted that a similar assembly of a head structure and a base structure may be applied in similar devices, such as a trimming device, tooth brush device, a grooming device, and the like. Further, the construction of the assembly may as well be advantageously employed for using a number of different head structures, such as a trimming head structure, a shaving head structure, a grooming head structure, a tooth brush head structure, and the like, in combination with a single base structure.
In
The coupling element 8 further comprises a collar 14. The collar 14 is configured to abut the base structure 4 at an edge around a retaining recess 18 in which the coupling element 8 is to be inserted. The retaining recess 18 in the base structure 4 is a part of a retaining structure. The retaining structure of the embodiment as illustrated in
In accordance with the present invention, the head structure 2 is releasable from the base structure 4, if a relatively large load, i.e. force or torque, is applied to the head structure 2, e.g. due to an accidental misuse or fall of the device. For this reason, the base structure 4 is free of any supporting elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure 2, such that the head structure 2 is not supported in the area of its outer circumference. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the head structure 2 is solely retained and supported by the coupling element 8. To this end, the head structure 2 and the base structure 4 are configured in such a way that a space restricted at one side by the head structure 2 and at its opposite side by the base structure 4 is substantially open at its remaining, surrounding side.
The coupling element 8 protrudes from the central area 2A. When a relatively large load is applied to a part of the head structure 2, the load is transferred through the central area 2A to the coupling element 8, resulting in a torque on the distal end of the coupling element 8. The resulting torque is transferred to the sloped surface 12A of the protrusion 12 at the distal end of the coupling element 8. The spring element 10A or 10B engaged with the sloped surface 12A is forced aside, thereby shifting over the sloped surface 12A. If the load is sufficiently large, the spring element 10A or 10B is shifted off the sloped surface 12A and the protrusion 12 is enabled to move past the spring element 10A or 10B, thereby releasing the coupling element 8 and the head structure 2 from the base structure 4.
In the above-described first embodiment, the retaining recess 18 has an inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the protrusion 12 at the distal end of the coupling element 8. Consequently, when inserted, the coupling element 8 is not supported against an inner wall of the retaining recess 18, as the outer diameter of the coupling element 8 is smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusion 12.
In a second embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the coupling element 8 is inserted in a retaining recess 18 of a base structure 4. A spring element 10 engages the sloped surface 16A, thereby clamping and retaining the coupling element 8 in the retaining recess 18. A collar 14 prevents that the coupling element 8 is further inserted into the retaining recess 18.
The substantially cylindrical coupling element 8 has a beveled distal end 20, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In operation, the second embodiment as illustrated in
Although detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variably employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.
Westerhof, Wilko, Van Der Meer, Mattheus Jacobus, Aitink, Albert Jan, Wolf, Harold, Smedinga, Oege
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
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Sep 11 2014 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Sep 23 2014 | SMEDINGA, OEGE | KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N V | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033870 | /0315 |
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