US2268005A - Shaving implement - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941. H. c. WRIGHT SHAVING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1938 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 SHAVING-IMPLEMENT Horace 0. Wright, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chlcago flexible Shaft Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 25, 1938, Serial No. 192,457

(c1. sit-43) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a shaving'implement of the type known as a dry shaver.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved shaving implement of this type characterized by the use of one or more cutter blades carried by a rapidly rotating holder and urged by centrifugal force into shearing engagement with the inner surface of a cutting head or comb having openings or perforations through which the beard or hair projects by manipulation of the comb 'against the skin and is cut off by the shearing action of the blade against the inner side of the' comb.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved shaving implement having a comb provided with an annular skin-engaging portion having small hair-receiving openings or perforations preferably closely positioned to facilitate the entrance of the beard or hair, at any side circumferentially of the head, together with a rapidly rotating blade holder within the comb nular area provided with teeth suitable for separating and cutting long loose hairs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shaving implement having a comb of the character described which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

erence to the following description when conequipped with one or more blades arranged for movement under centrifugal force into shearing engagement with the inner side of the perforated portion of the comb so as to efiect shearing of the hair at any point in the circumference of said perforate portion.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved shaving implement characterized by the provision of a rapidly rotating blade holder carrying one or more cutter blades adapted to move outwardly under centrifugal force into shearing engagement with a thin perforate member of a comb to effect the cutting off of the heard or hair projecting throughthe one or more openings of said perforate member.

Another object is to provide a shaving implement of the character described in which the perforate cutting member is of annular form having a relatively wide base and a cutting area decreasing in diameter away from the base, this member having closely positioned hair-receiving openings or perforations efiective for the shaving purpose at any point circumferentlally of the member, together with suitable cutting means operating in shearing relation with the inner side of the perforate member.

Another object is to provide a shaving implement having a comb of frusto-conical form or shape characteristics similar to such form.

Another object is to provide in a shaving implement, a comb having an annular cutting area provided with small hair-receiving perforations adapted for beard-shavingand a contiguous an.

sidered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a shaving implement embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section, partly in elevation, through the shaving implement;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the cutting head or comb removed; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

My invention in one of its phases contemplates the provision of a rapidly rotating cutter blade holder equipped with one or more cutter blades mounted with capacity for movement under centrifugal force into shearing engagement with the inner surface of a perforate cutting head or comb. This invention may be embodied in various forms and in the drawing I have illustrated but a single embodiment. In this embodiment the comb, designated generally by H, is an annular unitary member of conical or frusto-conical form. It will be understood, however, that my invention in its broader aspect may utilize a comb or other form, so long as the comb includes an arcuate perforate portion against which the rotating blade or blades has shearing engagement. This comb member, of extremely thin steel, is perforated preferably throughout an annular area to provide .small closely spaced openings I! for beard hairs. It is also provided with a series of elongated perforations designated generally by l3 adapted for the reception of long loose hairs, these perforations being in a circumferential area contiguous to the annular area having the small perforations, in this instance at the base of the comb. Each perforation I3 is shaped to provide a series of teeth 14' adapted to separate loose hairs and lead or guide them to the cutting edges. As here shown the teeth ll are in opposed relation and each tooth presents cutting edges at the inner side of the 56 comb with which a cutting element to be presently described cooperates in a shearing action.

One or more cutting elements may be employed and in the present embodiment I have shown a pair of cutter blades l5 and I6 which have shearing engagement with the inner edges of the small perforations l2 as well as the inner edges of the teeth I. The combination of a cutter blade in cooperation with small closely arranged perforations for close shaving, together with teeth for separating and cutting off long loose hairs, is the subject matter of an invention claimed in the application of John Bruecker, Serial No. 178,221, filed December 6, 1937, for Shaving implement now Patent No. 2,234,891. In the present invention I have arranged the perforations l2 and i 3 in an annular or circumferential area so that the shaving operation may be performed equally well at any point around the circumference of the cutting head. In this connection it will be observed that the conical head or comb is a factor in permitting a direct drive, between the motor and the cutter holder. More particularly, the characteristic features of the comb, namely, the relatively wide annular base with the annular cutting area diminishing in diameter toward the outer end of the head permits of close and direct coupling with a motor and avoids any housing or casing structure which might otherwise obstruct the freedom of shaving at any point around the circumference of the comb. This annular comb structure also permits of the use of a rapidly rotating cutter blade urged by centrifugal force into shearing engagement with the comb. It also provides for an improved arrangement of hair perforations, above described.

In the form shown, the comb is held in working position on an annular end 20 of the body or motor housing 30 by means of a ring or collar H which telescopes over the annular end 20 and is detachably connected thereto. For this purpose I prefer to employ a bayonet slot l8 adapted to engage a retaining pin l9 fixed to the housing end 20. In this instance, the band I! has an annular inwardly turned flange 2| at its outer end which fits overa complemental outwardly turned flange 22 on the base end of the comb and holds the latter seated against the housing end.

The cutter blades l5 and I6 are carried on a rotating holder 23 coaxial with the armature shaft 24 of the motor and connected to said shaft by any suitable means. Preferably the blade holder has a direct connection to the armature shaft so as to eliminate the use of intermediate motion transmitting devices necessary to certain types of shavers. Here, for purpose of illustration, I have shown the blade holder as being threadedly engaged on the end 25 of the armature shaft. By means of this connection the blade holder is directly rotated by the armature shaft and, in effect, is fixed with respect thereto. Suitable means may be employed for preventing endwise displacement of the blade holder such, for instance, as the holder having end thrust at 26 against the bearing member 21 and movement in the opposite direction being prevented by a suitable thrust bearing 28 between the armature shaft and the opposite end of the bearing. As shown in Fig. 4, the holder 23 is diametrically slotted at 23 to provide for the free sliding reception of the blades l5 and IS. The blades may, however, be suitably supported on the holder,

each with freedom for movement in a radial thus minimize the friction between the holder and the blades. Where the comb is of conical shape as here shown, I have supported the blades against lengthwise displacement with respect 'to the holder by means of supporting pins 3|. \With this construction the blades are pivotally suspended from their upper ends and each blade is free to swing upon and about its pin 3| as a fulcrum and is also free to move bodily in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the holder by reason of a slot 32 in the blade which receives the pin 3|. the holder the cutter blades will be swung outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the inner wall of the comb and this force will urgev the cutter blades against the comb in a shearing action. Each blade is slotted at 33 to provide clearance beneath the area between the teeth l4. These slots prevent the cutter edges from coming intocontact with the skin during,

the cutting operation and they also provide for this function as the cutters wear. Means such as one or more springs (not shown) may be employed for urging the cutter blades outwardly into shearing engagement with the comb and to supplement the centrifugal force.

The cutter blades may be made of razor blade steel or other suitable material. The comb may be made of spring steel or other suitable material preferably of approximately .012" in thickness, the material being blanked and drawn or otherwise formed into a conical shape. It is then perforated and hardened. The inner and outer surfaces are then ground and machined until the perforated area of the comb has a thickness of approximately .003".- This grinding and lapping may, however, be performed on the inner wall only for the purpose of reducing the thickness of the perforated area and for providing a highly finished and accurate shearing face at the inner side of the comb. As above mentioned the comb may be of forms other than conical, to include either an arcuate or a circumferential shearing area.

The electric motor designated generally by 34, may be of any type and construction not inconsistent with the objects of my invention. The direct connection between the armature shaft and the cutter or blade holder is desirable because of compactness and also the elimination of intermediate motion transmitting meansf The armature may be at either end. The comb may b close coupled to the body or housing with the adjoining walls of the latter confined approximately within a projection of the conical plane so as not to interfere with use of the shaver at any side of the comb.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that changes may be made in the form and construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which I claim:

1. In a shaving implement,- a tubular cutting head of thin metal perforated to provide hairreceiving openings closely spaced in a circumferential area, a cutter blade, a rotary blade holder within the cutting head supporting the blade in a radial plane with respect to its axis of rotation and free to move outwardly in said Thus, upon rapid rotation of I plane under centrifugal force when the holder is rapidly rotated to urge its cutting 'edge into shearing engagement with the inner surface of said perforated circumferential area, and means for so rotating the holder, said perforated circumferential area being of frusto-conical form and the blade being pivotally suspended from the holder adjacent to the smaller end of the cutting head. a

2. In a shaving implement, a frusto-conical comb having hair-receiving perforations closely spaced throughouta circumferential shaving area adjacent to the narrow end and having a row of cutter teeth in the circumferential area contiguous to the first mentioned area, said closely spaced perforations being adapted for close shaving and said cutter teeth being adapted for long hair cutting, a thin fiat cutter blade, a holder for the blade mounted for rotation within the comb about an axis coaxial therewith, the holder having a blade guiding slot in a plane radial with respect to said axis, the blade having a sliding fit in said guide slot and maintained substantially normal to the inner surface of the comb, means pivotally supporting the blade on the holder so that the blade is responsive to centrifuged force when the holder is rapidly rotated whereby the outer longitudinal edge of the blade is urged by centrifugal force into intimate shearing engagement with the inner side of the comb substantially throughout the length of said shaving areas for 3 simultaneous coaction with said close shaving perforations and said long hair cutter teeth and whereby the comb is operative for shaving at any localized area in its perforated circumference.

3. In a shaving implement, a frusto-conical .comb having an annular base of relatively wide diameter and having hair-receiving openings closely spaced throughout a circumferential shaving area which extends throughout substantially the length of the comb except for a narrow circumferential base area and having a substantially continuous row of long hair cutter teeth in said base area, a thin flat cutter blade, a holder for the blade mounted for rotation within the comb about an axis coaxial therewith, the holder having a blade guiding slot in a plane radial with respect to said axis, the blade having a sliding fit in said guide slot and maintained substantially normal to the inner surface of the comb, and means pivotally supporting the blade on the holder adjacent to the narrow end of the comb so that the blade is responsive to centrifugal force when the holder is rapidly rotated whereby the outer longitudinal edge of the blade is urged by centrifugal force into intimate shearing engagement with the closely spaced openings at the inner side of the comb substantially throughout the length of said circumferential shaving area and the cutter teeth in said narrow base area.

Images