US2808645A - Rotary spring-driven dry shaver - Google Patents

Description

P. TOURNER ROTARY SPRING-DRIVEN DRY sHAvER oct, 8,: 1957 Filed Nov. 25. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] lllllll Il Il /NVENVTOK PAUL 'niumw :5RV

2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25. 1952 IILI INVENTR PAU/ TAURN 1ER E), fg.

ROTARY SPRING-DMN DRY sHAVER Paul Tournier, Monte Carlo, Monaco, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Comptoir France Etranger, Monte Carlo, Monaco, a joint-stock corporation of Monaco Application November 25, 1952, Serial No. 322,479

Claims priority, application France November 27, 1951 3 Claims. (Cl. Sil-43) This invention relates to dry razors comprising a cutting piece adapted to be driven in rotation by a motor which may be of the spring type and provided in contact with a xed grid.

It has for its object a razor of this type remarkable by its simple structure and the easy use it requires.

A razor according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the case containing the driving mechanism which will be preferably of the spring type, is formed with two shells removably assembled, into which the extremities of the various axes of the device are directly engaged.

Owing to such an arrangement, the case may be given any desired shape allowing to grasp it properly, Which would not be possible with a sleeve-shaped case into which an independent casing containing the driving mechanism would be engaged, such as by sliding it, for instance.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention which can be carried out when the driving motor is of the spring type, the case is formed at one extremity with a wider part in which the spring is housed, the cutting head being laterally secured in the other extremity, and with a narrower middle part allowing it to be properly held by the user.

The cuts of the grid will be preferably formed by groups, for instance, by threes, the cuts of one group being parallel to each other. The width of the bridges, that is to say of the metal strips separating the cuts in one group, 4is thus constant, which increases thestrength of' the grid and prevents breakage of the bridges in case f bending thereof.

In order to ensure a maximum operating surface of the grid, it will be advantageous to form a hole or a small cut in the proximity of the periphery of said grid, between two adjacent groups of cuts.

The cuts may be formed only on the substantially fiat surface of the grid or theyl may extend to the peripheral edge thereof; the latter arrangement is particularly advantageous when it is desired to shave oft" very tine hairs.

Also, the cuts of the grid will be preferably formed radially and the blades carried by the cutting piece form with the corresponding radius an angle higher than ofthe range of for instance, so that said blades, as the cutting piece is rotating, perform an inwardly cutting action.

The cutting piece will be advantageously connected to its driving shaft through a Cardan device which allows said cutting piece to oscillate, whereby the centering of same is facilitated and, consequently, a loss of power avoided which may occur when the cutting piece is not perfectly centered with respect to the grid.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the razor, a part of which has been torn ofi.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the speed regulator along liuc lll-lll 0f Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is aV sectional View along IV-IV of Fig.V 3.

Fig. 5 is an axial sectionalv view of the cutting head. i

Fig. 6 is a top view of the cutting piece.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the grid.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a cut ofthe grid of Fig. 7 on a larger scale.

Fig. 9 is a perspeetiveview of a modified embodiment of the grid. v

Fig. l0 is an axial( sectionalview of the cutting piece differently mounted.

Fig. ll illustrates how lubrication of the shafts is effected.

The razor according to the invention, illustrated on the drawings, comprises a case formed by two shells 1 and 2, assembledby means of screws not shown, in one extremity of which a cutting piece holder 3 is screwed.

In the case 1-2 is mounted a pivoting winding shaft 4 about which a spring box 5 is adapted to rotate and one extremity of which can house a fixed-or removable winding key. In said spring box is housed a spring 6, the ends ofV which are fastened respectively toa` catch 7 integral with the spring-box and a catch 8 integral with the shaft 4. A` ratchet wheel 9,. keyed on the shaft 4, cooperates with a pawl 10 mounted to pivot freely on the case so.V as to prevent the shaft from rotating when the spring is set.

As shown. on Fig.f2, .themain bodyY part ofthe case that contains the spring box 5 is wider than the second curvedV part supporting Vthe cutting head, `and the casing includes a neck portion, asillustratedV at la, which makes it easy to hold the razor.

The spring box 5 is integral with. a toothed Wheel 11 meshing. with a pinion 12 keyedY ont a shaft 13 which carries a toothed wheel 14..y Said wheel, in turn, meshes with a pinion 1Sv the axis of which 16 carries a1 toothed wheel 17 meshing with a pinion 18 keyed on the driving shaft 19 Eof the cutting piece.

On the shaft 19 is secured a centrifugal regulating wheel intended to ensure for the cutting piece a constant speed. VSaid regulating part (Figs. 3 and` 4) is formed with a cylindrical piece 20 having insideof it an annular recess 21 in which are mounted. at 22 two blocks 23.

Each of said blocks is provided on its outer face with a piece of felt 24 capable of rubbing against the Wall of thev cutting, piece holder 3.- A` compression spring 25 connects the tailof the blocks to the case 20. It is apparent that, under such circumstances, when the shaft 19 rotates, the blocks 23 pivot about axes 22, in opposition to the action of the springs 25 and thatY the felts 24 rub against the walls of the head holder 3 all the stronger as the speed of the shaft 19'is higher.

On the shaft 19 is mounted with a certain clearance a socket member 26V having two longitudinal slots 27- opposite to each other, engaged by the extremities of a pin 28 forced into the shaft 19. A coil spring 29 is interposedY between Vthe bottom of the socket 26 and theextremity of the shaft 19, a ring shaped spring 30 being engaged in an annular cut made at the bottom of the. socket member 26 and cooperating with. thevpinl 28 toy prevent the shaft 19 from getting out ofthe socket under the action of the spring 29. Itis apparent that the socket member 26 can not only move axially but also slantwise` and, more particularly along the pin 28.

The cutting piece shown in Fig.. 6 comprises a disc 31: carrying blades 32.A The disc. 31 has at the centre an` elongated aperture 33 in which is housed a finger 34 having a rectangular cross-section, integral with the socket member 26 and which is directed substantially at a right angle to the pin 28. A screw 35 is screwed in the finger 34, but it does not bear on the disc 31 so that it holds the latter while allowing same to move in the direction of the aperture 33, the length `of the latter being for this purpose greater than that of the finger 34 and, even, to move slantwise by a certain angle with respect to the axis of the socket member 26. VAs the socket member 26 can move slantwise or in a certain direction with respect to the shaft 19, and as the disc 31 can move with respect to the socket member 26 in a direction perpendicular to the previous one, it is obvious that, in fact, the disc is connected by a universal joint or Cardan with respect to the shaft.

As illustrated on Figs. and 6, the body of the blades 32 is inclined by an angle of about 35 in the direction of the rotation and the cutting edge of each one forms an angle of about 30 with the corresponding radius.

On the cutting piece holder 3 is screwed a support 37 for a thin grid 3S against which the spring 29 yieldingly presses the blades. As shown on Fig. 7,` the cuts 39 of said grid are arranged by groups, which are of three cuts in the embodiment illustrated, and in one group, the cuts are parallel. Between two adjacent groups, near the periphery of the grid, is formed a hole 40 or a narrower cut.

The cuts of the grid may be formed by coating a thin plate with an acid proof ink or composition all over one side and by leaving on the other side the places of the cuts uncoated, then dripping said plate in an acid bath. This method permits cuts having a funnel-like transversal cross-section as shown on Fig. 8.

A cap 41 having lateral cuts 42 can be fitted with a soft friction on the grid support 37. The grid may be strengthened at the centre with a disc 42' secured to the grid with a rivet 43.

In the operation, the blades 32 can be perfectly centered with respect to the grid 38 in view of the arrangement of the socket 26 on the shaft 19 on the one hand and, of the disc 31 on said socket 26, on the other hand. As the blades 32 form an angle of about 30 with the cuts 39, they ensure an inwardly cutting action allowing for a soft cut. i

In the particular embodimentillustrated on Fig. 9, the cuts 39 extend over the peripheral edge 44 of the grid.

In the dilerent embodiment of Fig. l0, the disc 31 is mounted on a rectangular-sectioned part 45 capable of pivoting about an axis 46 with respect to a socket 47 screwed on the shaft 19. The spring 27 is placed between the disc 31 and a shoulder 48 of the socket 47. A pin 49 is fitted in the extremity of the part 45 and prevents same from getting out of the disc under the action of the spring 27. The cut 33 of the disc 31 is such that the disc can move in the direction of the axis 46 and it is obvious that said disc 31 is Cardan mounted with respect to the shaft 19.

To lubricate the various shafts of the device, one may operate as shown on Fig. l1. In said ligure, a shaft numbered 50 is mounted for pivoting at each extremity in a bearing 51, of bronze, for instance; the bearing 51 is housed in a recess 52 provided for this purpose in the mass of the case 1 and an oil-impregnated felt S3 is placed between the bottom of said recess and the bearing.

Of course, the invention must not be considered as restricted to the embodiment described and illustrated and any modilication can be made without vdeparting from the scope of the application.

What l claim is:

l. A dry shaver comprising a casing, a driving coil spring motor housed inside said casing, a gear transmission device actuated by said motor, a driving shaft driven by said transmission device, and a cutting head comprising a rotatable cutter driven by said shaft, in which said casing comprises a first curved main body end part, a second curved end part of smaller sizes than said main body end part and an intermediate neck portion connecting said main body end part to said second curved end part, and in which said spring motor is housed inside said main body end part whereby said transmission device is housed partially in the neck portion and partially in the second curved end part of smaller sizes, and comprising further a fly-wheel fastened to said driving shaft in a plane parallel to that of said motor spring, a circular part of said casing concentric to said driving shaft, spring loaded segments hinged on said iiy-wheel, adapted to cooperate with thev inner Wall of said circular part of the casing in order to control the speed of said driving shaft, and in which said cutting head is fastened on said circular part of said casing, said spring motor and ily-wheel overlapping so that the distance between their respective axes is less than the sum of their respective radii.

2. A dry shaver comprising a casing adapted to be grasped by the fingers of an operator, a cutting head, a portion of said casing spacing said cutting head from the surface of said casing, rst and second shafts spaced and parallel in said casing, a coil spring coupled at a right angle to said first shaft for driving said shaft, said second shaft extending partly into said portion of said casing, transmission means coupling said first and second shafts, a rotary cutter in said cutting head and driven by said second shaft, and a circular speed control on said second shaft positioned in the said portion of said casing and in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of said coil spring, said speed control and coil spring overlapping so that thesum of their radii is greater than the distance between said first and second shafts.

3. In a dry shaver comprising a casing, a spring motor constituted by a barrel spring housed inside said casing, a gear transmission device actuated by said motor, a driving. shaft driven by said transmission `device and a cutting head comprising a rotatable cutter driven by said shaft,` the combination of a fly-Wheel fastened to said driving shaft, spring loaded centrifugal brake members mounted on said ily-wheel, and a cylindrical part of said casing coaxial to said driving shaft and carrying said cutting head, said brake members cooperating with the inner wall of said cylindrical part to maintain the revolving speed of the driving shaft at a constant value, said iiywheel revolving in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of said barrel spring and overlapping said barrel spring, whereby the distance of said driving shaft from the axis of said barrel spring is less than the sum of the barrel and ily-wheel radii.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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