US3421217A - Hair receptacle for electric shaver - Google Patents

Description

n- 14, 1969 D. 1.. SHORTLIDGE ETAL 3,421,217

HAIR RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRIC SHAVER Sheet of Filed June 29, 1967 I m F INVENTORS .PD/WMP .4. ,SA/Olfd IP68 JAME! (MI/ffJ/VSfA-l 1969 D. 1.: SHORTLIDGE ETAL 3,421,217

HAIR RECEPTAGLE FOR ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed June 29, 1967 Sheet 2 'of 2 I T h 4 -57 INVENTOR ORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair receptacle assembly for an electric shaver including a trough-like receptacle and spring attachment arranged as a toggle joint, and a push button actuator malntained in operative relation to one another solely by the configuration of the parts and in which limited movement of the push button pivotally transfers the receptacle from a closed to open position by toggle action.

Background of the invention Electrically driven shavers utilize driven cutters which cut hair. A common cutter structure consists of substantially rectangular outer and inner cutters having open ends. In operation the inner cutter is reciprocally driven in the direction of its longitudinal axis and the hair clippings are ejected from the open ends of the cutters. It is quite common to provide receptacle means at either end of the cutters to receive the hair clippings. Suitable receptacle members must be attached to the shaver casing so that they can be readily opened or removed to allow removal of the clippings.

Summary of the invention A cutting device having a casing, an open-ended cutter head supported thereon, a recess formed in said casing adjacent the open end of said cutter head, bottom and side wall portions of said casing bordering said recess, a trough- -like hair receptacle, bottom edge and front portions of said receptacle, a spring member, a pivotal connection of said spring member and said receptacle, said spring extending within said recess and being anchored at its remaining end to said casing, a toggle joint formed by said spring and said receptacle, a closed position of said receptacle in which said receptacle substantially overlies said recess and said spring maintains said bottom edge and said front portion in contact with said bottom portion and said wall portion respectively, an open position of said receptacle in which said receptacle is away from said recess, first and second positions of said toggle joint respectively coinciding with said closed and open positions of said receptacle, means for shifting said bottom edge on said bottom wall to rotate said receptacle about said pivotal connection to transfer said receptacle from the closed to the open position thereof and said spring flexing to allow transfer of said toggle joint from the first to the second position thereof during transfer of said receptacle from the closed to the open position.

Description of the drawings In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an electric shaver provided with hair receptacles in accordance with this invention in which the receptacles are shown in full lines in the closed position thereof and in broken lines in the open position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1 in which the several parts of the invention are shown in the closed position of the hair receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the 3,421,217 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 "Ice hair receptacle is illustrated in an intermediate or partially open position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in which the hair receptacle is illustrated in its completely open position, and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of hair receptacle, push button actuator and linking spring member.

Description of the preferred embodiment In the embodiment shown in the figures the shaver comprises a molded casing 10 upon which is mounted a form of cutter head which is well known in the art consisting of inner and outer cutters which are referred to herein jointly by the numeral 11 which are open at ends 12, with the case 10 recessed adjacent these open ends. A control switch 10 is shown in FIG. 1.

Hair receptacles 13 and 14 of the present invention are provided attached to the casing at either end of the cutter head 11 in order to overlie the respective case recess and to receive hair clippings ejected from the cutter end 12 during the cutting process. Since each of the hair receptacles 13 and 14 and its associated assembly is identical, only receptacle 13 and the parts associated therewith will be described in detail.

Receptacle 13 is formed of suitable material in troughlike or open face configuration having top wall 15 and side walls 16 and 17portions of the edge of which define a continuing edge surface 18-and a rear wall 19. Partitions 20 of the receptacle 13 project slightly outwardly beyond edge surface 18 to provide contact surfaces 21. Sections 22 formed on the receptacle provide pockets 23 and substantially right angled front and bottom surfaces 24 and 25. Projecting downwardly from each of the shoulders is a leg 26 having a spherical protrusion 27 and rear surface 28.

Spring member 29 is provided to link the receptacle 13 to the casing and to form therewith a toggle joint. Spring 29 which may be formed of steel or other suitable spring material, consists of base portion 30, rolled over portion 31 and intermediate connecting body portion 32. The rolled over portion 31 provides a cylinder for receipt within pockets 23 of the receptacle 13 forming a pivotal connection therewith and the wing portions 30 and 30" of the base 30 are capable of flexure in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 5.

Push button 33 which is provided for transferring the receptacle 13 from the closed position shown in FIG. 2 to the open position shown in FIG. 4 has a body 34 of substantially diamond cross section which is slideably disposed in opening 35 of casing 10 and an enlarged wall portion 36. The wall portion is maintained within casing 10 in all positions of the receptacle 13 and has formed therein spherical depressions 37 which receive and cooperate with the spherical protrusions 27 of the receptacle.

The manner of using the receptacle and the cooperation of elements 13, 29 and 33 in cooperation with the casing will now be described. It should be noted throughout that the several parts are held in proper relation to one another by the configurations and surfaces thereof. Hence the button 34 and spring 29 are maintained in the casing by their configurations and the configuration of portions of the casing While the receptacle 13 is maintained with respect to the several parts by the spring and the configuration of receptacle 13 and portions of the casing. No pinning or additional attachment means are required thereby resulting in a reduction in cost both as to materials and assembly operations.

The spring member 29 is anchored Within the casing 10 since its base 30 is disposed within channel 38 formed in the casing with its intermediate portion projecting through channel 39 which is substantially at a right angle to channel 38.

In the closed receptacle position shown in FIG. 2 the base 30 of spring 29 is adjacent surface 40 of the casing and the wing portions 39' and 30" are contacting partition 41 with the intermediate spring portion 32 in contact with partition 42. The rolled over portion 31 of the spring is within pockets 23 and the receptacle 13 is loaded by the toggle action of the spring against bottom wall 43 and side wall 44 of the casing. Additionally, the contact surfaces 21 are adjacent surface 45 of the casing determining the position of receptacle 13. The legs 26 of the receptacle are within the casing with spherical protrusions 27 within the respective spherical depressions 37 of button actuator 33. Hence the parts are maintained in relative position and the receptacle 13 will not move from the closed position shown in FIG. 2 without the application of force. Also the toggle joint provided by receptacle and spring is in one of its two ultimate positions.

When it is desired to transfer receptacle 13 to the open position, force is applied in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 to button actuator 33. As the button is moved, legs 26 are moved inwardly to the right in FIG. 3 and the receptacle 13 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pivotal connection of receptacle and spring as the spherical protrusions 27 ride first in the depressions 37 and then on zone 36' of the button wall portion 36 clearing partitions 41 and 42. During this movement, spring 29 is drawn upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3 which is the dead center position of the toggle joint with base 30 as well as the wing portions 30 and 30" engaging the lower portion of partition 41. The spring has flexed in order to come to this position. While this is occurring, the pivotal edge 46 of the receptacle has moved to the right on surface 43 until the toggle joint has crossed dead center position and the rear surface 28 of the legs 26 encounters surface 47 of the casing, as shown in FIG. 4. In this position, which is the fully opened position of the receptacle, the base of the spring 29 has returned to the position within channels 38, 39 which it had in FIG. 2 the closed position. This is the second toggle joint position. The spring 29 is biased at its intermediate portion so that slight force applied to receptacle 13 in a counter-clockwise direction will result in the receptacle returning to the closed position shown in FIG. 2 in a snap action.

Hence the receptacle 13 can be readily opened for cleaning or removal of hair shavings. The actuator button when pushed acts on the legs 26 causing opening of the receptacle 13 about an axis defined by the rolled over portion of the spring 31 which position is allowed to move or change during the closing by flexure of the spring base. This over-center toggle action of the spring and receptacle causes complete opening of the receptacle although the push button is not in contact with the receptacle for the full travel thereof, Closing of the receptacle automatically returns the button actuator to the original position shown in FIG. 2.

We claim:

1. A cutting device having a casing, an open-ended cutter head supported thereon, a recess formed in said casing adjacent the open end of said cutter head, bottom and side wall portions of said casing bordering said recess, a trough-like hair receptacle, bottom edge and front portions of said receptacle, a spring member, a pivotal connection of said spring member and said receptacle, said spring extending within said recess and being anchored at its remaining end to said casing, a toggle joint formed by said spring and said receptacle, a closed position of said receptacle in which said receptacle substantially overlies said recess and said spring maintains said bottom edge and said front portion in contact with said bottom portion and said wall portion respectively, an open position of said receptacle in which said receptacle is away from said recess, first and second positions of said toggle joint respectively coinciding with said closed and open positions of said receptacle, means for shifting said bottom edge on said bottom wall to rotate said receptacle about said pivotal connection to transfer said receptacle from the closed to the open position thereof and said spring flexing to allow transfer of said toggle joint from the first to the second position thereof during transfer of said receptacle from the closed to the open position said pivotal connection of said spring member and said receptacle consisting of a rolled over portion of said spring and a pocket for receipt thereof formed in said receptacle.

2. A cutting device having a casing, an open-ended cutter head supported thereon, a recess formed in said casing adjacent the open end of said cutter head, bottom and side wall portions of said casing bordering said recess, a trough-like hair receptacle, bottom edge and front portions of said receptacle, a spring member, a pivotal connection of said spring member and said receptacle, said spring extending within said recess and being anchored at its remaining end to said casing, a toggle joint formed by said spring and said receptacle, a closed position of said receptacle in which said receptacle substantially overlies said recess and said spring maintains said bottom edge and said front portion in contact with said bottom portion and said wall portion respectively, an open position of said receptacle in which said receptacle is away from said recess, first and second positions of said toggle joint respectively coinciding with said closed and open positions of said receptacle, a button actuator slidably supported by said case, a spherical depression formed in said button actuator, a leg extending from said receptacle, a spherical protrusion formed on said leg disposed within said spherical depression in the closed position of said receptacle, said spherical protrusion rollingly disengaging from said spherical depression upon movement of said button actuator for shifting said bottom edge on said bottom wall to rotate said receptacle about said pivotal connection to transfer said receptacle from the closed to the open position thereof and said spring flexing to allow transfer of said toggle joint from the first to the second position thereof during transfer of said receptacle from the closed to the open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,022 3/1942 Thomas 30-416 2,286,660 6/1942 Wallace 30-41.6 X 2,379,969 7/1945 Kobler et al. 3041.6 3,220,109 11/1965 De Haan et al. 3041.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,140,487 11/1962 Germany.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

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