US3035191A - Cordless electric shaver - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1962 A. H. KENT 3,035,191

CORDLESS ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Aug. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rfa/eA/fyr May 15, 1962 A. H. KENT 3,035,191

CORDLESS ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Aug. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, ALLE/v A. Aff/vr- @Zag/ ning current reduces commutating problems.

3,035,191 CRDLESS ELECTRIC SHAVER Allen H. Kent, 20 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Allg. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,698 9 Claims. (Cl. S10-Sil) 'Dhis application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 700,789, tiled December 5, 1957, which has matured into Patent No. 2,963,598, granted Dec. 6, 1960.

The instant invention relates generally to electric Shavers and more particularly to a driving means for the razor head comprising a miniature D.C. motor and power pack combination which may be conveniently grasped with one hand during operation.

Today considerable consumer demand is directed toward small power driven devices, Therefore, it is highly desirable to utilize a driving means which includes its own source of power. Heretofore, efforts along these lines have produced driving means of considerable bulk and/or weight which, if directly coupled to the device in question, would make the hand manipulation of the device with any degree of precision an impossible task.

The instant invention provides a hand holdable driving means including its own power source adapted especially for a razor head. In essence, my driving means comprises a power pack :and a miniature D.C. motor of the type described in my copending application 683,641, tiled September l2, 1957. The power pack includes a holder wherein a plurality of circularly arranged miniature cells, such as 1.5 volt dry cell manufactured by the Burgess Battery Co. and designated 9K, are operatively disposed.

The power pack holder is of a frame-like construction comprising two insulating end disks maintained in spaced relationship by a plurality of elongated conducting struts ofk V-shaped cross-section to provide rigidity. A first contact member extends laterally in,` a rst direction from one endof each of the struts while a second contact member extends laterally in a second direction, opposite to the irst direction, from the other end of the strut. With this construction the cells are automatically con- 'nected in series by merely inserting all of the cells into the holder with the positive terminals facing in the same direction. Thus the conducting struts serve the dual functions of being support members and being circuit connectors.

This holder construction makes it highly unlikely that even an unskilled person will insert the cells in bucking relationship. The series connection of cells is preferred over a parallel connection since the higher voltage obtained thereby permits a motor of the same physical size to develop a greater starting torque and the lower run- Further, connection resistances become less critical as the voltage is raised. y l y The D C. motor and power pack are in alignment with one off the motor terminals arranged,y direct Contact with one end of the series connectionsvvofV the cells While a control means selectively engages; the motor casing which is connected to the other motor terminal, and when engaged completes the circuit to theI other end of the series connection of cells. The control means comprises a simple resilient conducting stripslidably mounted in electrical contact to the strut bearingythe Yend terminal in the series connection and being selectively positionable to engage the otherV motor terminal.

The motor and power pack are secured to one anl.

other lby means of two long studs which extend through studs also secure the components of the motor in place.

3,035,191 Patented May 15, 1962 One of the motor end brackets is formed with two integral bayonets. The bayonets are radially projected and are disposed to be received by slots in the housing of the razor head to cooperate therewith in securing the head to the motor.

The motor shaft extends past the end bracket having the bayonets and is received by a central opening of the rotor whereon the blades are mounted. A compression spring, rigidly secured to the motor shaft, includes an axially extending end section engageable with the rotor for rotating the blade assembly. rFhis sarme spring also urges the blades against the screened whisker guide.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel hand held driving means and razor head driven thereby.

Another object is to provide a novel, light-weight com pact combination of a D.C. motor and a power pack.

Still another object is to provide a novel stud fastening means whereby the motor and power pack are mechanically secured to one another in correct angular relationship with the fastening means also securing the motor components in place.

A further object is to provide a novel power pack including a holder wherein a plurality of circularly arranged dry cells are automatically connected in electrical series merely by inserting the cells with the terminals facing in the same direction. v

A still further object is to provide a frame-like holder comprising two end disks maintained in spaced relationship by means of `a plurality of conducting struts with the struts serving the dual functions of being structural members and conducting members.

Yet another object is to provide'a novel control means for the motor comprising a resilient member slideably mounted to one of the conducting struts off the holder.

Still another object is to provide a single spring means which serves as a driving connection between a motor and razor head and also biases the blades against the Whisker guide.

These as well as other objects of the instant invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the electric razor of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the razor of FIGURE 1 with certain components re,- moved.

FIGURES 3-5 are cross-sections of FIGURE l taken through lines 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5, respectively, looking in the directions of the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section taken through line 6 6 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of arrows 6-6.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View illustrating the mountingkof a strut between the two end disks of the power pac FIGURE 8 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the housing of the razor head.

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the razor head looking in the direction of arrows 9 9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE l() is an exploded view of the electric razor of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the figures, the device of the instant nvention includes a driving means which comprises power pack 21 completely disposed within cylindrical power pack housing 22 and miniature DC. motor 23 partially entered into housing 22. l VMotor 23 is of the type completely described in my aforesaid copending application 683,641 and includes 'a'rmetallic housing section 24 disposed between insulating'rend bracket 25 and metallic end bracket 26 with output shaft 27 extending outward through end bracket 26.

End bracket 26 includes an integrally formed section 1, of a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of motor 23, having radially extending bayonets 102 which are received 'by L`shaped openings 103 of razor head insert 104 to secure razor head 7105 to motor l23.

Razor -head 105 includes a ring housing v1016 having a screen Whisker guide '107 over one -end thereof.` Insert 104 is coaxially arranged within housing 10 6-and`includes an internal annular groove wherein spring retainer 108 is disposed. Spring 103 Oloosely retainsk blade assembly 110 within housing 106 between screen 107 and spring 108.

Blade assembly 110 comprises a rotor V1511 having three radially "extending arms 112 whereon 'blades 113 are secured fas by rivets 114. The Acutting Aedges `115 'of blades 113 are urged into lcontact with screen 107 by compressionspring 116 which is rigidly secured at one end to motor shaft 27 and vbearing against rotor 111.v Longitudinally extending .projection 118 at the free end of spring 1:16 'engages one of the rotor arms 112 along an edge thereof to provide a driving connection between motor 23 and rotor 111. At this time the free end of motor shaft 27 is disposed within the central opening 11111 of rotor 111. Y

' Terminal members 28 Aand 33 are disposed between end bracket 25' and insulating retaining member 30. End '28a of terminal member 2S engages a spring 201 which biases one of the motor brushes 2012 while the other end 2070 is disposed within slot 2.9 radially extending from central 'opening l31 of member 30 within which bearing cup 32 is disposed. One end 33a of terminal member 33 engages another spring 203 which biases the other motor brush 204 while the other end 33b is disposed within slot 30ar extending from the central opening 31 radially to the edge of member 30. End 3-3b is bent back on itself to form Vaterniinal engageable bythe cell casing which .forms the negative terminal'of dry cell 35.

'Power pack 21 comprises four `dry Vcells 35-38 arranged circularly within holder 40 which includes top 41 'and bottom 42 insulating disks. -Four struts 43-46 which maintain insulating disks 41, "42 `in spaced parallel relationship, are circularly Varranged so that a cell 35438 may fit between any two adjacent struts 43-46. l

Ea'ch strut 43-46 is an elongated member of V-s'haped cross-section having a pair of tabs 47, `48 at each end which, after being entered through appropriate slits in ' disks 41, 42, are bent overthe outer faces -thereof to to the arithmetic sum of the voltages appearing across all of the cells 35-33.

Motor 23 is positioned in axial alignment with powerpack 21 at one end thereof land is angularly arranged so that motor -terminal member end 336 is positioned Within radial slot 41a of disk "41 and will contact the t negative terminal of cell 35. Studs 150, 151 and nuts sulating member 30,disk 41 and disk 42. The threaded ends of studs 150, 151 are engaged hy nuts :1:52, 153, respectively, while the head of studs 150, 151 are disposed within countersunk holes `surrounding vthe apertures through end bracket 26. Thus, studs 150, 151 notonly secure motor 23fto power kpack 21 but also secure end .secure -struts 213-46 to disks 41, 42. as a rigid structure. Y

Each strut /43-45 also'includes terminals 49, 50 formed integrally therewith and positioned adjacent to the .inner faces of disks 41, 42, respectively. Terminal 49' extends 'at right angles, in a iirst direction, from one leg of .the 'V 'while terminal '50 extends at right angles, ina second, from the other leg ofthe V with the second direction "being substantially opposite to said iirst direction. Terminals 49, Y50 are each appropriately bowed at 52 and y'53. The bowing yat 52 and 53 together with the resiliency n of the "strut material assures good electrical contact beyelectrical path is established as follows: from terminal v 50 .of s'trut 46, 'through cell 38 from plus to minus to terminal 49 of strut 45, through strut 4S to terminal 50 lthereof,'through cell 37' from plus to minus Vto terminal '49 of strut 44, through strut 44 ,to terminal 50i thereof, through cell :36 from plus to minus to terminal 49 of jstr'u't 43, and finally ,through cell 35 from plus to minus. Thus, the voltage between strut 46 and the terminal of cell 35 not connected to terminal 50 of strut 43 is equal brackets 25, 26 to motor housing 24. It is to be noted that studs 150, 15-1 are disposed between the arms of V-struts 4S, 43, respectively, so as not to interferewith the insertion and withdrawal of cells 35-38.

A control means for selectively energizing motor 23 comprisesV a resilient conduct-ing strip 60, the maj-orporf tion 61 off which is in sliding contact with strut L46 being retained thereto lby tabs 62 bent inwardly `from the long edges of strut `46. Strip V60 is stepped 'atyshoulder 63 to provide a portion 64 olset from portion 61. Plastic tab 65 is secured by rivet 66 to the free end of oiiset portion 64.

When tab `65 is moved toward razor head 105 protrusion 68 of -oifset portion 64 engages .motor terminal Ymember end 28a thereby connecting terminal member 2S Yto the position end of .the serially connected cells 35-38 while the other motor terminal is connected 'to 'the negative end of cells 35-38 so that motor 23 is energized to rotate the blades 113 clockwise with respect to FIG-V URE 10.

When tab '65 is moved toward the end of housing 22 closed by disk 67, protrusion 68 is moved clear of terminal member end A28a to interrupt the connection between the cells 35-3'8 and motor 23. Y t

.The sliding limits of resilient strip 60 are established at one end by the engagement of shoulder 6-3 with disk`41and at the other end by the engagement of strip end -61a with disk 42. f

YWhen the motor23 power pack V2.1 Vcorribination is inserted into housing 22 disk 42 of the power pack holder 40 is positioned opposite insulating closure disk 161 of housing 22. A resilient ring 98 of slightly larger diameter vthan end bracket 25- is interposed between this bracket and motor housing 24. Ring 98 is `provided with a slot 97 for thepassage of offset portion 64. The .power .pack housing 22, near the open end thereof, is engaged by the outer edge'of ring 98 for closure of `housing 22.

YAn L-shaped spring member 172 includes foot .1'73 having an opening through which stud 151 passes. Foot 173 is positioned between disks v41 and .30 with leg 174 of member 1.72 extending toward head 104. Fiber .washer 175 is interposed between disks 41 and foot 173. Leg 174 bears against the inside surface of housing 22 to retain housing .22fto the remaining elements.

Typically, driving means 10 is 3%/2 inches Vlongby 1`1/2 inches in diameter weighingless .than one half pound, with the motor 23 being capable of vdeliver-ing 0.4 voz./in. of torque to operate razorhead `105. Withrazorhead 105 `included the yunit is approximately 4% 'inches long.

Thus, I 'have provided a self powered electric razor including many novel construction features which lend themselves to'inexpensivefmass production techniques.

Although I have here described lpreferred embodiments of my novel invention, many variations and .modifications will now be apparent'to those skilled in the. art, and Iy therefore vprefer to be limited, not 4by the speciic disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim: I

'1. A driving means comprising a D.C. motor and a power pack in axial alignment with said motor and operatively 'connected thereto; said power pack comprising a plurality of cells each having a positive and a negative terminal; said plurality of cells connected in series aiding relationship to form a voltage source with all of said positive terminals positioned in a first plane and all of said negative terminals being positioned in a second plane; a holder wherein said plurality of cells are disposed; said holder comprising a pair of insulating members and a plurality of struts, having V-shaped cross-sections, equal in number to the cells of said plurality of cells; said plurality of struts providing a structural support to maintain said pair of insulating members in spaced relationship parallel to said first plane and also serving as electrica*L connectors between the cells of said plurality of cells; said D.C. motor including a first and a second terminal member; said voltage source having a pair of terminals; said first terminal member electrically connected lto one of said pair of terminals; a control means including a resilient member when in a first position electrically conneoting said second terminal member to the other of said pair of terminals thereby causing rotation of said D.C. motor; saidresilient member slideably mounted to the other of said pair of terminals; said D.C. motor also inoluding a pair of end brackets `at least one of which comprises an insulating material; a stud means extending through said pair of end brackets and said holder insulating members to thereby maintain the elements of said motor in operating position and also secure said power pack to said motor.

2. Driving means for a device, such as a razor head, having a rotatable assembly; said driving means comprising a D.C. motor and a power pack operatively connected thereto for energization thereof; said motor having an output shaft positioned for entry into a central opening of an assembly whereby said shaft is coaxial with an axis of rotation of that assembly; a coil spring rigidly secured at one end thereof to said shaft and operatively positioned to urge an `assembly axially with rmpect to said shaft away from said motor; said coil spring, at the other end thereof, having a projection extending axially with respect to said shaft misaligned with said shaft, and removably engageable with the assembly for transmitting rotation of said shaft thereto; said motor including a first and a second end bracket at opposite ends thereof; said first lbracket: including a portion of reduced area having bayonet means projecting therefrom for engaging cooperating means of the assembly and removably securing same to said driving means; said portion of reduced area and said bayonet means constructed integrally with the remainder of said first bracket.

3. The driving means set forth in claim 2 in which the power pack is positioned in axial alignment with said motor and being comprised of a plurality of cells each having a positive and a negative terminal; said plurality of cells connected in series aiding relationship to form a voltage source with all of said positive terminals positioned in a first plane and all of said negative terminals being positioned in a second plane; a holder wherein said plurality of cells are disposed; said holder comprising a pair of insulating members and a plurality of struts equal in number to the cells of said plurality of cells; said plurality of struts providing a structural support to maintain said pair of insulating members in spaced relationship parallel to said first plane and also serving as electrical connectors between the cells of said plurality of cells.

4. Driving means lfor la device, such as a razor head, having a rotatable assembly; said driving means comprising a D.C. motor and a power pack operatively connected thereto for energization thereof; said motor having an output shaft positioned for entry into a central opening of an assembly whereby said shaft is coaxial with an axis of rotation of that assembly; a coil spring rigidly secured to one end thereof to said shaft and operatively positioned to urge an assembly'axially with respect to said shaft `faway from said motor; said coil spring, at the other end thereof, having a projection extending axially with respect to said shaft misaligned with said shaft, and removably engageable with the assembly for transmitting rotation of said shaft thereto; said motor including a first and a second end bracket at opposite ends thereof; said first bracket including a portion of reduced area having bayonet means projecting therefrom for engaging cooperating means of the assembly and removably securing same to said driving means; said portion of reduced area and said bayonet means constructed integrally with the remainder of said first bracket; said power pack positioned in axial alignment with said motor and comprising a plurality of cells each having a positive and a negative terminal; said plurality of cells connected in series aiding relationship to form a voltage source with all of said positive terminals positioned in a first plane and all of said negative terminals being positioned in a second plane; a holder wherein said plurality of cells are disposed; said holder comprising a pair of insulating members and a plurality of struts equal in number to the cells of said plurality of cells; said plurality of struts providing a structural support to maintain said pair of insulating members in spaced relationship parallel to said first plane and also serving as electrical connectors between the cells of said plurality of cells; a control means for selectively energizing said motor, comprising a resilient member slidably mounted to a first strut of said plurality of struts; said resilient member selectively operable into engagement with a rst terminal of said motor.

5. The driving means set forth in claim 4 in which the resilient member includes a shoulder cooperating with a first of said -pair of insulating members and a second of said insulating members cooperating with a first end of said resilient member to define limits of travel of said resilient member with respect to said power pack.

6. The driving means set forth in claim 5 in which each strut of said plurality of struts comprises an elongated member having a V-shaped cross section; each of said struts having a rst terminal formed integrally therewith and extending from one end thereof at right angles to one leg of the V in a first direction; all but said rst strut having a second terminal formed integrally therewith and extending from the other end thereof at right angles to the other leg of said V in a second direction diverging from said first direction.

7. The driving means set forth in claim 4 also comprising a cylindrical housing having an open first end; said power pack entered through said rst end completely disposed within said housing; one of said end brackets of said D.C. motor extending through said first end; one end of said resilient member positioned externally of said cylindrical so as to be accessible for manual operation.

8. Driving means for a device, such as a razor head, having a rotatable assembly; said driving means comprising a D.C. motor and a power pack operatively connected thereto for energization thereof; said motor having an output shaft positioned 'for entry into a central opening of an assembly whereby said shaft is coaxial with an axis of rotation of that assembly; a coil spring rigidly secured at one end thereof to said shaft and operatively positioned to urge an assembly axially with respect to said shaft away from said motor; said coil spring, at the other end thereof, having a projection extending axially with respect to said shaft misaligned with said shaft, and removably engageable with the assembly for transmitting rotation of said shaft thereto; said motor including a first and a second end bracket at opposite ends thereof; said power pack positioned in axial alignment with said motor and comprising a plurality of cells each having a positive and a negative terminal; said plurality of cells connected in series aiding relationship to form a voltage source with all of said positive terminals positioned in a first plane and all of said negative terminals positioned in a second piane; :a hoideffwherein said plurality arcfensfarjedisf posed; said holder comprising 'af-pair of insulating members and a pluralityof struts e'qual'in numbertothecells" a structural support tol maintain said pairof insulating members yin spacedyrelationship to said rst planeandyalso serving as electrical connectors `lljetwee'n th'e'cells' of said pllralityof cells; ystud means extending vthrough said brackets and said-pair of insulating membersto secure said power' pack' to said motor' and to` maintain the'ele' mentsof said motor in their operative positions.

9. Th'driving means set forth iriclaim 8'also` compris;y ing afcontrol means for 4selectively energizing said motor, l comprising means lmounted to a first strut'fof pluralityof 'l .struts Vand being selectivelyperablelinto engagement' 796,517- Jackson Aug..'8, 1905- 2,449,568` 2,449,81r Y 2,773,306 A 8 Von Ohlsen May 1', {Flornian" Nov."20, Biniek May 12, Goldschmidt Aprl27,

'v Gruessn'er" Mai'. 7', Jackson Apr. 14,V Schaaf et a1'. Nov. 3; Richardson et yal. lian.Y 5, Olschewski Nov. 2, Shriot Sept.'2'1, Hartford Sept'. 21, Ranson Deck' 11, Eilenberger etal. Dec/25, Villeneuve V Oct.` v15,

FOREIGN PATENTS( France Sept. 3,

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