US3422530A - Centrally supported guard for an electric dry shaver - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1969 L. OTTINA 3,422,530

CENTRALLY SUPPORTED GUARD FOR AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed Sept. 18, 1967 Sheet of 2 u 151 hsal L 183 V 16 g a 157 g INVEN TOR Lure: OTTINA L. OTTINA Jan. 21, 1969 CENTRALLY SUPPORTED GUARD FOR AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Sheet Filed Sept. 18 1967 Fig.5

INVENTOR LUIGI OTT/NA WMWWn/M W hfmuefs United States Patent 3,422,530 CENTRALLY SUPPORTED GUARD FOR AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Luigi Ottina, Quartiere Diaz 20, Viareggio, Lucca, Italy Filed Sept. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 668,584 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 23, 1966,

22,077/ 66 US. Cl. 3043.6 2 Claims Int. Cl. B26b 19/16 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a dry shaver, in particular an electric dry shaver of a type having a cutting head with a substantially flat perforated guard, and a rotary cutter mounted for rotation in engagement with the inside face of the guard.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved dry shaver in which deformation of the guard during shaving is restricted.

According to the invention there is provided a dry shaver, driven by an electric or other type of motor, and having a substantially-flat perforated guard supported at its periphery on a housing of the shaver, a rotary cutter bearing against the inside of the guard, and a stationary column on which the cutter is mounted for rotation, said column extending through the cutter into juxtaposition with, and forming a stationary support for, the central portion of the guard.

One embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the head portion of a dry shaver having a flat perforated guard;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 with certain parts removed;

FIG. 3 is a local section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively a view taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1 with some parts removed, and an axial cross-section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a support plate provided to hold a stationary supporting column for the guard and of parts connected to the plate; and

FIG. 7 is a front perspective exploded view of the parts shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in the drawing, the front portion of the dry shaver comprises a shaver housing member 151 provided with an externally-threaded drum-shaped head portion 152 on to which is screwed a pair of concentric annuli 153 peripherally-supporting a perforated guard 154. The head portion 152 contains a central bore 152a for receiving the drive member of a rotary cutter 156 whose independentlybiassed blades are arranged to slide against the inner surface of the guard 154. A drive shaft 157 for driving the cutter 156 is driven by an electric motor output shaft 159 through a pair of gears 161 and 162. The end of the shaft 157 adjacent the head portion 152 is carried by an oscillatory bush support 163, engaged between two laminate, one of which is resilient.

A support plate 165 is accommodated in the internal 3,422,530 Patented Jan. 21, 1969 cavity of the head portion 152, the support plate being fixed by screws, which are threaded into posts 167, extending rearwardly from the head portion 152 (see FIG. 3), and is centered by locating pins 169, also extending from the head portion 152. The support plate extends parallel to the flat end wall of the head portion 152, between the latter and the bush support 163. At the centre of the support plate 165 and in alignment with the shaft 157, the plate 165 supports a stationary column 171 which extends forwardly perpendicular to the plate through the central bore 152a of the head portion 152, terminating in juxtaposition to the central zone of the inner surface of the guard 154. At its end, the column 171 has a cap 173, which is secured to the end of the column 171 and forms a support for the central portion of the guard 154, which is held in position at its periphery by the annuli 153.

A sleeve 175 is mounted for rotation on the column 171 being between the support plate 165 and the cap 173, the sleeve 175 having a portion 175a of hexagonal section or otherwise splined (see FIGS. 6 and 7), on to which the cutter 156 can be removably fitted by axial movement, for rotation therewith. At its inner end, the sleeve 175 is integral with a gear 177, by means of which the sleeve 175, and thus the cutter, is driven. The drive from the drive shaft 157 is taken through the gear 177, a gear 179 fixed to the shaft 157, a gear 181 on a transmission shaft 183, carried by the support plate 165, and a gear fixed to the shaft 183 and meshing with the gear 177. The gear 177 is interposed between the fiat central wall of the head portion 152 and the support plate 165.

In the shaver described above, the central support afforded to the guard 154 avoids bending of the guard at its centre under the pressure of the skin during shaving, and this assists the correct operation of the blades of the cutter 156 and thus improves their cutting effect, since the cutting edge of each of the blades will lie along substantially its entire length, in contact with the guard, or at least in better contact than when the guard is unsupported at its centre and thus capable of inward bending. As the support is fixed, it remains accurately positioned even after prolonged use and avoids the vibration and heating which could result if the central support were formed by a rotary shaft susceptible to hearing wear.

In the drawing, which illustrates only one embodiment of the invention, the guard is shown to be flat, but alternatively the guard could be formed with an outward curvature.

I claim:

1. A dry shaver comprising, in combination, a housing, a drive motor disposed within said housing, a perforated guard supported about its periphery on said housing, a rotary cutter operatively connected with said motor, means for rotatably mounting said cutter within said housing and for disposing said cutter in engagement with said guard, said means mounting said cutter comprising a support plate secured to and disposed within said housing, a stationary column supported on said support plate and extending perpendicularly therefrom through said cutter into supporting relationship with the central portion of said guard, and gearing forming a part of the operative connection between said motor and said cutter supported by said support plate.

2. A dry shaver, comprising, in combination, a housing having a fiat head wall, said head wall having a first surface facing outwardly from said housing and a second surface facing inwardly into said housing, a driving motor disposed within said housing, a perforated guard supported about its periphery on said housing and spaced outwardly from the first surface of said head wall, a rotary cutter operatively connected with said motor and carrying blades independently urged resiliently against said perforated guard, said rotary cutter disposed between said head wall and said guard, a support plate secured to said housing on the second surface side of said head wall, a stationary column supported on said support plate and extending therefrom through said head 'wall and said cutter into supporting relationship with the central portion of said guard, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said column and extending through said head Wall from the second surface side thereof to adjacent said guard, a drive gear integrally formed on the end of said sleeve between said head Wall and said support plate, and said sleeve having a splined portion on its end adjacent said guard, the splined portion arranged for rotatably mounting said cutter whereby said cutter is remova-bly fitted thereon by axial movement relative to said sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Aronson 3043.6 X

Gold 3043,5 Lorenz 30-43.6

Konrad 30-43.6

Stone 30-435 Italy.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

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