ULTRASONIC ELECTRIC SHAVER

• US 3,756,105 A
• Filed: 10/28/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lewis Balamuth, Manuel Karatjas
• Original Assignee: Lewis Balamuth, Manuel Karatjas
• Inventors: Balamuth, Lewis, Karatjas, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Yost, Frank T.
• Application Number:
  US05/193,246
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 83/13,14,701 30/45,43.6,43.9,43.92,34.2,77
• US Class Current: 83/14
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/00 Clippers or shavers operating with a plurality of cutting edges, e.g. hair clippers, dry shavers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0405 With preparatory or simultaneous ancillary treatment of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/97 Miscellaneous

Abstract

An electric razor having a guard member with a plurality of apertures for hairs to extend therethrough and a cutter member oscillated relative to the guard member for severing the hairs. The guard member and/or the cutter member are vibrated at an ultrasonic rate to improve the entry of hairs into the operative range of the cutter member, to reduce the force required to oscillate the cutter member relative to the guard member, and to utilize the high accelerations of the ultrasonically vibrated cutter member in shearing the hairs, and the method of shaving accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of shaving hair comprising the steps of A. positioning adjacent the hairs to be shaved a guard member capable of supporting vibrations in the ultrasonic range and having a plurality of apertures extending from an outer surface adapted for engagement with the skin of the user to an inner surface, B. moving a cutter member relative to the inner surface of said guard member to sever the hairs extending through said apertures, and C. inducing vibrations in said guard member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range to increase the rate of uptake of the hairs through said apertures.

2. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of moving said ultrasonically vibrating guard member relative to the hairs to shave a substantial area thereof.

3. THe method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein said guard member is vibrated at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second.

4. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein said guard member is vibrated at a frequency between about 15,000 and 100,000 cycles per second.

5. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein said guard member is manually moved relative to the skin surface.

6. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and the hairs.

7. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and said cutter member.

8. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially normal to said outer surface.

9. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said guard member.

10. The method of shaving as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of varying the frequency of vibration so as to vary the zones of motion along said guard member to continuously have the hairs received through said apertures.

11. A method of guard hair comprising the steps of A. positioning adjacent the hairs to be shaved a guard member capable of supporting vibrations in the ultrasonic range and having a plurality of apertures extending from an outer surface adapted for engagement with the skin of the user to an inner surface, B. moving a cutter member relative to the inner surface of said guard member to sever the hairs extending through said apertures, C. inducing vibrations in said shaving member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second tp produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said guard member, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is transmitted to said cutter member to reduce the force required to obtain relative movement therebetween and to increase the rate of uptake of the hairs through said apertures, and D. moving said ultrasonically vibrating guard member relative to the hairs to shave a substantial area thereof.

12. The method of shaving as defined in claim 11, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and the hairs.

13. The method of shaving as defined in claim 11, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially parallel to said outer surface.

14. The method of shaving as defined in claim 11, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially normal to said outer surface.

15. A method of shaving hair comprising the steps of A. positioning adjacent the hairs to be shaved a guard member capable of supporting vibrations in the ultrasonic range and having a plurality of apertures extending from an outer surface adapted for engagement with the skin of the user to an inner surface, B. moving a cutter member relative to the inner surface of said guard member to sever the hairs extending through said apertures, and C. simultaneously inducing vibrations in said cutter member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range to enhance the cutting effectiveness of said cutter member.

16. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, and further including the step of moving said guard member relative to the hairs to shave a substantial area thereof.

17. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein said cutter member is vibrated at a frequency betWeen about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second.

18. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein said cutter member is vibrated at a frequency between about 15,000 and 100,000 cycles per second.

19. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein said guard member is manually moved relative to the skin surface.

20. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said cutter member is transmitted to said guard member to increase the rate of uptake of the hairs through the apertures.

21. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said cutter member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and the cutter member.

22. The method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said cutter member have a component of motion substantially normal to said inner surface.

23. the method of shaving as defined in claim 15, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said cutter member.

24. A method of shaving hair comprising the steps of A. positioning adjacent the hairs to be shaved a guard member capable of supporting vibrations in the ultrasonic range and having a plurality of apertures extending from an outer surface adapted for engagement with the skin of the user to an inner surface, B. moving a cutter member relative to the inner surface of said guard member to sever the hair extending through said apertures, C. simultaneously inducing vibrations in said cutter member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second to produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said cutter member to enhance the cutting effectiveness of said cutter member, and D. moving said guard member relative to the hairs to shave a substantial area thereof.

25. The method of shaving as defined in claim 24, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said cutter member have a component of motion substantially normal to said inner surface.

26. The method of shaving as defined in claim 24, wherein said guard member is manually moved relative to the skin surface.

27. The method of shaving as defined in claim 24, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said cutter member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and the hairs.

28. The method of shaving as defined in claim 24, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said cutter member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of the guard member and said cutter member.

29. The method of shaving as defined in claim 24, wherein said cutter member has a plurality of blades each vibrating at said ultrasonic rate.

30. A method of shaving hair comprising the steps of A. positioning adjacent the hairs to be shaved a guard member capable of supporting vibrations in the ultrasonic range and having a plurality of apertures extending from an outer surface adapted for engagement with the skin of the user to an inner surface, B. inducing vibrations in said guard member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range to increase the rate of uptake of the hairs through said apertures, C. moving a cutter member relative to the inner surface of said guard member to sever the hairs extending through said apertures, and D. simultaneously inducing vibrations in said cutter member at a frequency in the ultrasonic range to enhance the cutting effectiveness of said cutter member.

31. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, and further including the step of moving said ultrasonically vibrating guard member relative to the hairs to shave a substantial area thereof.

32. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein said members are vibrated at a frequency beTween about 5,000 and 1, 000,000 cycles per second.

33. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein said members are vibrated at a frequency between about 15,000 and 100, 000 cycles per second.

34. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein said guard member is manually moved reative to the skin surface.

35. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of said guard member and the hairs.

36. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of said guard member and said cutter member.

37. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially normal to said outer surface.

38. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said guard member.

39. The method of shaving as defined in claim 30, and further including the step of varying the frequency of vibration so as to vary the zones of motion along said guard member to continuously have the hairs received through said apertures.

40. An electric razor comprising, A. a guard member having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, B. a cutter member positioned on one side of said guard member substantially adjacent thereto, C. means for moving said cutter member to obtain gross movement across said apertures, and D. means for simultaneously vibrating said guard member at an ultrasonic rate to increase the rate of uptake of the hairs through said apertures.

41. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said guard member is vibrated at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second.

42. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said guard member is vibrated at a frequency between about 15,000 and 1,000, 000 cycles per second.

43. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of said guard member and the hair.

44. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein the amplitude of vibration of said guard member is sufficient to obtain a reduction of friction between the relative movement of said guard member and said cutter member.

45. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially normal to its outer surface.

46. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said guard member.

47. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said means for vibrating said guard member is adapted to continuously vary the frequency of vibration so as to vary the position of the zones of motion along the guard member so as to continuously have the hairs received through said apertures.

48. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said means for vibrating said guard member at an ultrasonic rate includes transducer means coupled thereto.

49. An electric razor as defined in claim 48, wherein said transducer means includes a piezoelectric element coupled to said guard member in energy transferring relation thereto.

50. An electric razor as defined in claim 48, wherein said means for vibrating said guard member at an ultrasonic rate includes converter means for transferring electric current to an ultrasonic rate.

51. An electric razor as defined in claim 50, wherein said converter is contained in a housing adapted to be plugged into an electric outlet.

52. An electric razor as defined in cLaim 50, wherein said converter is contained within the housing provided for containing the electric razor.

53. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said guard member is vibrated with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, whereby the frictional resistance to the motion between said guard member and cutter member is quantitatively reduced so that the force to obtain relative movement between said guard member and cutter member is of a relatively small magnitude.

54. An electric razor as defined in claim 40, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to said cutter member to induce vibrations therein.

55. An electric razor as defined in claim 40 wherein said ultrasonic vibrations in said guard member have a component of motion substantially parallel to its outer surface.

56. An electric razor comprising, A. razor housing means, B. a guard member having an outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and mounted in substantially fixed relationship to said housing means, C. a cutter member having cutting elements positioned adjacent the inner surface of said guard member within said housing means for substantial engagement of said cutting elements with said guard member, D. means for moving said cutter member to obtain gross movement across said apertures for severing any hairs extending therethrough, and E. means for simultaneously vibrating said guard member at an ultrasonic frequency rate between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second to produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said guard member, wherein the rate of uptake of the hairs through the apertures is increased, said means including transducer means coupled to said guard member in energy transferring relation thereto and a converter for energizing said transducer means.

57. An electric razor as defined in claim 56, wherein said converter is contained in a housing adapted to be plugged into an electric outlet.

58. An electric razor as defined in claim 56, wherein said converter is contained within the housing provided for containing the electric razor.

59. An electric razor as defined in claim 56, wherein said cutter member has cutting elements extending therefrom for engagement with the guard member, and said ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to said cutting elements to substantially reduce the coefficient of sliding friction between said guard member and said cutter member.

60. An electric razor comprising, A. a guard member having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, B. a cutter member positioned on one side of said guard member substantially adjacent thereto, C. means for moving said cutter to obtain gross movement across said apertures, and D. means for simultaneously vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate.

61. An electric razor as defined in claim 60, wherein said means for vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate includes transducer means coupled thereto.

62. An electric razor as defined in claim 61, wherein said transducer means includes a piezoelectric element coupled to said cutter member in energy transfering relation thereto.

63. An electric razor as defined in claim 60, wherein said means for vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate includes converter means for transforming electric current to an ultrasonic rate.

64. An electric razor as defined in claim 63, wherein said ultrasonic rate is at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000, 000 cycles per second.

65. An electric razor as defined in claim 63, wherein said ultrasonic rate is at a frequency between about 15,000 and 100, 000 cycles per second.

66. An electric razor as defined in claim 63, wherein said converter is contained in a housing adapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet.

67. An electric razor as defined in claim 63, wherein said conveRter is contained within the housing provided for containing the electric razor.

68. An electric razor as defined in claim 60, wherein said cutter member has cutting elements extending therefrom for engagement with the guard member, and said ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to said cutting elements to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction between said guard member and said cutter member.

69. An electric razor as defined in claim 60, wherein said cutter member is vibrated with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1000g, whereby the frictional resistance to the motion between said guard member and cutter member is quantitatively reduced to that the force to obtain relative movement between said guard member and said cutter member is of a relatively small magnitude.

70. An electric razor as defined in claim 60, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to the guard member to induce vibrations therein to increase the uptake of the hairs through said apertures.

71. An electric razor comprising, A. razor housing means, B. a guard member having an outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and mounted in substantially fixed relationship to said housing means, C. a cutter member having cutting elements positioned adjacent the inner surface of said guard member within said housing means for substantial engagement of said cutting elements with said guard member, D. means for moving said cutter member to obtain gross movement across said apertures for severing any hairs extending therethrough, and E. means for simultaneously vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic frequency rate between about 5,000 and 1,000,000 cycles per second to produce peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g in said cutter member and wherein the amplitude of vibration in said cutter member enhances the cutting effectiveness thereof and the coefficient of sliding friction between said guard member and said cutter member is substantially reduced, said means including transducer means coupled to said cutter member in energy transferring relation thereto and a converter for energizing said transducer.

72. An electric razor as defined in claim 70, wherein said transducer means for vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate includes:

a. a pair of sections, b. transmission member one end coupled to said cutter member, and its other end coupled to one of said sections, c. coupling means for maintaining said sections in a relatively fixed position relative to each other, d. said transducer means extending between said sections for inducing high frequency vibrations in said transmission member in spaced relation to said ends, wherein vibrations are transmitted therethrough to induce vibrations at said end coupled to said cutter member, and e. said means for moving said cutter member to obtain gross movement is coupled to said transmission member.

73. An electric razor as defined in claim 72, wherein said transducer means is of piezoelectric material.

74. An electric razor as defined in claim 72 wherein said transducer means includes a pair of piezoelectric disks with an electrode therebetween and spaced apart end members at least one of which is in engagement with said transmission member for transmitting vibrations thereto.

75. An electric razor as defined in claim 72, wherein said transducer means includes a central bolt which serves to compress said transducer means between said end members.

76. An electric razor as defined in claim 72, further including means for mounting said ultrasonic motor within said casing.

77. An electric razor as defined in claim 76, wherein said mounting means is resilient to permit gross motion of said entire motor while ultrasonically vibrating.

78. An electric razor comprising, A. a guard member having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, B. a cutter member positioned on one side of said guard member substantially adjacent thereto, C. means for moving said cutter member relative to said cutter member to obtain gross movement across said apertures, D. means for simultaneously vibrating said guard member at an ultrasonic rate wherein entrance of the hair within said apertures is enhanced, and E. means for simultaneously vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate to enhance the cutting effectiveness of said cutter member.

79. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said means for vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate includes transducer means coupled thereto.

80. An electric razor as defined in claim 79, wherein said transducer means includes a piezoelectric element coupled to said cutter member in energy transferring relation thereto.

81. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said means for vibrating said cutter member at an ultrasonic rate includes converter means for transforming electric current to an ultrasonic rate.

82. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said ultrasonic rate is at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000, 000 cycles per second.

83. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said ultrasonic rate is at a frequency between about 5,000 and 1,000, 000 cycles per second.

84. An electric razor as defined in claim 81, wherein said converter is contained in a housing adapted to be plugged into an electric outlet.

85. An electric razor as defined in claim 81, wherein said converter is contained within the housing provided for containing the electrical razor.

86. An electric razor as defined in claim 72, wherein said cutter member has cutting elements extending therefrom for engagement with the guard member, and said ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to said individual cutting elements.

87. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said cutter member is vibrated with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, whereby the frictional resistance to the motion between said guard member and said cutter member is quantitatively reduced so that the force to obtain relative movement between said guard member and said cutter member is of a relatively small magnitude.

88. An electric razor as defined in claim 78, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations of said cutter member is transmitted to the guard member to induce said vibrations therein.