Enhanced cutting system for electric dry shavers

• US 5,127,163 A
• Filed: 07/15/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Remington Corporation, LLC
• Original Assignee: Remington Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Locke, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US07/729,571
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 30/43.91, 30/43.92, 30/43, 30/346.51, 30/346.5
• US Class Current: 30/346.51
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/384 Dry-shaver foils; Manufacture thereof

Abstract

By providing an apertured foil for dry shavers having a natural radius of curvature which is defined by an elongated axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutting blade assembly associated therewith, a substantially improved cutting system is attained. By employing the apertured foil of this invention, the apertured foil naturally wraps tightly about the cutting edges of the cutting blades and remains in close, following contacting interengagement therewith during use. In this way, close contacting interengagement of the apertured foil with the cutting edges of the cutting blades is maintained throughout the shaving use and substantially enhanced cutting results and comfort are realized.

Claims

1. A foil for dry shavers constructed for cooperating engagement with a reciprocating blade assembly having a plurality of blade members, the cutting edges of which are in sliding frictional engagement with one surface of the foil, said foil comprising

A. a substantially flat sheet of thin, flexible material defined by

a. a first pair of juxtaposed, spaced, shaver-mounting edges, and

b. a second pair of juxtaposed, spaced side edges extending between and interconnecting said shaver-mounting edges;

B. a plurality of apertures formed in said flexible material,

C. said plurality of apertures being aligned in a plurality of rows formed between the juxtaposed, spaced side edges and laterally extending from at least one of said juxtaposed, spaced shaver-mounting edges, each of said rows being

a. parallel to each other, and

b. sloped relative to the plane of the cutting edge of the cutting blade cooperatingly associated therewith; and

D. a majority of each of said apertures of each of said rows being aligned with the corresponding aperture of each alternating, adjacent row

a. forming an elongated, longitudinally extending, substantially straight line of coincidence for each of said plurality of aligned apertures, and

b. each of said lines of coincidence being parallel to each other and substantially perpendicularly to the planes of the cutting edges of the cutting blades, whereby an apertured foil is achieved having a natural radius of curvature, the axis of which is parallel to or coincident with the axis of reciprocation along which the blade assembly moves, thereby enabling the foil to surroundingly embrace the arcuate cutting edges of the blade assembly in close, continuously following engagement.

13. The apertured foil defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of rows is further defined as comprising a first, second, and third row configuration, each varying from the other by progressively spacing the position of the first aperture of said row a distance further from one mounting edge of the apertured foil.

14. The apertured foil defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality of rows are formed in the foil in a continuously repeating pattern with said first row configuration repeatingly successively alternating with the third row configuration, while said second row configuration repeatedly alternates after each of said first and third row configurations, whereby a continuously repeating pattern is established which prevents a plurality of apertures being adjacent each other near the mounting edges, while still enabling a majority of the apertures to be longitudinally aligned in the desired manner.

15. The apertured foil defined in claim 14, wherein at least 60% of said apertures of each of said rows are aligned with the corresponding alternately adjacent aperture for establishing the elongated, longitudinally extending line of coincidence thereof.

2. A foil for dry shavers constructed for cooperating engagement with a reciprocating blade assembly having a plurality of blade members, the cutting edges of which are in sliding frictional engagement with one surface of the foil, said foil comprising

A. a substantially flat sheet of thin, flexible material defined by

a. a first pair of juxtaposed, spaced, shaver-mounting edges, and

b. a second pair of juxtaposed, spaced side edges extending between and interconnecting said shaver-mounting edges;

B. a plurality of apertures formed in said flexible material and comprising a substantially rhomic shape, with each side thereof having an overall length of between about 0.012 and 0.020 inches,

C. said plurality of apertures being aligned in a plurality of rows formed between the juxtaposed, spaced side edges and laterally extending from at least one of said juxtaposed, spaced shaver-mounting edges, each of said rows being

a. parallel to each other, and

b. sloped relative to the plane of the cutting edge of the cutting blade cooperatingly associated therewith; and

D. a majority of each of said apertures of each of said rows being aligned with the corresponding aperture of each alternating, adjacent row

a. forming an elongated, longitudinally extending, line of coincidence for each of said plurality of aligned apertures, and

b. each of said lines of coincidence being parallel to each other and substantially perpendicularly to the planes of the cutting edges of the cutting blades, whereby an apertured foil is achieved having a natural radius of curvature, the axis of which is parallel to or coincident with the axis of reciprocation along which the blade assembly moves, thereby enabling the foil to surroundingly embrace the arcuate cutting edges of the blade assembly in close, continuously following engagement.

3. The apertured foil defined in claim 2, wherein the angle of slope of each of said plurality of rows relative to the plane of the cutting edge of the cutting blade is further defined as comprising between about 6°

and 10°

.

4. The apertured foil defined in claim 3, wherein said majority of aligned apertures are further defined as comprising apertures centrally positioned in the cutting zone of the apertured foil.

5. The apertured foil defined in claim 4, wherein said centrally positioned apertures are further defined as being spaced apart from each other in each of said rows a distance of between about 0.006 and 0.010 inches.

6. The apertured foil defined in claim 5, wherein at least two juxtaposed facing sides of each of said apertures is further defined as comprising an arcuately convex shape forming the entire length thereof.

7. The apertured foil defined in claim 6, wherein said arcuately convexly shaped sides of each of said apertures is further defined as comprising a plurality of arcuately curved zones, each comprising a radius of 0.002 inches.

8. The apertured foil defined in claim 6, wherein each of the arcuately curved edges are further defined as comprising a first corner incorporating a radius extending the entire length thereof, while the opposed corner thereof comprises a sharp edge.

9. The apertured foil defined in claim 6, wherein the opposed sides forming the aperture comprise substantially straight edges, with said straight edges further defining the elongated, longitudinally extending lines of coincidence of each alternately adjacent aperture, thereby assuring that the natural radius of curvature of said apertured foil comprises a longitudinally extending axis co-parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the blade assembly.

10. The apertured foil defined in claim 6, wherein said foil is further defined as comprising two separate and distinct cutting zones, each comprising a plurality of apertures aligned in the plurality of rows, thereby forming a dual arcuately curved apertured foil for cooperating cutting interengagement with arcuately curved M-shaped cutting blades, with the apertured foil peripherally surroundingly embracing the cutting edges of said M-shaped cutting blades in a continuously following, closely contacting intimate engagement therewith.

11. The apertured foil defined in claim 10, wherein each of said rows of apertures are further defined as being sloped at an arcuate distance of 8°

.

12. The apertured foil defined in claim 11, wherein the apertures are further defined as comprising a side length of 0.016 inches and spaced apart from an adjacent aperture in said row at a distance of 0.008 inches.