1)
`
`OldSW“9381‘
`
`PERSONAL TRIMMING SYSTEM
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`5
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to aa personal
`
`trimming
`
`system having a driven member, e.g.,
`
`a trimmer blade, moving
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion;
`
`and, more particularly,
`
`to a
`
`personal
`
`trimming
`
`system in
`
`which
`
`a
`
`head
`
`portion
`
`accommodating
`
`therein
`
`a
`
`driven member moving
`
`in
`
`a
`
`10
`
`reciprocating motion is capable of pivoting with respect
`
`to
`
`a main body.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`15
`
`As
`
`shown
`
`in,
`
`e.g.,
`
`Japanese
`
`Patent
`
`Laid—open
`
`Application No.
`
`856—70784,
`
`as for a personal trimming system
`
`(a hair clipper),
`
`a device in which a head portion pivots
`
`with respect
`
`to a hand—holdable portion
`
`(main body)
`
`has been
`
`known. Fig.
`
`13 shows a configuration of a conventional hair
`
`20
`
`clipper 100.
`
`Referring to Fig.
`
`13,
`
`the conventional hair
`
`clipper
`
`100
`
`includes
`
`an
`
`approximately cylindrical
`
`hand-
`
`holdable portion
`
`110
`
`and
`
`a
`
`head portion
`
`120 pivotably
`
`supported at an upper vicinity of
`
`the hand-holdable portion
`
`110.
`
`25
`
`Provided inside
`
`the hand—holdable portion 110 are a
`
`motor 111,
`
`a driving unit 130 for converting a rotation of a
`
`
`
`OldSW“9381‘
`
`PERSONAL TRIMMING SYSTEM
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`5
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to aa personal
`
`trimming
`
`system having a driven member, e.g.,
`
`a trimmer blade, moving
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion;
`
`and, more particularly,
`
`to a
`
`personal
`
`trimming
`
`system in
`
`which
`
`a
`
`head
`
`portion
`
`accommodating
`
`therein
`
`a
`
`driven member moving
`
`in
`
`a
`
`10
`
`reciprocating motion is capable of pivoting with respect
`
`to
`
`a main body.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`15
`
`As
`
`shown
`
`in,
`
`e.g.,
`
`Japanese
`
`Patent
`
`Laid—open
`
`Application No.
`
`856—70784,
`
`as for a personal trimming system
`
`(a hair clipper),
`
`a device in which a head portion pivots
`
`with respect
`
`to a hand—holdable portion
`
`(main body)
`
`has been
`
`known. Fig.
`
`13 shows a configuration of a conventional hair
`
`20
`
`clipper 100.
`
`Referring to Fig.
`
`13,
`
`the conventional hair
`
`clipper
`
`100
`
`includes
`
`an
`
`approximately cylindrical
`
`hand-
`
`holdable portion
`
`110
`
`and
`
`a
`
`head portion
`
`120 pivotably
`
`supported at an upper vicinity of
`
`the hand-holdable portion
`
`110.
`
`25
`
`Provided inside
`
`the hand—holdable portion 110 are a
`
`motor 111,
`
`a driving unit 130 for converting a rotation of a
`
`
`
`shaft of
`
`the motor 111 into a
`
`reciprocating motion and a
`
`battery 112.
`
`The driving unit 130 includes a pinion gear
`
`131 secured to the shaft of the motor 111;
`
`a face gear 132
`
`pivoting with respect
`
`to a shaft
`
`(not
`
`shown) provided in a
`
`direction perpendicular to the shaft of the motor 111 while
`
`being engaged with the pinion gear
`
`131;
`
`and
`
`a driving
`
`connecting piece 133 provided with an opening 133A rotatably
`
`insertion—fitted to an eccentric boss 132A provided at
`
`the
`
`face gear
`
`132.
`
`A
`
`trimmer blade
`
`(not
`
`illustrated)
`
`is
`
`10
`
`connected to the driving connecting piece 133 and,
`
`further,
`
`downwardly
`
`installed in a direction perpendicular with
`
`respect to the page in Fig. 13.
`
`Provided at
`
`the upper
`
`‘Vicinity of
`
`the hand—holdable
`
`portion 110 is a spherical shaft 134 having an approximately_
`
`spherical outer peripheral surface. Further, provided at a
`
`lower portion of
`
`the head portion 120 is an approximately
`
`spherical
`
`shaped
`
`bearing
`
`121
`
`insertion-fitted to
`
`thev
`
`approximately spherical outer peripheral
`surface
`of
`the
`spherical shaft 134.
`In other words,
`the spherical shaft
`
`134 and the approximately spherical shaped bearing 121 form
`
`a spherical
`
`shaped bearing,
`
`and the head portion 120
`
`is
`
`pivotably
`
`supported with
`
`respect
`
`to
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable
`
`portion 110.
`
`The
`
`face gear
`
`132
`
`is provided at.
`
`an inner
`
`portion of the spherical shaft 134 and,
`
`further,
`
`a pivoting
`
`point
`
`(rotational
`
`shaft)
`
`of
`
`the head portion 120
`
`and a
`
`rotational shaft of the face gear 132 are provided so that
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`they are coaxial;
`In the conventional hair clipper 100,
`
`the size of the
`
`upper vicinity of the hand—holdable portion 110 is about
`
`the
`
`size of
`further,
`
`the lower vicinity of
`the head. portion 120 and,
`the exterior of
`the hair clipper
`100 has been
`
`designed primarily for aesthetic consideration. Therefore,
`
`it is difficult
`
`for a user
`
`to know where the head portion
`
`120 pivots.
`
`In such case,
`
`if the user grips a boundary
`
`portion between the hand-holdable portion 110 and the head
`
`10
`
`portion 120,
`
`the head portion 120 cannot adequately pivot
`
`with respect
`
`to the
`
`hand—holdable portion 110,
`
`thereby
`
`conforming improperly to irregularities of the skin.
`
`Such a
`
`problem occurs in a general personal
`
`trimming system such as
`
`an electric shaver,
`
`an electric toothbrush or
`
`the like as
`
`15
`
`well as a hair clipper.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`20
`
`25
`
`It
`
`is,
`
`therefore,
`
`an object of
`
`the present
`
`invention
`
`to provide a personal
`
`trimming system having a conspicuous
`
`point where a head portion pivots with respect
`
`to a main
`
`body to thereby reduce the possibility of
`
`a user’s hand_
`
`reaching into a boundary portion between the head portion
`
`and the main body.
`
`In accordance with the present
`
`invention,
`
`there is
`
`provided a personal
`
`trimming system including:
`
`a main body
`
`
`
`having a motor and a part of a driving unit for converting a
`
`rotation of
`
`the motor
`
`into a
`
`reciprocating motion;
`
`and a
`
`head
`
`portion
`
`having
`
`a
`
`driven member moving
`
`in
`
`a
`
`reciprocating motion, wherein the head portion is pivotably
`
`supported with respect
`
`to the main body,
`
`and a gap is
`
`provided between the main body and the head portion.
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The
`
`above
`
`and other objects
`
`and
`
`features
`
`of
`
`the
`
`present
`
`invention will become apparent
`
`from the following
`
`description of preferred embodiments, given in conjunction
`
`with the accompanying drawings,
`
`in which:
`
`Figs.
`
`1A to 1C show a configuration of a hair clipper,
`
`i.e., an exemplary personal trimming system,
`
`in which a head
`
`portion accommodating therein a driven Hember moving in a
`
`reciprocating motion can pivot with respect
`
`to a main body,
`
`in accordance with aa preferred embodiment of
`
`the present
`
`invention, wherein Figs. 1A, 18 and 1C provide a front view,
`
`a side view and a cross—sectional view taken along line A-A,
`
`respectively;
`
`Fig.
`
`2 describes a front view of the hair clipper in a
`
`state where a head portion pivots with respect
`
`to a hand-
`
`holdable portion;
`
`Fig.
`
`3 provides a sectional side view depicting the
`
`complete configuration of the hair clipper;
`
`
`
`Fig.
`
`4
`
`presents
`
`an
`
`exploded
`
`perspective
`
`View
`
`illustrating the entire configuration of the hair clipper;
`
`Figs.
`
`5A and SB represent a perspective view showing a
`
`configuration of
`
`a driving connecting piece in the hair
`
`clipper, wherein Figs.
`
`5A and SB provide states after and
`
`before a first and a
`
`second driving connecting pieces are
`
`combined, respectively;
`
`Fig.
`
`6 offers
`
`a perspective
`
`view illustrating a
`
`configuration of a pivoting device in which the head portion
`
`pivots with respect to the hand—holdable portion in the hair
`
`clipper;
`
`- Fig.
`
`7
`
`shows
`
`a perspective View depicting a relative
`
`layout between a driving unit and the pivoting device of the
`
`head portion in the hair clipper;
`
`Fig.
`
`8 provides
`
`a sectional
`
`side view describing a
`
`configuration of principal components of the driving unit in
`
`the hair clipper;
`
`Figs.
`
`9A and 9B depict a.mechanism for restricting a
`
`pivotable range of
`
`the head portion with respect
`
`to the
`
`hand-holdable portion in the hair Clipper, wherein Figs.
`
`9A
`
`and 9B show ea-basic state where the head portion is not
`
`pivoted and a state where the head portion is pivoted to its
`
`maximum allowable angle, respectively;
`
`Figs.
`
`10A and 10B describe a mechanism for applying a
`
`restoring force to the head portion pivoting with respect to
`
`the hand—holdable portion in the hair clipper, wherein the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`Figs.
`
`10A and 10B provide a basic state where
`
`the head
`
`portion is not pivoted and a state where the head portion is
`
`pivoted to its maximum allowable angle, respectively;
`
`Figs.
`
`11A and 11B illustrate another mechanism for
`
`applying a restoring force to the head portion pivoting with
`
`respect
`
`to the hand—holdable portion in the hair clipper,
`
`wherein the Figs.
`
`10A and 10B represent a basic state where
`
`the head portion is not pivoted and a state where the head
`
`portion
`
`is
`
`pivoted
`
`to
`
`its maximum allowable
`
`angle,
`
`10
`
`respectively;
`
`Figs.
`
`12A and 12B provide still another mechanism for
`
`applying a restoring force to the head portion pivoting with
`
`respect
`
`to the hand—holdable portion in the hair clipper,
`
`wherein the Figs.
`
`10A and 10B present a basic state where
`
`the head portion is not pivoted and a state where the head
`
`portion
`
`is
`
`pivoted
`
`to
`
`its maximum allowable
`
`angle,
`
`respectively; and
`
`Fig.
`
`13 offers
`
`a
`
`cross-sectional View showing
`
`a
`
`conventional hair clipper.
`
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`a personal
`
`trimming systenh in which a
`
`head portion provided with a driven member moving
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion can pivot with respect
`
`to a main body,
`
`in accordance with preferred embodiments of
`
`the present
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`invention will be described.
`
`In this embodiment,
`
`as
`
`for
`
`such system,
`
`a hair clipper employing a
`
`trimmer blade for
`
`shearing hair, e.g., eyebrows, has been illustrated.
`
`Figs.
`
`1A to lC show a basic state of a hair clipper l,
`
`i.e.,
`
`a
`
`state where a head portion 20 having a trimmer blade is not
`
`pivoted with respect to a hand—holdable portion (main body)
`
`10.
`
`Specifically, Figs.
`
`1A to 1C present
`
`a
`
`front view,
`
`a
`
`side view and
`
`a
`
`cross—sectional
`
`view taken along A—A,
`
`respectively.
`
`Fig.
`
`2
`
`illustrates a state where ‘the head
`
`1,
`
`10
`
`portion 20
`
`is pivoted with respect
`
`to the hand—holdable
`
`portion 10. Fig.
`
`3 offers a sectional side View depicting a
`
`configuration of
`
`the hair clipper
`
`1”
`
`Fig.
`
`4 provides an
`
`exploded perspective view thereof. Further,
`
`in Fig. 1A,
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable portion 10 and the head portion 20 are defined
`
`as a lower part and an upper part, respectively.
`
`As can be
`
`seen from each of
`
`the drawings,
`
`the hair
`
`clipper 1
`
`includes the hand-holdable portion 10 to be held
`
`by a user and the head portion 20 pivotably supported with
`
`respect
`
`to the hand-holdable portion 10.
`
`A trimmer blade 30
`
`is attached to the head portion 20
`
`so that
`
`its cutting
`
`portion protrudes outward from the rear side.
`
`The hand—holdable portion 10 has a cylindrical housing
`
`11
`
`extended in a vertical direction.
`
`The
`
`housing
`
`11
`
`includes a vertically elongated front member
`
`12 having an
`
`approximately shallow U-shaped or an approximately circular
`
`arc—shaped cross
`
`section;
`
`a
`
`rear member
`
`13,
`
`fixed to an
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`approximately upper portion of a rear surface of
`
`the front
`
`member 12, having an approximately deeper U—shaped cross
`section compared
`to the
`front member
`12
`and
`a
`cross
`
`sectional area gradually increasing toward a
`
`lower portion
`
`thereof;
`
`and a battery cover
`
`14 detachably attached to an
`
`approximately lower portion of the rear surface of the front
`
`member 12,
`
`having'
`
`an approximately deeper U—shaped cross
`
`section compared
`
`to the
`
`front member
`
`12
`
`and
`
`a
`
`cross
`
`sectional area gradually decreasing toward a
`
`lower portion
`
`10
`
`thereof.
`
`As illustrated in Figs.
`
`1B and 3,
`
`a side cross section
`
`of the housing 11 has an approximately meniscus shape. With
`
`respect to an arrangement direction (expressed by arrow B in
`
`Fig. 18) of
`
`the trimmer blade 30 of the head portion 20,
`
`a
`
`15
`
`front
`
`side
`
`2
`
`and
`
`a
`
`rear
`
`side
`
`3
`
`are
`
`curved
`
`in
`
`an
`
`approximately arch shape, wherein
`
`the
`
`front
`
`side
`
`2
`
`is
`
`recessed and the rear
`
`side 3
`
`is protruded.
`
`Further,
`
`a
`
`radius of the rear side 3 is set to be smaller than that of
`
`the
`
`front
`
`side
`
`2, which
`
`increases
`
`a curvature thereof.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig.
`
`1C,
`
`a cross section of
`
`the housing 11, which is taken along line A—A, i.e., a cross
`
`section taken along a
`
`forward/backward direction of
`
`the
`
`hand-holdable portion 10,
`
`is formed in an approximately oval
`
`shape obtained by combining a plurality of approximately
`
`circular
`
`arc—shaped
`
`or
`
`approximately
`
`U—shaped
`
`curved
`
`surfaces.
`
`Such shape is based on an approximate triangle.
`
`
`
`Each side of
`
`the approximate triangle is outwardly curved
`
`and, at
`
`the same time, angled portions of each side of
`
`the
`
`approximate triangle are smoothly shaped in a circular arc.
`
`Such shape of
`
`the housing 11 enables a user to firmly grip
`
`the hand-holdable portion 10 while preventing the hand-
`
`holdable portion 10
`
`from shifting in the user’s hand when
`
`the user grips the hand—holdable portion 10 with a palm.
`
`As depicted in Figs.
`
`3 and 4,
`
`a motor 15 and a part of
`
`a driving unit 40 for converting a rotation of a shaft 15A
`
`of the motor 15 into a reciprocating motion are provided in
`
`a space formed by the front member 12 and the rear member 13
`
`inside the housing 11. Further,
`
`a battery 16 is detachably
`
`installed in a battery room formed by the front member 12
`
`and the battery cover 14. Moreover,
`
`a switch member 17 is
`
`slidably provided on an upper portion of the front member 12.
`
`The driving unit 40 includes a pinion gear 41 fixed to
`
`the shaft 15A of the motor 15;
`
`a face gear 43 engaged with
`
`the pinion gear 41 while pivoting with respect to a shaft 42
`
`provided in a direction perpendicular
`
`to the shaft
`
`15A of
`
`the motor 15;
`
`a first driving connecting piece 44 provided
`
`with
`
`an
`
`opening
`
`44A rotatably insertion—fitted to an
`
`eccentric boss
`
`43A provided at
`
`the face gear 43;
`
`and a
`
`second driving connecting piece 45
`
`in which a bearing 45A
`
`provided at
`
`a
`
`lower vicinity is pivotably insertion—fitted
`
`to a shaft 44B provided at an upper vicinity of
`
`the first
`
`driving connecting piece 44.
`
`The
`
`face gear
`
`43 has
`
`teeth
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`formed around ea peripheral portion thereof at
`
`aa specific
`
`pitch while being protruded toward a rotation axis direction
`
`of the shaft 42. Further,
`
`the face gear 43 serves to change
`
`the rotation direction of the shaft 15A of the motor 15 by
`
`90 degrees.
`
`The head portion 20 includes a first head member 21
`
`pivotably
`
`supported with
`
`respect
`
`to
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable
`
`portion
`
`10 in an upper vicinity of
`
`the housing 11 of
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable portion 10;
`
`a second head member 22 fixed to
`
`a base portion of
`
`the first head member 21;
`
`and a trimmer
`
`blade cover 23 detachably attached to the first head member
`
`21.
`
`The
`
`trimmer
`
`blade
`
`30
`
`includes
`
`a
`
`plate—shaped
`
`stationary cutter
`
`31
`
`having
`
`a
`
`comb
`
`31A formed
`
`in
`
`a
`
`lengthwise direction thereof;
`
`a movable cutter 32 having a
`
`comb 32A formed in a lengthwise direction thereof and moving
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion in a cfiiection parallel
`
`to the
`
`stationary cutter 31; and a plate spring 33 for biasing the
`
`movable cutter 32
`
`toward the stationary cutter 31 so that
`
`the stationary cutter 31 can be overlapped with the movable
`
`cutter 32 without having a gap therebetween.
`
`Further,
`
`the
`
`trimmer blade 30
`
`is interchangeably installed in a
`
`space
`
`formed between the first head member
`
`21
`
`and the trimmer
`
`blade cover 23. Moreover,
`
`in a
`
`space formed between the
`
`first head member 21 and the second head member 22,
`
`a boss
`
`45B provided at
`
`an upper vicinity of
`
`the second driving
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-10—
`
`
`
`connecting piece 45 is fitted to an opening 32B provided at
`
`a lower vicinity of the movable cutter 32.
`
`The
`
`second head member
`
`22
`
`is provided with a
`
`lock
`
`button 24
`
`for
`
`locking the trimmer blade cover
`
`23
`
`to the
`
`first head member 21 by an engagement with the trimmer blade
`
`cover 23. At
`
`the same time,
`
`the lock button 24 separates the
`
`trimmer blade cover
`
`23
`
`from the first head member
`
`21 by
`
`releasing the engagement with the trimmer blade cover 23.
`
`Further, provided inside the first head member 21 is a guide-
`
`groove 21A for guiding a vertical
`
`reciprocating motion of
`
`the
`
`second driving connecting piece
`
`45 while
`
`an upper
`
`vicinity 45C of
`
`the second driving connecting piece 45 is
`
`fitted to the guide groove 21A to allow for a sliding motion.
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`the
`
`first
`
`and
`
`the
`
`second
`
`driving
`
`connecting pieces 44 and 45 will be described in detail with
`
`reference to Figs.
`
`5A and 5B. Figs.
`
`5A and 5B respectively
`
`illustrate after and before the first and the second driving
`
`connecting pieces 44 and 45 are combined. The first driving
`
`connecting piece 44 is formed by a resin forming,
`
`and the
`
`opening 44A and the shaft 448 are provided at
`
`the lower and
`
`the upper portion thereof, respectively.
`
`The second driving
`
`connecting piece 45 is also formed by a resin forming,
`
`and
`
`the bearing 45A and the boss 45B are provided at
`
`the lower
`
`and the upper portion thereof,
`
`respectively.
`
`Since each of
`
`the first and the second driving connecting pieces 44 and 45
`
`is
`
`formed
`
`as
`
`one unit
`
`by using resin,
`
`the
`
`number of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-11_
`
`
`
`components
`
`can
`
`be
`
`reduced,
`
`thereby lowering the costs.
`
`Further,
`
`in order to facilitate an insertion-fitting between
`
`the shaft 448 and the bearing 45A of
`
`the second driving
`
`connecting piece 45, an inclined surface 44C is formed at an
`
`upper
`
`edge
`
`of
`
`the
`
`shaft
`
`448.
`
`Moreover,-
`
`formed at
`
`a
`
`peripheral
`
`area of
`
`the
`
`shaft
`
`44B is
`
`a
`
`recess
`
`44D for
`
`collecting therein grease. Accordingly,
`
`it is possible to
`
`stably supply grease to an insertion—fitting portion between
`
`the shaft 44B of
`
`the first driving connecting piece 44 and
`
`the bearing 45A of the second driving connecting piece 45.
`
`The opening 44A of
`
`the first driving connecting piece
`
`44 is insertion-fitted to the eccentric boss 43A of the face
`
`gear 43, and a center thereof revolves along a track drawn
`
`by a center of the eccentric boss 43A. Meanwhile,
`
`the upper
`
`vicinity 45C of
`
`the second driving connecting piece 45 is
`
`guided by the guide groove 21A of the first head member 21
`
`and,
`
`therefore,
`
`the
`
`second driving connecting piece
`
`45
`
`vertically moves
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion.
`
`Since
`
`this
`
`embodiment has two driving connecting pieces composed of the
`
`first and the second driving connecting pieces 44 and 45,
`
`the
`
`second driving connecting piece
`
`45
`
`for driving the
`
`movable cutter 32 of
`
`the trimmer blade 30 inside the head
`
`portion 20 only moves
`
`in .a
`
`reciprocating motion without
`
`pivoting in a horizontal direction.
`
`As a result,
`
`an inner
`
`space of
`
`the
`
`head portion 20
`
`can
`
`be
`
`reduced,
`
`thereby
`
`allowing the entire size of
`
`the head portion 20 to become
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-12-
`
`
`
`small and lightweight.
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`a pivoting device
`
`in which
`
`the
`
`head
`
`portion 20 pivots with respect
`
`to the hand—holdable portion
`
`10 will be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 6, support
`
`members 12A and 13A for pivotably supporting the first head
`
`member 21 of
`
`the head portion 20 are respectively provided
`
`on
`
`inner peripheral
`
`surfaces of upper vicinities of
`
`the
`
`front member 12 and the rear member 13,
`
`the front member 12
`
`and the rear member
`
`13 configuring the housing 11 of
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable portion 10. Meanwhile, bearing portions 21B
`
`insertion-fitted.
`
`to the support members
`
`12A and 13A are
`
`provided at a
`
`lower vicinity of
`
`the first head member 21.
`
`Further, protrusions 21C for restricting a pivotable range
`
`of
`
`the first head member
`
`21 are so formed at
`
`a
`
`lowest
`
`portion of
`
`the first head member
`
`21
`
`as
`
`to be protruded
`
`toward
`
`the
`
`front member
`
`12
`
`and
`
`the
`
`rear member
`
`13,
`
`respectively.
`
`Meanwhile,
`
`provided
`
`in
`
`inner peripheral
`
`portions of
`
`the front member 12 and the rear member 13 are
`
`the
`
`protrusions
`
`21C
`
`and
`
`guide
`
`grooves
`
`12B
`
`and
`
`13B,
`
`respectively
`
`(see Figs.
`
`9A and
`
`9B), wherein the guide
`
`grooves 12B and 13B serve to restrict pivoting of the first
`
`head member 21 by contacting with the protrusions 21C when
`
`the protrusions 21C pivot at a specific angle.
`
`In addition,
`
`the head portion 20 pivots with respect to the hand-holdable
`
`portion 10
`
`on
`
`a
`
`surface perpendicular
`
`to a protruding
`
`direction of the teeth of the trimmer blade 30.
`
`-13-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`As
`
`described
`
`in
`
`Fig.
`
`6,
`
`a plurality of
`
`linear'
`
`protrusions 12C and 13C are provided around outer peripheral
`
`surfaces of the support members 12A and 13A in a direction
`
`parallel
`
`to a central axis of
`
`the support members
`
`12A and
`
`13A.
`
`Further, provided on a central bottom surface of
`
`the
`
`bearing portion 21B is
`
`an
`
`approximately hemispheric or
`
`approximately cylindrical protrusion 21F protruding in a
`
`direction parallel to the support members 12A and 13A. With
`
`such
`
`configuration,
`
`it
`
`is possible
`
`to
`
`reduce
`
`sliding
`
`friction and abrasion between the support members
`
`12A and
`
`13A and the bearing portion 21B, which are generated when
`
`the head portion 20 pivots with respect to the hand-holdable
`
`portion 10.
`
`As illustrated in Figs.
`
`1A and 2,
`
`a length of the head
`
`portion 20 in a vertical direction corresponds to 1/5 to 1/3
`
`of an entire length of
`
`the hair clipper 1.
`
`Further, upper
`
`portions of the front member 12 and the rear member 13 are
`
`formed so as to make it highest
`
`in central portions thereof
`
`and
`
`shorter
`
`toward
`
`both
`
`side portions.
`
`Accordingly,
`
`although the head portion 20 pivots with respect
`
`to the
`
`hand-holdable portion 10 to a maximum angle,
`
`a specific gap
`
`4
`
`is formed between both lower portions of
`
`the first head
`
`member 21 and both upper portions of the front member 12 and
`
`the rear member 13. Thus, when a user uses the hair clipper
`
`1,
`
`it is possible to recognize where the head portion 20
`
`pivots and where to grip. Further, when the user grips the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-14-
`
`
`
`hand—holdable portion 10,
`
`there is not much possibility of a
`
`user’s hand reaching into a gap portion between the upper
`
`portion of
`
`the
`
`hand—holdable portion 10
`
`and
`
`the
`
`lower
`
`portion
`
`of
`
`the
`
`head
`
`portion
`
`20,
`
`thereby
`
`reducing
`
`a
`
`possibility in which the user’s hand obstructs
`
`the head
`
`portion 20 from pivoting.
`
`As
`
`a result,
`
`the conformability
`
`of
`
`the head portion 20, specifically,
`
`the trimmer blade 30
`
`to the irregularities of the skin becomes enhanced,
`
`thereby
`
`making it more convenient
`
`to use.
`
`Furthermore, even if the
`
`user’s hand reaches into the gap between the upper portion
`
`of the hand—holdable portion 10 and the lower portion of the
`
`head portion 20,
`
`fingers or
`
`the like can be prevented from
`
`being pinched between the hand-holdable portion 10 and the
`
`head portion 20,
`
`thereby making the design safe.
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`a
`
`relationship between the driving unit
`
`40 and the pivoting device of
`
`the head portion 20 will be
`
`described.
`
`As
`
`illustrated in Figs.
`
`4
`
`and 6,
`
`the guide
`
`groove
`
`21A of
`
`the first head member
`
`21 elongates
`
`to a
`
`portion positioned between two bearing portions 21B provided
`
`at
`
`the lower vicinity of
`
`the first head member 21.
`
`As
`
`depicted in Fig. 7,
`
`a connecting portion of
`
`the first and
`
`the second driving connecting pieces 44 and 45 is positioned
`
`between the bearing portions 21B.
`
`In other words,
`
`a point
`
`where the head portion 20 pivots with respect
`
`to the hand—
`
`holdable portion 10
`
`and
`
`that where
`
`the
`
`second driving
`
`connecting piece 45 pivots with respect
`
`to the first driving
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2O
`
`25
`
`-15-
`
`
`
`connecting piece 44 are approximately coaxial. With such
`
`configuration,
`
`the second driving connecting piece 45 moves
`
`only in a reciprocating motion at a portion positioned above
`
`the bearing portions 21B, i.e.,
`
`a pivoting point of the head
`
`portion 20. Accordingly,
`
`it is possible to make an entire
`
`head portion 20 slim or small.
`
`As
`
`shown in Fig. 8,
`
`a lower portion 21D of
`
`the first
`
`head member 21 and a lower portion 22A of
`
`the second head
`
`member
`
`22
`
`are lprotruded
`
`outward
`
`in
`
`both
`
`directions,
`
`respectively, so that they form a part of spherical surface.
`
`In the meantime,
`
`inner peripheral
`
`surfaces of
`
`the upper
`
`vicinities of
`
`the front member
`
`12 and the rear member
`
`13
`
`(not
`
`shown)
`
`are outwardly recessed in both directions,
`
`respectively. Accordingly,
`
`the head portion 20 can pivot
`
`with respect
`
`to the hand-holdable portion 10 while being
`
`supported by a spherical shaped bearing configuration.
`
`As
`
`illustrated in Fig.
`
`8, provided at
`
`the first and
`
`the second head members 21 and 22 are guide protrusions 21E
`
`and 22B for guiding a
`
`reciprocating motion of
`
`the second
`
`driving connecting piece 45 in a direction (both directions
`
`in Fig.
`
`8) perpendicular to a bottom surface of
`
`the guide
`
`groove 21A.
`
`A guide portion 8 having the guide groove 21A
`
`and the guide protrusions 21E and 218 is provided at
`
`the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`point
`
`6 where the second driving connecting piece 45 pivots
`
`_25
`
`with respect
`
`to the
`
`first driving connecting piece
`
`44.
`
`Accordingly, when
`
`the second driving connecting piece 45
`
`-16—
`
`
`
`moves
`
`in a
`
`reciprocating motion,
`
`it is possible to reduce
`
`the swinging range in the direction perpendicular
`
`to the
`
`reciprocating motion,
`
`thereby reducing a swinging loss while
`
`operating the device.
`
`Figs.
`
`9A and 9B illustrate a mechanism for restricting
`
`a pivotable range of the head portion 20 with respect to the
`
`hand—holdable portion 10.
`
`Figs.
`
`9A and 98 provide a basic
`
`state where the head portion 20 is not pivoted and a state
`
`where the head portion 20 is pivoted to a maximum angle.
`
`Further, Figs.
`
`9A and
`
`9B show an
`
`inner portion of
`
`the
`
`assembled hair clipper 1, which is seen through from the
`
`rear member 13.
`
`In the state shown
`
`in Fig.
`
`9B,
`
`the protrusion 21C
`
`provided at
`
`the lowest portion of the first head member 21
`
`contacts with an end surface of the guide groove 13B of the
`
`rear member 13,
`
`thereby restricting further pivoting of the
`
`head portion 20 beyond the end surface thereof. Further,
`
`a
`
`flange portion 13F of the upper vicinity of the rear member
`
`13 contacts with a bottom surface of
`
`the lower portion 21D
`
`of the first head member 21 or that of the lower portion 22A
`
`of the second head member 22,
`
`the lower portions 21D and 22A
`
`forming the spherical shaped bearing structure. Furthermore,
`
`a side surface 21G of the lower vicinity of the first head
`
`member
`
`21 contacts with an end surface 13G of
`
`the rear
`
`member
`
`13.
`
`Although it
`
`is not
`
`illustrated,
`
`the above-
`
`described contact structure is equally applied to the front
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-17—
`
`
`
`member 12. Likewise,
`
`the first and the second head members
`
`21 and 22 forming the head portion 20 contacts a plurality
`
`of portions of
`
`the front
`
`and the rear members
`
`12
`
`and 13
`
`forming the hand—holdable portion 10.
`
`Further,
`
`a plurality
`
`of stopper mechanisms are provided thereat,
`
`thereby enabling
`
`to distribute a
`
`load applied to the head portion 20.
`
`As a
`
`result,
`
`even if an excessive load is applied. during the
`
`pivoting of the head portion 20, it is possible to reduce a
`
`possibility of damaging the front member 12,
`
`the rear member
`
`13,
`
`the first head member 21 and the second head member 22.
`
`Moreover, by distributing a load to the plurality of stopper
`
`mechanisms 7,
`
`strength of
`
`the stopper mechanism 7 can be
`
`reduced and,
`
`further,
`
`an entire size of the hair clipper 1
`
`can be scaled down.
`
`Next,
`
`Figs.
`
`10A and
`
`10B depict
`
`a mechanism for
`
`applying a restoring force to the head portion 20 pivoting
`
`with respect
`
`to the hand-holdable portion 10. Figs. 10A and
`
`10B represent a_basic state where the head portion 20 is not
`
`pivoted and a state where the head portion 20 is pivoted to
`
`a maximum angle,
`
`respectively. Further, as in Figs.
`
`9A and
`
`98, Figs. 10A and 108 show an inner portion of the assembled
`
`hair clipper 1, which is seen through from the rear member
`
`13.
`
`In the basic state shown in Fig.
`
`10A,
`
`a torsion coil
`
`spring 50 is coaxially provided with the shaft
`
`42 of
`
`the
`
`face gear 43 and,
`
`further,
`
`installed in a way that two arms
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-18-
`
`
`
`51 and 52 thereof hold therebetween the lower portion 21H of
`
`the first head member 21 at both sides. Further,
`
`the front
`
`member 12 and the rear member 13 are provided with stoppers
`
`12H (see Fig.
`
`6)
`
`and 13H for restricting a rotation of
`
`the
`
`arms
`
`51
`
`and 52,
`
`respectively.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`if the head
`
`portion 20 pivots with respect
`
`to the hand-holdable portion
`
`10,
`
`the
`
`lower portion 21H of
`
`the
`
`first head member
`
`21
`
`outwardly pushes the arm 51, as illustrated in Fig. 10B. At
`
`this
`
`time,
`
`since
`
`a movement
`
`of
`
`the other
`
`arm 52
`
`is
`
`restricted by the stoppers 12H and 13H,
`
`the arm 51 becomes
`
`extended outwardly and,
`
`thus,
`
`the torsion coil
`
`spring 50
`
`becomes
`
`transformed elastically. Accordingly,
`
`a restoring
`
`force for rotating the lower portion 21H of
`
`the first head
`
`member
`
`21
`
`in
`
`the direction opposite
`
`to
`
`the pivoting
`
`direction of
`
`the first head Inember
`
`21
`
`is charged to the
`
`torsion coil spring 50.
`
`The opposite case is the same. As
`
`a result, when hair is trimmed with the trimmer blade 30 of
`
`the head portion 20 close to the skin,
`
`the conformability of
`
`the trimmer blade 30 to irregularities of
`
`the skin can be
`
`improved by the restoring force of
`
`the torsion coil spring
`
`50.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Figs.
`11A and 11B represent
`plate springs 55 and 56 instead of
`
`a modified example using
`the torsion coil spring
`
`50.
`The plate springs 55 and 56 are provided at
`portion 21H of
`the first head 1nember 21.
`When
`
`the lower
`the head
`
`25
`
`portion 20 pivots,
`
`the plate springs 55 and 56 contacts the
`
`-19-
`
`
`
`stoppers
`
`12H and 13H or
`
`inner peripheral surfaces of
`
`the
`
`front and the rear member 12 and 13. Accordingly,
`
`the plate
`
`springs
`
`55 and 56 become
`
`transformed elastically,
`
`thereby
`
`charging a restoring force thereto.
`
`Such configuration can
`
`also provide the same effects obtained by using the torsion
`
`coil spring 50.
`
`Figs.
`
`12A and 12B depict a modified example using arm
`
`portions 61 and 62 formed as one unit at
`
`the lower portion
`
`21H of the first head member 21 instead of the torsion coil
`
`spring 50 or the plate springs 55 and 56,
`
`the arm portions
`
`61 and 62 being made of resin and serving as plate springs.
`
`As
`
`in case of
`
`the plate springs 55 and 56, when the head
`
`portion 20 pivots,
`
`the arm portions 61 and 62 contact
`
`the
`
`stoppers 12H and 13H or the inner peripheral surfaces of the
`
`front and the rear members 12 and 13. Accordingly,
`
`the arms
`
`portions 61 and 62 become elastically transformed,
`
`thereby
`
`charging a restoring force thereto.
`
`Such configuration can
`
`also provide the same effects obtained by using the torsion
`
`coil spring 50.
`
`Although the aforementioned embodiments have described
`
`a hair clipper as an example,
`
`the present
`
`invention can be
`
`applied to a personal
`
`trimming system,
`
`in which a head
`
`portion provided with a driven member
`
`reciprocating can
`
`pivot with respect
`
`to a main body,
`
`such as
`
`an electric
`
`shaver or an electric brush without being limited to the
`
`aforementioned example.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`-20—
`
`
`
`While the invention has been shown and described with
`
`respect
`
`to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood
`
`by
`
`those
`
`skilled in the art
`
`that various
`
`changes
`
`and
`
`modification may be made without departing from the spirit
`
`and scope of
`
`the invention as defined in the following
`
`claims.
`
`-21-
`
`
Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.
After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.
Accept $ Charge
Still Working On It
This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.
Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.
A few More Minutes ... Still Working
It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.
Thank you for your continued patience.
This document could not be displayed.
We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.
Your account does not support viewing this document.
You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.
Your account does not support viewing this document.
Set your membership
status to view this document.
With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll
get a whole lot more, including:
- Up-to-date information for this case.
- Email alerts whenever there is an update.
- Full text search for other cases.
- Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.
One Moment Please
The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.
Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.
Your document is on its way!
If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.
Sealed Document
We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.
If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.
Access Government Site
