U.S. patent application number 13/006735 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-07 for combined hair removal device.
Invention is credited to Bjoern Kling, Ralf Klug, Andreas Larscheid, Michael Maichel, Xavier Perez-Lopez, Bernd Pfeiffer, Markus Schuessler, Bernhard Sikora.
Application Number | 20110162207 13/006735 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41172245 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110162207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maichel; Michael ; et
al. |
July 7, 2011 |
Combined Hair Removal Device
Abstract
The present invention is concerned with a combined hair removal
device that comprises a electrical hair removal device having at
least a first coupling structure, a wet shaving device having at
least a second coupling structure, the first and second coupling
structures being configured to mate with each other to detachably
couple the electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving
device in at least a first coupling position, the electrical hair
removal device having an elongated handle provided for individual
operation of the electrical hair removal device in a detached
state, and the wet shaving device having an elongated handle
provided for individual operation of the wet shaving device in a
detached state, wherein the wet shaving device comprises a wet
shaving head that has at least a blade having a sharp, elongated
edge arranged for contacting the skin during a shaving operation so
as to cut off hairs growing on the skin.
Inventors: |
Maichel; Michael;
(Frankfurt, DE) ; Schuessler; Markus;
(Koenigstein, DE) ; Klug; Ralf; (Eschborn, DE)
; Perez-Lopez; Xavier; (Eschborn, DE) ; Larscheid;
Andreas; (Sulzbach, DE) ; Kling; Bjoern;
(Glashuetten, DE) ; Sikora; Bernhard; (Kelkheim,
DE) ; Pfeiffer; Bernd; (Schwalbach, DE) |
Family ID: |
41172245 |
Appl. No.: |
13/006735 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP2009/004822 |
Jul 3, 2009 |
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13006735 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
30/34.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B 21/40 20130101;
B26B 19/3853 20130101; B26B 19/3813 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
30/34.1 |
International
Class: |
B26B 19/38 20060101
B26B019/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 15, 2008 |
EP |
08012724.4 |
Apr 21, 2009 |
EP |
09005577.3 |
Claims
1. Combined hair removal device comprising: an electrical hair
removal device having at least a first coupling structure: a wet
shaving device having at least a second coupling structure, the
first and second coupling structures being configured to mate with
each other to detachably couple the electrical hair removal device
and the wet shaving device in at least a first coupling position;
the electrical hair removal device having an elongated handle
provided for individual operation of the electrical hair removal
device in a detached state; and the wet shaving device having an
elongated handle provided for individual operation of the wet
shaving device in a detached state; and the wet shaving device
comprises wet shaving head that has at least a blade having a
sharp, elongated edge arranged for contacting the skin during a
shaving operation so as to cut off hairs growing on the skin.
2. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device is realized as an electrical shaving
device that comprises a trimmer head having a first toothed blade
and a second toothed blade, at least one of the first and second
toothed blades being arranged to be driven in an operation mode so
as to cut off hairs that feed in between the teeth of the first and
second toothed blades.
3. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device is realized as an electrical shaving
device that comprises a shaver head having a sheer foil structure
arranged to contact the skin and a blade structure that is arranged
to be movable relative to the sheer foil in an operation mode so
that hairs that feed in between holes of the sheer foil are cut off
or shorn off.
4. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device is realized as an epilator device
that comprises an epilator head having a plurality of pairs of
clamping elements that are each arranged so that they can be
actuated between an open position in which hairs can feed into a
gap between the clamping elements and a closed position in which
hairs are clamped between the clamping elements.
5. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving device are
detachably coupled together so that the elongated handles extend
longitudinally side by side over a substantial part of their
length.
6. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
elongated handle of one of the electrical hair removal device and
the wet shaving device has a longitudinally extending recess in
which at least a part of the elongated handle of the other of the
electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving device is
located.
7. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of the first and second coupling structures has two or
more coupling elements to allow coupling the electrical hair
removal device and the wet shaving device in at least the first
coupling position and a second coupling position.
8. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein one
of the first or second coupling structures comprises a movable
element for selectively moving the electrical hair removal device
and the wet shaving device relatively to each other.
9. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of the first or second coupling structures comprises a
release element provided for releasing the mated first and second
coupling structures.
10. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1 having a
contact arrangement for transferring electrical enemy between the
electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving device.
11. Combined shaving device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device has a powered vibration motor and a
mechanical coupling arranged to transmit vibrations generated by
the vibration motor to the wet shaving head of the wet shaving
device.
12. Combined hair removal device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical hair removal device comprises an exchangeable electrical
hair removal head.
13. Electrical hair removal device comprising: an elongated handle
provided for individual operation of the electrical hair removal
device and at least a first coupling structure arranged to
detachably couple the electrical hair removal device to at least a
second coupling structure of a wet shaving device that has an
elongated handle provided for individual operation of the wet
shaving device.
14. Wet shaving device comprising: an elongated handle provided for
individual operation of the wet shaving device and at least a
second coupling structure arranged for detachably coupling the wet
shaving device to at least a first coupling structure of an
electrical hair removal device that has an elongated handle
provided for individual operation of the electrical shaving device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of prior co-pending
International Application No. PCT/EP2009/004822 filed Jul. 3, 2009,
designating the United States.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is concerned with combined hair
removal devices that comprise an electrical hair removal device and
a wet shaving device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] International patent application WO 2007/130680 A1 discloses
a modular grooming tool that comprises a razor assembly coupled to
a first end of a hand-piece for holding the tool such that the
razor assembly is removable, and a nose/ear hair trimmer coupled to
the first end of the hand-piece. The nose/ear hair trimmer is
configured to couple with the razor assembly to nest within the
razor assembly while the razor assembly is coupled to the first end
of the hand-piece.
[0004] It is a disadvantage of this modular grooming tool that the
nose/ear hair trimmer is covered by the razor assembly when the
razor assembly is coupled to the first end of the hand-piece.
[0005] International patent application WO 2005/102623 A2 discloses
a wet razor and electric trimmer assembly. The razor blade is
disposed at or adjacent a first end of the handle. The trimmer
mounts on the handle and includes a moving blade. The motor drives
the moving blade.
[0006] It is a disadvantage of such an assembly that a heavy motor
needs always to be present in the assembly to drive the electric
trimmer when it shall be used.
[0007] International patent application WO 2007/081850 A2 discloses
a multi-use shaving implement that includes an elongated handle and
swappable razor cartridge and trimmer head. The elongated handle
has a powered motor that is at least partially located therein. A
user is enabled to removably attach the razor cartridge to the
handle and the user is also enabled to removably attach the trimmer
head to the handle when the razor cartridge is not attached to the
handle.
[0008] It is a disadvantage of such a shaving implement that the
motor is at least partially present in the elongated handle also
when the shaving implement is used with the razor cartridge
attached to the handle. It is a further disadvantage that one of
the heads is always detached from the handle and may get lost in
the bathroom due to its small size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It would therefore be desirable to provide a combined hair
removal device that is improved over the known devices.
[0010] A combined hair removal device as proposed comprises an
electrical hair removal device that has at least a first coupling
structure and a wet shaving device that has at least a second
coupling structure, the first and second coupling structures being
configured to mate which each other to detachably couple the
electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving device together.
The electrical hair removal device has an elongated handle provide
for individual use of the electrical hair removal device in a
detached state. The wet shaving device has an elongated handle
provided for individual use of the wet shaving device in a detached
state. As the elongated handles are long enough for conveniently
holding each of the devices in a user's hand, the combined hair
removal device can be used in its combined state and the electrical
hair removal device and the wet shaving device can also be used
individually, which is not possible for the devices as known from
prior art. This increases the versatility of such a combined
device.
[0011] In the combined hair removal device as proposed, the
electrical hair removal device may be realized as an electrical
shaving device or an epilator device, and the wet shaving device
comprises a wet shaving head that has at least a blade having a
sharp elongated edge arranged for contacting the skin during a
shaving operation so as to cut off hairs growing on the skin.
[0012] The electrical hair removal device realized as an electrical
shaving device may e.g. comprise a trimmer head having a first and
a second toothed blade, where at least one of the first and second
blades is arranged to be driven in an operation mode so that the
trimmer head cuts off (i.e. sheers off) hairs that feed in between
the teeth of the first and second toothed blades. In another
embodiment, the electrical shaving device may comprise a shaver
head having a sheer foil structure arranged to contact the skin and
a blade structure that is arranged to be movable relative to the
sheer foil in an operation mode so that hairs that feed in between
holes of the sheer foil structure are cut off or sheered off. In
particular, the electrical shaving device may be realized as an
electrical trimmer comprising the electrical trimmer head or as an
electrical sheer-foil shaver comprising the sheer foil structure
and the blade structure. The electrical shaving device may be
arranged for hair removal in a dry and/or a wet environment as is
generally known in the art.
[0013] The electrical hair removal device may also be realized as
an epilator device that may comprise a plurality of pairs of
clamping elements that are each arranged for actuation during an
operation mode between an open position in which hairs can feed
into a gap present between the pair of clamping elements and an
closed position in which hairs are clamped by the pair of clamping
elements.
[0014] In an embodiment, the elongated handles of the electrical
hair removal device and the wet shaving device extend
longitudinally (in the direction of their elongated extension) side
by side over a substantial part of their length, where this should
include that one elongated handle is partially embraced by the
other elongated handle. In a refinement of this embodiment, one of
the elongated handles has a longitudinally extending recess in
which at least part of the other elongated handle is located. The
side-by-side extending or partially embraced or nested elongated
handles thus form a combined handle of the combined hair removal
device
[0015] In another embodiment, at least one of the coupling
structures has at least two or more coupling elements allowing for
coupling the electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving
device in at least two or more coupling positions. In another
embodiment, at least one of the first and second coupling
structures comprises a movable element for selectively moving the
electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving device
relatively to each other, which also allows for having several
coupling positions.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, at least one of the first or
second coupling structures has at least a release element for
releasing the mated first and second coupling structures.
[0017] In a further embodiment, the combined hair removal device
has a contact arrangement enabling the transfer of electrical
energy between the electrical hair removal device and the wet
shaving device in the coupled state. This allows discarding a
battery in one of the devices and allows energizing both devices in
a coupled state.
[0018] In an even further embodiment, the electrical hair removal
device is provided with a vibration motor and the combined shaving
device has a mechanical coupling to transmit vibrations generated
by the vibration motor to the wet shaving head of the wet shaving
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention will be further elucidated by detailed
explanation of several exemplary embodiments and by reference to
figures. In the figures
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view onto an exemplary combined
hair removal device as proposed that comprises an electrical hair
removal device and a wet shaving device that are coupled together
in a first coupling position,
[0021] FIG. 2A is a schematic side view onto an electrical hair
removal device that can be individually used and that can be
coupled to a wet shaving device to form the combined hair removal
device as shown in FIG. 1,
[0022] FIG. 2B is a schematic side view onto a wet shaving device
that can be individually used and that can be coupled to an
electrical hair removal device to form the combined shaving device
as shown in FIG. 1,
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through the combined hair
removal device as shown in FIG. 1,
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view onto the combined hair removal device
as depicted in FIG. 1 but where the electrical hair removal device
and the wet shaving device are coupled together in a second
coupling position,
[0025] FIG. 5A is a perspective view onto aback side of the
electrical hair removal device as shown in FIG. 2A to visualize an
exemplary first coupling structure,
[0026] FIG. 5B is a perspective view onto a front side of the wet
shaving device as shown in FIG. 2B to visualize an exemplary second
coupling structure,
[0027] FIG. 6A is a view onto the front of another exemplary wet
shaving device as proposed,
[0028] FIG. 6B is a view onto the back side of the wet shaving
device as shown in FIG. 6A,
[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional cut through the wet shaving
device as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B along the line A-A as indicated
in FIG. 6A, and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view onto a further exemplary
combined hair removal device as proposed, where a wet shaving
device is clamped onto a electrical hair removal device realized as
an epilator device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment
of a combined hair removal device 1 as proposed. The combined hair
removal device 1 comprises an electrical hair removal device 100
and a wet shaving device 200. The electrical hair removal device
100 is designed as an electrical shaving device in the form of an
electrical trimmer having an electrical hair removal head 120
realized as a trimmer head. The wet shaving device 200 has a wet
shaving head 220 (here: a safety razor head). The electrical hair
removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200 are detachably
coupled to each other in a first coupling position. The details of
the coupling will be discussed further below.
[0032] The electrical hair removal device 100 has an elongated
handle 110 and the wet shaving device 200 has an elongated handle
210. The elongated handle 110 of the electrical hair removal device
100 and the elongated handle 210 of the wet shaving device 200 form
together an integrated elongated handle 101 of the combined hair
removal device 1. The integrated elongated handle 101 of the
combined hair removal device 1 is designed for holding the combined
hair removal device 1 in a hand of a user during operation of the
combined hair removal device 1. In particular, the elongated handle
110 of the electrical hair removal device 100 and the elongated
handle 210 of the wet shaving device 200 are individually shaped in
such a way that the combined handle 101 of the combined hair
removal device 1 allows for easy and safe handling of the combined
hair removal device 1. The integrated elongated handle 101 can be
designed to allow for a convenient use of the combined hair removal
device 1, i.e. the outer surface of the combined elongated handle
101 can be designed to be smooth and/or conveniently lying in a
user's hand. Such convenient use is, e.g., affected through an
integrated elongated handle 101 that is essentially seamless at the
edges where the elongated handle 110 of the electrical hair removal
device 100 and the elongated handle 210 of the wet shaving device
200 abut each other. In such a realization, it is sufficient that
the seamlessness is achieved only in those outer surface areas of
the combined elongated handle 101 that are intended for being held
in a user's hand. The convenient use can, e.g., be achieved by a
design of the combined elongated handle 101 that anatomically fits
into a user's hand. The elongated handles 110 and 210 of the
electrical hair removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200,
respectively, are provided so that they can be held in a user hand
during individual operation of the electrical hair removal device
100 or the wet shaving device 200 in a detached state. A typical
length for an elongated handle that is provided for individual use
is about 8 cm or longer, in particular 10 cm or longer or even more
particularly 12 cm or longer, where specifically the elongated
handle 210 of the wet shaving device 200 is longer than the
elongated handle 110 of the electrical shaving device 100.
[0033] The electrical hair removal device 100 has an electrical
hair removal head 120 in the form of an electric trimmer head and
the wet shaving device 200 has a wet shaving head 220 realized as a
safety razor cartridge in which a plurality of sharp, elongated
razor blades are mounted (obviously, it is not affecting the
present invention whether the wet shaving head 220 comprises only a
single sharp, elongated razor blade or two of such blades or any
other number of blades). Each of the heads is intended to cut-off
or sheer-off hairs that grow on the skin during shaving operation.
Instead of being realized as an electrical trimmer, the electrical
hair removal device 100 may also be realized as an electrical
sheer-foil shaver having an electrical hair removal head realized
as an electrical shaving head having a sheer foil structure
intended for contacting the skin during regular operation and a
blade structure (i.e. an undercutter blade) arranged to be movable
relative to the sheer foil. In an even further embodiment, the
electrical hair removal device 100 may be realized as an epilator
device, which will be discussed in more detail with reference to
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7, and 8 for a further exemplary embodiment.
[0034] In the shown embodiment, the wet shaving device 200 is
detachably coupled to the back of the electrical hair removal
device 100. In another embodiment, a combined hair removal device
comprises a wet shaving device that is detachably coupled to the
front of an electrical hair removal device. In an even other
embodiment, the electrical hair removal device and the wet shaving
device are coupled back-to-back.
[0035] FIG. 2A is a side view onto the electrical hair removal
device 100 that is designed as an electrical trimmer as is shown
also in FIG. 1. The electrical hair removal device 100 is shown in
a detached state. The electrical hair removal device 100 has an
elongated handle 110 that is designed for an individual use of the
electrical hair removal device 100 in its detached state. The
elongated handle 110 of the electrical hair removal device 100 is
specifically designed to be conveniently held in the hand of a user
during hair removal operation. The electrical hair removal device
100 designed as an electrical shaving device in the form of an
electrical trimmer has an electrical hair removal head 120 in the
form of an electrical trimmer head and a motor (not visible) for
driving the movable components of the electrical hair removal head
120. It may also be equipped with a battery provided in a battery
compartment for powering the motor independently from a connection
to mains voltage and additionally or equivalently the electrical
hair removal device 100 is equipped with a socket for connecting
the electrical hair removal device 100 to mains voltage with a
respective cable. The electrical hair removal head 120 may be
detachably mounted to the elongated handle 110 of the electrical
hair removal device 100 such that the electrical hair removal head
120 can be cleaned independently from the elongated handle 110 of
the electrical hair removal device 100 or so that the electrical
hair removal head 120 can be replaced by another electrical hair
removal head (e.g. in case the electrical hair removal head 120 is
an electrical trimmer head as shown, the different electrical hair
removal heads can be electrical trimmer heads that have different
cutting widths or differently styled trimmer blades). The motor of
the electrical hair removal device 100 can then fully be located in
the elongated handle 110 or the motor can partially or fully be
located in the electrical hairremoval heads, such that matched
motor components or a matched motor can be provided in each of a
plurality of replaceable electrical hair removal heads.
[0036] FIG. 2B is a side view onto a wet shaving device 200 that is
designed in the form of a safety razor as is shown also in FIG. 1.
The wet shaving device 200 is shown in a detached state. The wet
shaving device 200 has an elongated handle 210 that is designed for
an individual use of the wet shaving device 200 in its detached
state. The elongated handle 210 of the wet shaving device 200 is
specifically designed to be conveniently held in the hand of a user
during shaving operation. The wet shaving device 200 has a wet
shaving head 220 in the form of a safety razor cartridge and may
comprise a vibration motor arranged for exciting vibrations of at
least an elongated sharp razor blade provided at the wet shaving
head. The wet shaving head 220 comprises at least one elongated
sharp razor blade that is intended to contact the skin during
shaving operation to cut hairs growing on the skin. The wet shaving
head 220 can also comprise two or more such elongated sharp razor
blades as is generally known in the art. The razor blade or razor
blades may e.g. be mounted in a razor cartridge, which razor
cartridge can be detachably mounted at the elongated handle 210 of
the wet shaving device 200 as is as such known in the art.
Additionally, the wet shaving device 200 can comprise a battery
compartment in which a battery can be provided for powering the
vibration motor. Instead of having an arrangement for being powered
by a battery provided in a battery compartment of the elongated
handle 210 of the wet shaving device 200 or alternatively to such
an arrangement, the wet shaving device 200 can have a contact
arrangement provided for contacting a respective contact
arrangement provided at the electrical hair removal device 100 so
that energy transfer between the electrical hair removal device 100
and the wet shaving device 200 in an attached state is enabled
(this is also discussed with reference to FIG. 3).
[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional cut through the combined hair
removal device 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The electrical hair removal
device 100 is designed as an electrical trimmer. The wet shaving
device 200 is designed as a safety razor.
[0038] The electrical hair removal device 100 comprises an
elongated handle 110 and an electrical hair removal head 120
realized as an electric trimmer head. A motor 150 is located inside
the elongated handle 110 of the electrical hair removal device 100,
which motor 150 can be selectively powered via a battery 160
provided in a battery compartment 161. The electrical hair removal
device 100 is equipped with a selector 170 realized as a capacitive
switch for selectively activating the electrical trimmer head.
Instead of a capacitive switch any other kind of switch, e.g. a
rotatable knob having various lock positions for switching the
electrical trimmer on or off and/or for e.g. setting various speeds
of the movable trimmer blade is also possible. As is known in the
art, the motor 150 drives a motor shaft 151 having an eccentric
tappet, which tappet mates with a slot of a carrier to translate
the rotational movement of the eccentric tappet into a linear
oscillating movement of the carrier during operation. A moveable
(first) toothed trimmer blade 121 is mounted to the carrier and
interacts with a fixedly mounted (second) toothed trimmer blade so
that hairs that feed in between the teeth of the trimmer blades are
cut-off or shorn-off, respectively, depending on the concrete
realization of the blade edges.
[0039] The wet shaving device 200 comprises an elongated handle 210
and a wet shaving head 220 realized as a detachably mounted razor
cartridge that carries a plurality of sharp, elongated razor blades
221.
[0040] As is schematically shown in FIG. 3, the electrical hair
removal device 100 has a first coupling structure 140 that
detachably connects with a second coupling structure 240 provided
at the wet shaving device 200 so that the combined hair removal
device 1 is formed. The first and second coupling structures 140,
240 are arranged to fixedly couple the electrical hair removal
device 100 and the wet shaving device 200 during shaving operation
of the combined hair removal device 1. In an embodiment, the first
and second coupling structures 140 and 240 are realized as
connectable parts of a snap-fit coupling, where the first coupling
structure 140 may be a positive coupling partner and the second
coupling structure 240 may be a negative cou pling partner designed
to snap-fit onto the positive coupling partner. The snap-fit
coupling may be realized as being flexible enough to release the
first and second coupling structures 140 and 240 from each other by
applying a certain release force above a threshold value that does
not occur in regular hair removal operation. The snap-fit coupling
may also be provided with an additional release mechanism as is
schematically shown in FIG. 3, where a release element 241 is part
of the second coupling structure 240. The release element 241 can
be depressed in a direction B to act on a spring-tensioned element
such as an engagement hook so that the engagement hook is moved
against the spring tension so that the first and the second
coupling structures 140, 240 can be separated without applying any
additional force. In another embodiment, the first coupling
structure 140 is realized as a threaded hole and the second
coupling structure 240 as a corresponding threaded screw that can
be turned via a knob provided at the wet shaving device 200. Any
other kind of coupling is also possible, such as couplings
utilizing a detent lever, detent spring, a bayonet coupling, a
spring loaded ball detent etc.
[0041] Obviously, it is irrelevant whether the electrical hair
removal device 100 has e.g. a positive coupling partner and the wet
shaving device 200 has a negative coupling partner etc., but such
coupling structures could also be provided the other way around
(negative coupling partner realized at electrical hair removal
device 100 and positive coupling partner realized at the wet
shaving device 200) as long as the first coupling structure 140 and
the second coupling structure 240 detachably connect the electrical
hair removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200. The first
and second coupling structures 140 and 240 are usually located at a
circumferential position on the elongated handles so that the
electrical hair removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200
are coupled side by side.
[0042] In one embodiment, the electrical hair removal device has a
recess that extends along the longitudinal axis of the electrical
hair removal device, which recess is designed to receive at least a
part of the elongated handle of the wet shaving device. The recess
could be realized with an undercut so that at least a part of the
elongated handle of the wet shaving device can snap-fit into the
recess. Obviously, such a longitudinally extending recess can also
be provided in the elongated handle of the wet shaving device (as
will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7, and 8).
[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the electrical hair
removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200 have a contact
arrangement 190, 290 of contacts 190 arranged at the electrical
hair removal device 100 and contacts 290 arranged at the wet
shaving device 200 that conductively couple together in at least a
first coupling position ( ) one embodiment, contacts 190 or
contacts 290 may be elongated so that conductive coupling is
achieved e.g. in at least two different, longitudinally displaced
coupling positions). The contact arrangement 190, 290 is designed
to enable transfer of electrical energy between the electrical hair
removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200. In the shown
embodiment, energy is transferred from the battery 160 provided in
the electrical hair removal device 100 to a vibration motor 280
mounted in the wet shaving device 200 for exciting a vibration of
the razor blades. In another embodiment, a vibration motor is
provided in the electrical hair removal device 100 and a mechanical
coupling between the electrical hair removal device 100 and the wet
shaving device 200 enables transmission of the vibrations generated
by the vibration motor to the wet shaving device 200. In such an
embodiment, the hair removal head 220 of the wet shaving device 200
may be arranged close to the mechanical coupling.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a side view of a combined hair removal device 1
similar to the combined hair removal device shown in FIG. 1. The
electrical hair removal device 100 and the net shaving device 200
are coupled together in different geometrical relationship as in
FIG. 1. The coupling position shown in FIG. 4 may be the only
coupling position. Alternatively, the first coupling structure and
or the second coupling structure provided at the electrical hair
removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200, respectively,
may allow for coupling the electrical hair removal device 100 and
the wet shaving device 200 together in two or even more coupling
positions. If the second coupling structure is realized as a
threaded screw, then the first coupling structure could comprise
two or even more threaded holes for detachably connecting the
electrical hair removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200
in two or even more coupling positions. Alternatively, the first
coupling structure may comprise a threaded hole that is provided in
a movable element being part of the first coupling structure, which
movable element can e.g. be slid or pivoted into two or even more
locked positions. The realization of the coupling structures will
be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 5A and FIG.
5B.
[0045] FIG. 5A is a perspective view onto the back side of the
electrical hair removal device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 3, and
4. The first coupling structure 140 is schematically indicated. In
the shown exemplary embodiment, the first coupling structure 140
comprises three coupling elements 141, 142, 143 for coupling the
wet shaving device to the electrical hair removal device 100 in
three different coupling positions. The first coupling position may
be the coupling position as shown in FIG. 4, which allows a
simultaneous usage of the electrical hair removal device 100 and
the wet shaving device as the hair removal heads of the electrical
hair removal device 100 and the wet shaving device 200 are aligned
so that hairs growing on the skin can be removed in a single
stroke. In an embodiment with an electrical trimmer as electrical
hair removal device and a safety razor as wet shaving device, the
hairs are first cut-off (or shorn-off) by the electrical trimmer
head of the electrical trimmer and then are cut-off by the wet
shaving head of the safety razor, so that a complete hair removal
result can be achieved in one single stroke. A second coupling
position may be a position as shown in FIG. 1, where the wet
shaving device is in a storage position in which the hair removal
head of the wet shaving device is covered by the electrical hair
removal device in such a way that any direct contact between the
fingers of a user and any sharp blades of the hair removal head of
the wet shaving device is effectively avoided. In this second
coupling position, the electrical hair removal device can be used
alone. A third coupling position may be a position in which the
hair removal head of the wet shaving device projects above the hair
removal head of the electrical hair removal device. In this third
coupling position, only the wet shaving device will be used.
[0046] The first coupling structure 140 also comprises a movable
element 145 that is provided for selective motion on the back of
the electrical hair removal device 100. In one embodiment, the
first coupling structure 140 comprises only one coupling element
141 that is arranged on the movable element 145, but several
coupling positions of the combined shaving device are achieved by a
selective movement of the movable element 145 relative to the
electrical hair removal device. The movable element 145 may be
provided with several lock-in positions that are achieved e.g. via
a spring-loaded ball detent having a registration feature.
[0047] FIG. 5B is a perspective view onto the front side of the wet
shaving device 200 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2B, 3, and 4. The second
coupling structure 240 is schematically indicated. In this
exemplary embodiment, the second coupling structure 240 comprises
only one coupling element that is arranged to couple with any one
of the three coupling elements of the electrical hair removal
device as shown in FIG. 5A so that the electrical hair removal
device and the wet shaving device 200 can be connected in any one
of three mentioned coupling positions.
[0048] It is to be noted that all the various features as described
with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5A, and 5B are not to be
construed as if they would be restricted to an embodiment with an
electrical trimmer as electrical hair removal device. Similar
embodiments are possible where the electrical hair removal device
is an electrical shaver device having a sheer foil structure
intended for contacting the skin or where the electrical hair
removal device is an epilator device.
[0049] In the following, a further exemplary embodiment is
discussed, in which the electrical hair removal device is realized
as an epilator device and the wet shaving device is again realized
as a safety razor. In this exemplary embodiment, the wet shaving
device has an elongated handle that envelopes the elongated handle
of the epilator device.
[0050] FIG. 6A is a view onto the front of an exemplary wet shaving
device 10 realized as a safety razor. The wet shaving device 10 has
an elongated handle 11 that is intended to be detachably slipped
over an elongated handle of a electrical hair removal device so as
to form a combined hair removal device as proposed (FIG. 8 shows
the resulting combined hair removal device 1'). In the attached
state, the elongated handle 11 envelopes at least a part of the
elongated handle of the electrical hair removal device as is shown
in FIG. 8. The wet shaving device 10 therefore comprises an
elongated handle 11 that in the shown embodiment will be clamped
around the elongated handle of the electrical hair removal device.
Insofar, the wet shaving device 10 does not require any
modification of an available electrical hair removal device. A user
can simply slip the net shaving device 10 over the electrical hair
removal device as one would slip a shoe over a foot. The wet
shaving device 10 further comprises a wet shaving head 15 that in
the shown embodiment is realized as a safety razor cartridge that
comprises a razor blade block 16 in which several sharp, elongated
razor blades 17 are mounted as is generally known from a safety
razor such as the Gillette Venus.RTM. Embrace. The wet shaving head
15 as shown may further comprise a lubrication strip and/or
massaging lamellae as is generally known from wet shaving
cartridges.
[0051] The elongated handle 11 is preformed so as to tightly fit
around the elongated handle (i.e. the body) of the electrical hair
removal device for which it is intended. The elongated handle 11
has an inner side 12 that is shaped to accommodate the elongated
handle of the electrical hair removal device. The elongated handle
structure 11 has flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c that will be
clamped around the body of the electrical hair removal device. In
the shown example, the flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c extend on
three sides of the handle structure 11 (namely left side, right
side and bottom side with reference to the paper direction). The
flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c are bent inwards so as to partially
embrace the hollow space formed by the concave inner side 12 of the
elongated handle 11 so that the elongated handle 11 can be clamped
around three sides of the elongated handle of the electrical hair
removal device (as is shown in FIG. 8). Instead of three sides, the
elongated handle 11 may have only two flexed parts 11a and 11b and
the elongated handle 11 would then only be clamped around two sides
of the elongated handle of the electrical hair removal device. In
another embodiment, the elongated handle 11 may have further flexed
parts at the top, e.g. short flexed straps left and right of the
hair removal head 15 that will be clamped around a head part of the
elongated handle of the electrical hair removal device. At least
the flexed parts 11a and 11b are preformed such that they are bent
slightly outwards when the elongated handle 11 is slipped over the
elongated handle of the wet shaving device. Due to clamping forces
applied via the bent flexed parts 11a and 11b (and optionally 11c)
the wet shaving device 10 is fixedly connected with the electrical
hair removal device and hence the flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c
form the second coupling structure. By a specific choice of the
material of the elongated handle structure and/or a coating of the
inner surface 12a of the elongated handle 11 and/or a certain
roughness of the inner surface 12a of the elongated handle 11, the
fixation can be enhanced due to adhesion and friction resistance
between the inner surface 12a of the handle structure 11 and the
outer surface of the elongated handle of the electrical hair
removal device. In this embodiment, the elongated handle of the
electrical hair removal device itself forms the first coupling
structure as it provides the form-fit counterpart for the flexed
parts 11a, 11b, and 11c.
[0052] FIG. 6B is a view onto the back of the wet shaving device 10
as depicted in FIG. 6A. The elongated handle 11 comprises a release
mechanism 14 as is known from safety razors to release the wet
shaving head 15 from a clamp structure that holds the wet shaving
head 15. Obviously, the shown release mechanism 14 is just one
exemplary embodiment of a release mechanism that could be employed.
The wet shaving head 15 may also be floatingly mounted to the
elongated handle 11, e.g. by mounting the wet shaving head 15 onto
a guided spring that allows for a vertical floating motion of the
wet shaving head 15 under application of a force. Further, the
outer side 13 of the elongated handle 11 that is intended to be
gripped by a user's hand during operation is visible. The outer
side 13 has an outer surface 13a and has a texture 13b, that in the
shown case is realized as a perforation of a part of the outer
surface 13a. The texture 13b enhances the grip of the elongated
handle 11, specifically when used in a wet environment, e.g. under
the shower. Instead of perforations, the texture could be realized
as depressions or elevations (e.g. rips, burls etc.). The
enhancement of the grip, specifically in a wet environment, is
optimal if the texture has a macroscopic size, i.e. when at least a
lateral dimension of the texture elements has a minimal value such
as 0.5 mm or 1 mm or 2 mm or 5 mm.
[0053] The elongated handle 11 further has an opening 18 that is
shaped so as to form-fit around a projecting part of the elongated
handle of the electrical hair removal device. Such a form-fit
connector element enhances the fixed connection between the
elongated handle 11 and the elongated handle of the electrical hair
removal device. In general, the elongated handle 11 could comprise
a connector structure that mates with a connector structure
realized at the elongated handle of the electrical hair removal
device, e.g. the elongated handle 11 could comprise elastic,
mush-room-like projections and the elongated handle of the
electrical hair removal device could comprise undercut cavities
that receive the mush-room-like projections in a releasable
snap-fit manner. The connector structure realized at the elongated
handle of the wet shaving device (e.g. opening 18) would then form
part of the second coupling structure and the connector structure
realized at the elongated handle of the electrical hair removal
device (e.g. the mentioned projecting part of the elongated handle
of the electrical hair removal device) would then form part of the
first coupling structure.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional cut through the wet shaving
device 10 as depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B along line A-A as
indicated in FIG. 6A. The elongated handle 11 has a relatively thin
wall thickness, here in the range of 0.5-3 mm. The inner side 12 of
the elongated handle 11 is shaped to accommodate the elongated
handle of the electrical hair removal device. Flexed parts 11b and
11c are bent inwards to partially embrace the hollow space defined
by the inner side 12 of the elongated handle 11. The clamp
structure and the release button of the release mechanism 14 are
visible.
[0055] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a combined hair removal
device 1' where the wet shaving device 10 as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B,
and 7 is clamped around an electrical hair removal device 20, which
in the shown embodiment is realized as an epilator device. The
electrical hair removal device 20 has an elongated handle 21 that
is intended to be gripped by a user's hand when the wet shaving
device 10 is detached. The electrical hair removal device 20
further has an electrical hair removal head 22 that is intended to
get in contact with a user's skin to remove hairs, which electrical
hair removal head 22 is realized as an epilator head. The elongated
handle 11 of the wet shaving device 10 is clamped around the
electrical hair removal device 20 in such a way that the electrical
hair removal head 22 of the electrical hair removal device 20
remains uncovered by the elongated handle 11. The elongated handles
of the electrical hair removal device 20 and the wet shaving device
10 form together an integrated handle 101 of the combined hair
removal device 1'. The wet shaving head 15 of the wet shaving
device 10 is arranged in such a way that the razor blade 17 lies
behind the electrical hair removal head 22 with respect to a use
direction B defined by the cutting edge of the razor blade as the
blade 17 will only cut hairs when drawn over the skin along the use
direction B. Hence, the combined hair removal device 1' as shown
will completely remove hairs in a single stroke. Firstly, hairs
growing on the skin are plucked out by the electrical hair removal
head 22 of the electrical hair removal device 20 realized as an
epilator head and secondly the remaining hairs that were not
plucked out are cut off by the wet shaving head 15 of the wet
shaving device 10 that is realized as a safety razor head. Since
the flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c partially embrace a hollow space
formed by the inner side 12 of the elongated handle 11 that is
slightly smaller than the elongated handle 21 of the electrical
hair removal device 20, the flexed parts 11a, 11b, and 11c are
pre-stressed against the elongated handle 21 of the electrical hair
removal device 20 and thus the elongated handle 11 of the wet
shaving device 10 is fixed to the elongated handle 21 of the
electrical hair removal device 20.
[0056] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
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