U.S. patent application number 16/492357 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-06 for shaver handle and method of manufacturing.
This patent application is currently assigned to BIC-VIOLEX SA. The applicant listed for this patent is BIC-VIOLEX SA. Invention is credited to Ioannis BOZIKIS, Efstratios CHRISTOFIDELLIS, Spiros GRATSIAS, Phaedon PAPAGEORGIS, Ioannis - Marios PSIMADAS.
Application Number | 20200039099 16/492357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61627100 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-06 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200039099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GRATSIAS; Spiros ; et
al. |
February 6, 2020 |
SHAVER HANDLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
Abstract
A handle (2) for a wet shaver, having a handle body (7) adapted
to be held by a user and a head supporting portion (8) adapted to
support a shaver head (3). The handle body had a cell structure
formed by juxtaposed hollow cells (16) separated by solid walls
(15).
Inventors: |
GRATSIAS; Spiros; (Athens,
GR) ; CHRISTOFIDELLIS; Efstratios; (Kifisia, GR)
; PSIMADAS; Ioannis - Marios; (Athens, GR) ;
BOZIKIS; Ioannis; (Athens, GR) ; PAPAGEORGIS;
Phaedon; (Agios Stefanos, GR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BIC-VIOLEX SA |
Ainxi |
|
GR |
|
|
Assignee: |
BIC-VIOLEX SA
Anixi
GR
|
Family ID: |
61627100 |
Appl. No.: |
16/492357 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 9, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/055929 |
371 Date: |
September 9, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B33Y 80/00 20141201;
B26B 21/521 20130101; B33Y 50/02 20141201; G05B 2219/35134
20130101; B29C 64/393 20170801; G05B 19/4099 20130101; B26B 21/522
20130101; G05B 2219/49007 20130101; B29L 2031/769 20130101; B26B
21/528 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B26B 21/52 20060101
B26B021/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 2017 |
EP |
17160416.8 |
Mar 10, 2017 |
EP |
17160417.6 |
Claims
1. A handle for a wet shaver, the handle comprising: a handle body
adapted to be held by a user; and a head supporting portion adapted
to support a shaver head including at least one blade; the handle
body having a cell structure formed by juxtaposed hollow cells at
least partly separated by solid walls, the juxtaposed hollow cells
being oriented in more than one direction and being arranged about
a substantial portion of the handle body in a varying pattern.
2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the juxtaposed hollow
cells have more than one shape and form.
3. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the cell structure is
formed by using a space partitioning method.
4. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the cell structure is
formed as a Voronoi diagram.
5. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the cell structure is
formed as a honeycomb cell structure.
6. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a
bending efficiency ratio Rbe of more than 1.20 10.sup.-4
Nmm.sup.-4, wherein the bending efficiency ratio is defined as:
Rbe=(F/d)/Vm, wherein: F is a force applied to a distal end of the
handle body while the head supporting portion of the handle is
fixed, said force being applied substantially perpendicularly to a
general direction of the handle, d is a resulting displacement of
the distal end of the handle, and Vm is a volume of solid material
of the handle.
7. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle body has an
outside surface defining a shape of the handle body and the cell
structure includes a grid shell structure forming a skin which
continuously extends according to the outside surface and surrounds
an inner volume, the grid shell structure being formed by the
hollow cells which are open toward the inner volume and the solid
walls which separate the hollow cells.
8. The handle according to claim 7, wherein the inner volume is
empty.
9. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the juxtaposed hollow
cells are formed entirely about a volume of the handle.
10. The handle according to claim 7, wherein the handle body
extends longitudinally along a central line between a distal end
and a proximal end, the proximal end being disposed close to the
head supporting portion, and the grid shell structure being
configured to extend continuously about the central line.
11. The handle according to claim 10, wherein the grid shell
structure includes a top portion, a bottom portion and two side
portions which all extending along the central line from the distal
end to the proximal end, and the grid shell structure forms an apex
at the distal end, continuously joining the top portion, the bottom
portion and the two side portions.
12. The handle according to claim 8, wherein the empty cells have
an average surface density of between 0.3 and 3 cells/cm.sup.2.
13. The handle according to claim 10, wherein the hollow cells are
disposed such that a plane including the distal end and the
proximal end, intersects an average number of between 3 and 20 of
the hollow cells.
14. A method for reducing an amount of raw material used in
manufacturing a handle for a wet shaver by using a space
partitioning algorithm, wherein a material volume used to
manufacture said handle is at least 33% inferior compared to a
handle having a similar bending efficiency ratio.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said space
partitioning algorithm defines a cell containing structure formed
as a Voronoi diagram.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a National Stage Application of
International Application No. PCT/EP2018/055929, filed on Mar. 9,
2018, now published as WO2018/162720 and which claims priority to
European Application No. 17160416.8, filed Mar. 10, 2017, and
European Application No. 17160417.6, filed Mar. 10, 2017.
FIELD
[0002] The disclosure relates to shaver handles, shavers including
such handles and methods of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Shaver handles are usually compact plastic molded parts,
molded as a single part or sometimes molded as several parts which
are later assembled.
[0004] WO2006081842 shows an example of a known shaver handle.
[0005] One of the purposes of the present disclosure is to improve
the shaver handles of the prior art, in particular with regard to
material consumption and economy.
SUMMARY
[0006] Thus, the present disclosure proposes a handle for a wet
shaver, having: [0007] a handle body adapted to be held by a user;
and [0008] a head supporting portion adapted to support a shaver
head having at least one blade, the handle body having a cell
structure formed by juxtaposed hollow cells at least partly
separated by solid walls, said juxtaposed hollow cells being
oriented in more than one direction.
[0009] Thanks to these features, the mechanical structure of the
handle body can be highly efficient and may save a lot of material
compared to compact handles full of solid material, for the same or
similar mechanical properties.
[0010] Embodiments of such a shaver handle may incorporate one or
more of the following features: [0011] said cell structure has an
envelope volume Vt which encompasses a certain empty volume Ve, a
ratio Ve/Vt of said empty volume on said envelope volume being
between 33% and 90%; [0012] said ratio Ve/Vt is more than 65%;
[0013] said juxtaposed hollow cells has more than one shape and
form; [0014] said cell structure is formed by using a space
partitioning method; [0015] said cell structure is formed as a
Voronoi diagram; [0016] said cell structure is formed as a
honeycomb cell structure; [0017] the handle has a bending
efficiency ratio Rbe of more than 1.20 10.sup.-4 Nmm.sup.-4,
wherein said bending efficiency ratio is defined as: [0018]
Rbe=(F/d)/Vm, wherein: [0019] F is a force applied to a distal end
of the handle body while the head supporting portion of the handle
is fixed, said force being applied substantially perpendicularly to
a general direction of the handle, [0020] d is a resulting
displacement of the distal end of the handle, [0021] Vm is the
volume of solid material of the handle, wherein the ratio Rbe is
higher compared to a compact handle of the same external shape;
[0022] said bending efficiency ratio is more than 1.30 10.sup.-4
Nmm.sup.-4; [0023] said handle body has an outside surface defining
a shape of said handle body and said cell structure includes a grid
shell structure forming a skin which continuously extends according
to said outside surface and surrounds an inner volume, the grid
shell structure forming said hollow cells which are open toward the
inner volume and at the outside surface, and said solid walls
separating said hollow cells parallel to said outside surface;
[0024] said inner volume is empty and thus deprived of solid walls;
[0025] said cell structure is formed along the whole volume of the
handle; [0026] the handle body extends longitudinally along a
central line between a distal end and a proximal end close to the
head supporting portion, and said grid shell structure continuously
extends around said central line; [0027] said grid shell structure
has a top portion, a bottom portion and two side portions all
extending along the central line from the distal end to the
proximal end, and said grid shell structure forms an apex at said
distal end, continuously joining the top portion, bottom portion
and side portions; [0028] said hollow cells represent between 30%
and 60% of said outside surface; [0029] said hollow cells have an
average surface density comprised between 0.3 and 3 cells/cm.sup.2;
[0030] said hollow cells are disposed such that a plane
perpendicular to said central line, intersects an average number of
empty cells comprised between 3 and 15; [0031] said hollow cells
are disposed such that a plane including said distal end and said
proximal end, intersects an average number of hollow cells
comprised between 3 and 20.
[0032] A further object of the disclosure is a shaver comprising a
handle with any of the above described features and a shaver head
mounted on the head supporting portion of said handle.
[0033] Still another object of the disclosure is a method for
reducing the amount of raw material used in manufacturing a handle
for wet shaver comprising defining a cell containing structure by
using a space partionioning algorithm, wherein the material volume
used to manufacture said handle is at least 33% inferior compared
to a handle having a similar bending efficiency ratio. Said space
partinioning algorithm may define a cell containing structure
formed as a Voronoi diagram
[0034] The above and other objects and advantages will become
apparent from the detailed description of one embodiment of the
disclosure, considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] In the drawings:
[0036] FIGS. 1 and 2 are overall perspective views of a shaver
according to one embodiment of the disclosure, viewed in two
directions,
[0037] FIG. 3 is a section view of the shaver of FIGS. 1 and 2, the
shaver being cut in the sagittal plane P0 of FIG. 1,
[0038] FIGS. 4 and 5 are section views of the handle of the shaver
of FIGS. 1-3, respectively cut in planes P1 and P2 of FIG. 3,
[0039] FIG. 6 illustrates the envelope surface of the handle of the
shaver shown in FIGS. 1-5,
[0040] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, for a second
embodiment,
[0041] FIG. 8 is a section view of the handle body of the shaver of
FIG. 7, the section being taken along plane P0 of FIG. 7,
[0042] FIG. 9 is a section view in a plane perpendicular to plane
P0, in a variant of the second embodiment,
[0043] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1, for a third
embodiment,
[0044] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the handle body of the
shaver of FIG. 10, viewed in a direction opposite to that of FIG.
10,
[0045] FIG. 12 is a section view of the handle body of the shaver
of FIG. 10, the section being taken along plane P0 of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] In the drawings, the same reference numbers denote identical
or similar elements.
[0047] First Embodiment:
[0048] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a shaver 1 according to a first
embodiment, comprising a handle 2 and a shaver head 3.
[0049] The shaver head 3 may have a guard 4, one or several blades
5 and possibly a cover 6 or similar.
[0050] The handle 2 may be formed in one piece. In that case, the
handle 2 may be formed by a digital fabrication technology such as
three dimensional (3D) printing, also called additive
manufacturing. Said 3D printing may be chosen in particular among
additive manufacturing methods such as material extrusion (e.g.
fused deposition modelling etc.), material jetting, VAT
photopolymerization (e.g. digital light processing and electron
beam melting, stereolithography etc.), sheet lamination, direct
energy deposition, powder bed fusion (e.g. laser sintering etc.)
and binder jetting. Additionally a second step may follow, having
the part shaped using conventional techniques (e.g. milling).
[0051] Alternatively, the handle may be formed in two or more parts
which are later assembled together. In that case, the handle may be
manufactured by injection molding or by any known manufacturing
method including additive manufacturing.
[0052] The handle 2 may be formed in one or several materials. For
instance, the handle 2 may be formed in one or several of the
following materials: plastic materials, metals, mixtures of
synthetic and natural materials including wood and paper, etc.
[0053] The handle 2 may comprise an elongated handle body 7 and a
head supporting portion 8 supporting the shaver head 3. The shaver
head 3 may be removably or non-removably attached to the head
supporting portion 8.
[0054] The handle body 7 is adapted to be held in hand by a user.
The handle body 7 extends between a distal end 9 (opposite the head
supporting portion 8) and a proximal end 10 (close to the head
portion 8), along a central line C. The central line C may be
curved. The central line C may be included in a sagittal plane
P0.
[0055] The shaver head 3 may be connected to the head supporting
portion 8 by any known way, for instance pivotally around a pivot
axis perpendicular to the sagittal plane P0, or otherwise.
[0056] In the example shown in the drawings, as can be seen in
particular in FIG. 3, the shaver head 3 may be pivotally mounted on
two lateral arms 12 belonging to the head supporting portion 8 and
elastically biased to a rest position by an elastic tongue 13 also
belonging to the head supporting portion 8. Any other known way of
mounting the shaver head 3 to the head supporting portion 8 would
be possible.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the handle body 7 may have a cell
structure formed by juxtaposed hollow cells 16, at least partly
separated by solid walls 15. The solid walls 15 may form a
continuous, single solid part. The cell structure has an envelope
volume Vt, which is the internal volume comprised by an envelope
surface S of the handle 2 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0058] The hollow cells 16 may have more than one shape and form,
for instance 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11
or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 or more
different shapes and forms.
[0059] The hollow cells 16 may have may have only curved (not
angled) extremities/edges. The hollow cells 16 may have ovoidal
extremities.
[0060] The envelope volume Vt encompasses a certain empty volume
Ve.
[0061] The ratio Ve/Vt of said empty volume on said envelope volume
being between 33% and 90%, preferably more than 65%.
[0062] The solid walls 15 may form a network of solid threads or
arms which are connected together.
[0063] The cell structure 15, 16 may be formed as any structure.
The cell structure 15, 16 may be formed by using a space
partitioning algorithm. Space partitioning is the process of
dividing a space into non-overlapping regions, using mathematical
diagrams or algorithms. Voronoi diagrams are among the most popular
ways of dividing a space into partitions. The cell structure may be
formed as for example a Voronoi diagram.
[0064] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
1-5, said cell structure 15, 16 is a grid shell structure. Such
grid shell structure forms a continuous skin or shell which extends
substantially on the envelope surface S of the handle body, thus
defining the external shape of the handle body 7 and surrounding an
inner volume 14 of the handle body. In that case, the above
mentioned hollow cells 16 are formed in the grid shell structure
and are open towards the inner volume 14 and at the envelope
surface S, and said solid walls 15 are separating said hollow cells
16 parallel the envelope surface S of the handle body.
[0065] In the example shown in the drawings, the inner volume 14 is
empty and free of solid walls. In other embodiments, not shown, the
inner volume 14 may include solid walls belonging to the cell
structure and defining empty cells, for instance according to a 3D
Voronoi diagram, in which case said cell structure 15, 16 may be
formed along the whole volume of the handle. In other embodiments,
the handle body may be produced around any object (e.g. an insert
made of any known material) entrapping it and/or enabling it to
move freely in the handle body 7.
[0066] The grid shell structure 15, 16 may extend continuously
around the central line C. The grid shell structure 15, 16 may
define a top portion 17, a bottom portion 18 and two side portions
19 all extending along the central line from the distal end to the
proximal end, and said grid shell structure forms an apex 20 at the
distal end 9 of the handle body (FIGS. 4-5), continuously joining
the top portion 17, bottom portion 18 and side portions 19.
[0067] The grid shell structure 15, 16 may be such that said empty
cells 16 represent between 30% and 60% of said outside surface.
[0068] The grid shell structure 15, 16 may be such that said empty
cells 16 have an average surface density (parallel to the envelope
surface S) comprised between 0.3 and 3 cells/cm.sup.2.
[0069] The grid shell structure 15, 16 may be such that a plane
perpendicular to said central line C and intersecting the handle
body 7 (for instance the planes P1, P2 shown in FIG. 3) intersects
an average number of empty cells 16 comprised between 3 and 15.
[0070] The grid shell structure 15, 16 may be such that a plane
including said distal end 9 and said proximal end 10 (for instance
the sagittal plane P0), intersects an average number of empty cells
16 comprised between 3 and 20.
[0071] Typically, the thickness e of the grid shell structure 15,
16 may be a few millimeters, for instance between 0.3 and 5 mm; the
transverse dimension D of the grid shell structure 15, 16,
perpendicular to the central line C, may be for instance between
about 8 and 25 mm.
[0072] The length of grid shell structure 15, 16 may be for
instance of about 90 to 120 mm and the total length of the shaver
handle 2 may be for instance between about 110 to 140 mm. These
dimensions may be typical for a normal handle and are not deemed to
be limitative. The handle can also be smaller, for instance with a
length in the range of about 30-80 mm, in which case the length of
the grid shell structure 15, 16 would be consequently reduced.
Additionally the handle may have the grid shell structure 15, 16
only in a portion of a length of the handle and not in the whole
volume.
[0073] Thanks to the above features, the shaver handle 2 according
to the disclosure saves a lot of material compared to existing
shaver handles, thus also saving weight and energy. Some
comparative examples are shown in Table 1 below.
[0074] The method used to calculate the values in Table 1 is as
follows:
[0075] A variety of commercially available shaver handles were
gathered.
[0076] The volume of solid material (Vm) was measured by inserting
each handle at a time in a volume measuring tube full of deionized
water and measuring the water volume coming out of the tube.
[0077] After this first measurement, each handle was covered with a
plastic film, simulating that the handle has a compact (full of
material) shape and similarly the handle was inserted in the volume
measuring tube, again full of deionized water. The water volume
coming out of the tube was measured, corresponding to the envelope
volume (Vt).
[0078] Then the empty volume (Ve) was calculated by using the
formula: Ve=Vt-Vm.
[0079] Finally the ratio Ve/Vt was calculated.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ratio empty Volume volume/ of solid
Enveloppe enveloppe material volume volume Vm Vt Ve/Vt Shaver name
[ml] [ml] [%] Gillette Mach3 .RTM. 8.30 11.00 24.55 Gillette Body
.RTM. 15.90 19.50 18.46 Gillette 16.40 19.80 17.17 Flexball .RTM.
Gillette Guard .RTM. 11.80 17.50 32.57 Gillette Venus 23.80 24.10
1.24 Swirl .RTM. King of Shaves 13.40 17.20 22.09 Azor SD .RTM. BIC
3 .RTM. 4.30 6.30 31.75 BIC 17.40 20.00 13.00 Comfort 3 Advance
.RTM. BIC Flex 5 .RTM. 12.40 18.45 32.79 BIC Ying Yang .RTM. 13.50
18.85 28.38 Embodiment as 4.50 18.20 75.27 shown in the FIGS.
1-5
[0080] In addition to saving material and minimizing energy
footprint of the product, the disclosure also enables to improve
the mechanical efficiency of the material used.
[0081] This mechanical efficiency, for a shaver handle, can be
measured by a bending efficiency ratio Rbe, which is defined
as:
Rbe=(F/d)/Vm,
wherein:
[0082] F is a force applied to the distal end 9 of the handle body
while the head supporting portion 8 of the handle is fixed, said
force F being applied substantially perpendicularly to a general
direction of the handle (more specifically, this force F may be
applied downwards, in the sagittal plane P0 and substantially
perpendicular to the central line C at the distal end 9),
[0083] d is a resulting displacement of the distal end 9 of the
handle (vertical displacement),
[0084] Vm is the volume of solid material of the handle.
[0085] This bending efficiency ratio Rbe may be possibly obtained
from a theoretical analysis, in particular from a finite element
analysis which uses a 3d digital model to calculate the bending
efficiency ratio by taking as input the force F applied to a distal
end 9 of the handle and calculating the displacement d of the
distal end 9 of the handle and the volume Vm of solid material of
the handle.
[0086] The following table 2 shows the comparison of the
calculation of the bending efficiency ratio Rbe in the case of the
shaver handle of FIGS. 1-5 compared to a compact shaver handle
having the same envelope surface as shown in FIG. 6:
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Volume of solid material Vm F d Rbe [ml] [N]
[mm] [N mm.sup.-4] Handle of 58.73 2.08 2.57 1.38 10.sup.-4 FIGS.
1-5 Corresponding 19.537 5 2.61 0.98 10.sup.-4 compact handle
[0087] Table 2 shows that the mechanical efficiency, measured by
the ratio Rbe, is higher in the case of the present disclosure
compared to a compact handle of the same external shape.
[0088] More generally, the bending efficiency ratio of a handle
according to the present disclosure is preferably more than 1.20
10.sup.-4 Nmm.sup.-4, even more preferably larger than 1.30
10.sup.-4 Nmm.sup.-4.
[0089] In addition to the above advantages, the present disclosure
also provides better gripping for the user, increasing the comfort
and the feeling of safety while shaving.
[0090] In the second and third embodiments, described below, the
general structure of the handle body and the above advantages are
kept, so that these second and third embodiments will not be
described again in detail. Mainly the differences over the first
embodiment will be explained below.
[0091] Second Embodiment:
[0092] In the second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7-8, the handle
body 7 may be for instance injection molded and the head supporting
portion 8 may be formed as a separate part and fixed to the
proximal end 10 of the handle body, for instance by fitting and/or
ultrasound welding or by any other way.
[0093] The handle body 7 may include a central empty channel 21,
obtained by using a slider in the mold if the handle body is
manufactured by injection molding. The central channel 21 may be
axially open at the proximal end 10 of the central body. The
central channel 21 may extend along the central line C of the
handle, which is curved in the example of FIGS. 7-8. The central
channel 21 and the central line C of the handle may also be
straight, as illustrated in the variant of FIG. 9.
[0094] In the second embodiment, the grid shell structure 15, 16
may have a larger and/or variable thickness compared to the first
embodiment, the maximum width of channel 21 being defined by the
neck of the handle body 7.
[0095] Third Embodiment:
[0096] In the third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 10-12, the handle
body 7 may be for instance injection molded on an insert 22 and the
head supporting portion 8 may be formed as a separate part and
fixed to the handle body 7 and/to the insert 22 at the proximal end
10 of the handle body, for instance by fitting and/or ultrasound
welding or by any other way. For instance, the insert 22 may have a
hole 23 at the proximal end 10 of the handle body and the head
supporting portion 8 may have a lug 24 fitted into said hole
23.
[0097] The insert 22 may advantageously be hollow, defining the
empty inner volume 14. For instance, the insert 22 may be blow
molded. The thickness of the insert 22 may typically range from a
few tens of millimeters to a few millimeters.
[0098] In one specific example, the material of the insert may be
PCTG (Glycol-modified Poly-Cyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate),
for instance a PCTG with high optical transparency.
[0099] In a particular example, the grid shell structure 15, 16 may
be injection molded from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) on the
insert 22.
* * * * *