# US 10,118,303 B2 · Rotary shavers, with improved drive and support structure for the shaving heads > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,303 B2 - Document ID: US10118303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/480,716 - Filed: 2017-04-06 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-22 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Albertus J. C. Van Der Borst; Bart J. Massee; Paul A. J. Ackermans; Wilko Westerhof; Albert J. Aitink; Ype Brada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118303B2 ## CPC - B26B 19/28: Drive layout for hair clippers or dry shavers, e.g. providing for electromotive drive (electric motors per se H02) - B26B 19/14: of the rotary-cutter type; Cutting heads therefor; Cutters therefor (B26B19/04 takes precedence) - B26B 19/143: {Details of outer cutters} - B26B 19/145: {Cutters being movable in the cutting head} - B26B 19/386: {Means for attaching the head thereto} - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) ## Abstract The invention relates to a shaver, comprising a handle, at least two rotary shaving heads, driven by at least one drive shaft which protrudes from said handle, and a support structure for supporting said shaving heads onto the handle so as to have their joined shaving surface (S) extend substantially perpendicular to said at least one drive shaft. The support structure is configured such, that a space (A), restricted at one side by the shaving heads and at the opposite side by the handle, is substantially open to its remaining, surrounding side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shaver comprising: a handle, at least two rotary shaving heads, driven by at least one drive shaft which protrudes from said handle, and a central support structure adapted to support the at least two rotary shaving heads onto said handle, so as to have their joined shaving surface extend substantially perpendicular to said at least one drive shaft, wherein the central support structure is configured to limit an upward pivot angle of the at least two rotary shaving heads to enable a concave, convex, or straight shape of the shaving surface in a neutral position, wherein the central support structure is further adapted such that a space, restricted at one side by the at least two rotary shaving heads and at its opposite side by the handle, is substantially open to its remaining, surrounding side, wherein the support structure supports the at least two rotary shaving heads at a fixed number of isolated points spaced centrally between the at least two rotary shaving heads, wherein the at least one drive shaft is positioned centrally with respect to the at least two rotary shaving heads and surrounded by the central support structure, and wherein the at least one drive shaft is at least partially enclosed by the central support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is configured in such way that said space is substantially free from obstacles, apart from said support structure, the at least one drive shaft and one or more supply conduits for supplying the at least two rotary shaving heads with shaving lotion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1 wherein the handle and the support structure are designed such that, during shaving, at least part of each of the at least two rotary shaving heads is visible. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the support structure extends centrally with respect to the at least two rotary shaving heads. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are driven by a single drive shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, comprising three rotary shaving heads, positioned in a triangular formation, wherein the support structure substantially extends within a space, enclosed by a cylinder passing through the rotation axes of adjacent rotary shaving heads. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are pivotally connected to the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to the support structure via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two rotary shaving heads comprise an external cutter member with an annular running groove and an internal cutter member with a series of cutters, arranged to be rotated along said running groove, and wherein each of said at least two rotary shaving heads further comprise a central opening, extending through the external and internal cutter members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The shaver according to claim 9, wherein the internal cutter member is provided with a gear wheel at a bottom side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The shaver according to claim 9, wherein each external cutter member is a substantially cap-shaped external cutter member, and wherein the annular running groove of each external cutter member includes a plurality of hair entry apertures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The shaver according to claim 9, wherein each internal cutter member further comprises a base plate with a plurality of cutters arranged to rotate along an annular running groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The shaver according to claim 9, wherein the external cutter member at a bottom side is provided with a circumferential flange and a central tube, the flange being adapted to clamp the external cutter member onto a substantially ringshaped subholder by means of a clamping ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The shaver according to claim 13, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads further comprises spring means located between the subholder and the internal cutter member to bias the internal cutter member against the external member, thereby reducing a cutting gap between said member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The shaver according to claim 13, wherein the subholder is pivotally connected to said support structure around a pivot axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the shaver further comprises a central top cover to cover the at least one drive shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The shaver according to claim 1, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to the at least one drive shaft via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following. ### Claim 18 A shaver comprising: a handle, at least two rotary shaving heads, each of the at least two rotary shaving heads being respectively driven by a corresponding dedicated drive shaft which protrudes from said handle, and a central support structure configured to support the at least two rotary shaving heads onto said handle, so as to have their joined shaving surface extend substantially perpendicular to each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts, wherein the corresponding dedicated drive shafts are located eccentrically with respect to a respective corresponding shaving head to be driven, wherein the central support structure is configured to limit an upward pivot angle of the at least two rotary shaving heads to enable a concave, convex, or straight shape of the shaving surface in a neutral position, wherein the central support structure is further configured such that a space, restricted at one side by the at least two rotary shaving heads and at its opposite side by the handle, is substantially open to its remaining, surrounding side, wherein the support structure supports the at least two rotary shaving heads at a fixed number of isolated points spaced centrally between the at least two rotary shaving heads, wherein each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts are at least partially enclosed by the central support structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, comprising three rotary shaving heads, positioned in a triangular formation, wherein the support structure substantially extends within a space, enclosed by a cylinder passing through the rotation axes of adjacent rotary shaving heads. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are pivotally connected to the support structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to the support structure via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, wherein each of said at least two rotary shaving heads each comprise an external cutter member with an annular running groove and an internal cutter member with a series of cutters, arranged to be rotated along said running groove, and wherein each of said at least two rotary shaving heads further comprise a central opening, extending through the external and internal cutter members. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, wherein the shaver further comprises a central top cover to cover each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The shaver according to claim 18, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to its corresponding dedicated drive shaft via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following. ### Claim 25 A shaver comprising: a handle, at least two rotary shaving heads, each of the at least two rotary shaving heads being respectively driven by a corresponding dedicated drive shaft which protrudes from said handle, and a central support structure configured to support the at least two rotary shaving heads onto said handle, so as to have their joined shaving surface extend substantially perpendicular to each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts, wherein the corresponding dedicated drive shafts are located near a common centre of its corresponding respective shaving head, wherein the corresponding dedicated drive shafts are located eccentrically with respect to a respective corresponding shaving head to be driven, wherein the central support structure is configured to limit an upward pivot angle of the at least two rotary shaving heads to enable a concave, convex, or straight shape of the shaving surface in a neutral position, wherein the central support structure is further configured such that a space, restricted at one side by the at least two rotary shaving heads and at its opposite side by the handle, is substantially open to its remaining, surrounding side, wherein the support structure supports the at least two rotary shaving heads at a fixed number of isolated points spaced centrally between the at least two rotary shaving heads, and wherein each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts are at least partially enclosed by the central support structure. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The shaver according to claim 25, comprising three rotary shaving heads, positioned in a triangular formation, wherein the support structure substantially extends within a space, enclosed by a cylinder passing through the rotation axes of adjacent rotary shaving heads. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The shaver according to claim 25, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are pivotally connected to the support structure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The shaver according to claim 25, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to the support structure via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The shaver according to claim 25, wherein the shaver further comprises a central top cover to cover each of the corresponding dedicated drive shafts. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The shaver according to claim 25, wherein the at least two rotary shaving heads are resiliently connected to its corresponding dedicated drive shaft via spring means to provide a counter force to a user's downward pressure to ensure proper contour following.