IP Library Granted Patent US 8,898,909
Granted Patent B2
US 8,898,909 · App. 12/862,903 · Granted Dec 2, 2014

Electric shaver

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,898,909
App. No.
12/862,903
Granted
Dec 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric shaver generally includes a handle assembly and a head assembly mounted on the handle assembly. The head assembly is pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation. A biasing element is fixed to one of the head assembly and the handle assembly and is free from being fixed to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly. The biasing element is configured such that when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation the biasing element contacts a surface of the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly and bends to apply a counteracting force that biases the head assembly back toward the first orientation when the head assembly is not held in the second orientation.

Claims (20)

1. An electric shaver comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a yoke;

a head assembly pivotably connected to the yoke at a pivot axis, wherein the head assembly is pivotable in a lateral direction about the pivot axis between a first orientation and a second orientation; and

a biasing element fixed to one of the head assembly and the handle assembly and free from being fixed to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly, the biasing element having a distal end that is laterally displaceable relative to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly such that when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation the biasing element contacts a surface of the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly and bends to apply a counteracting force that biases the head assembly back toward the first orientation when the head assembly is not held in the second orientation.

2. The electric shaver set forth in claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a biasing tab having the surface, the surface at least in part defining an opening, wherein the biasing element extends into the opening such that the biasing element contacts the surface within the opening when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation.

3. The electric shaver set forth in claim 2 wherein the opening is elongated.

4. The electric shaver set forth in claim 1 wherein the biasing element comprises a first substantially linear portion, a second substantially linear portion, and a coiled portion disposed between the first substantially linear portion and the second substantially linear portion.

5. The electric shaver set forth in claim 4 wherein the head assembly comprises a biasing arrangement that has a generally inverted U-shape defining a channel, the first substantially linear portion fixed to the biasing arrangement such that the coiled portion is suspended within the channel.

6. The electric shaver set forth in claim 5 wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a top wall, a first side wall extending from the top wall, and a second side wall extending from the top wall opposite the first side wall such that the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define the channel.

7. The electric shaver set forth in claim 6 wherein the top wall comprises an aperture and a slot separated by a groove, the aperture and the slot extending through the top wall such that the biasing element extends into the aperture, is seated on the groove, and extends through the slot to suspend the coiled portion within the channel.

8. An electric shaver comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a housing and a pair of opposed support arms extending from the housing, wherein each support arm has a proximal support end and a distal support end;

a head assembly connected to the support arms to define a pivot axis located nearer to the distal support ends than the proximal support ends of the support arms, wherein the head assembly is pivotable in a lateral direction about the pivot axis between a first orientation and a second orientation; and

a biasing element fixed to one of the head assembly and the handle assembly and comprising a distal end that is free to be laterally displaced relative to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly such that when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation the biasing element contacts a surface of the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly and bends to apply a counteracting force that biases the head assembly back toward the first orientation when the head assembly is not held in the second orientation.

9. The electric shaver set forth in claim 8 wherein the handle assembly comprises a biasing tab having the surface, the surface at least in part defining an opening, wherein the biasing element extends into the opening such that the biasing element contacts the surface within the opening when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation.

10. The electric shaver set forth in claim 9 wherein the opening is elongated.

11. The electric shaver set forth in claim 8 wherein the biasing element comprises a first substantially linear portion, a second substantially linear portion, and a coiled portion disposed between the first substantially linear portion and the second substantially linear portion, the second substantially linear portion having the distal end.

12. The electric shaver set forth in claim 11 wherein the head assembly comprises a biasing arrangement that has a generally inverted U-shape defining a channel, the first substantially linear portion fixed to the biasing arrangement such that the coiled portion is suspended within the channel.

13. The electric shaver set forth in claim 12 wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a top wall, a first side wall extending from the top wall, and a second side wall extending from the top wall opposite the first side wall such that the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define the channel.

14. The electric shaver set forth in claim 13 wherein the top wall comprises an aperture and a slot separated by a groove, the aperture and the slot extending through the top wall such that the biasing element extends into the aperture, is seated on the groove, and extends through the slot to suspend the coiled portion within the channel.

Assignments (6)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 19, 2014
From: ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034555/0787 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029536/0634 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2010
From: SCHMITT, PAUL
To: ROVCAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024883/0511 →