阅读说明：本技术 电动胡须修剪器 (Electric beard trimmer ) 是由 许晓兰 R·罗德 A·彼得 于 2021-05-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明题为“电动胡须修剪器”。本发明涉及切割体毛,诸如多日胡须的胡须硬茬。更具体地讲,本发明涉及一种用于电动剃刀和/或修剪器的切割器系统,所述切割器系统包括具有至少一行梳状切割齿的一对配合的切割元件,其中所述切割元件相对于彼此由支撑结构活动式支撑,其中当在横截面中观察时,所述切割元件中的至少一个切割元件具有C形,所述C形包括附接到所述支撑结构的一对卷边保持凸缘和略微圆顶形或平坦的中心区段,所述梳状切割齿的行形成在所述卷边保持凸缘与所述中心区段之间的过渡区段中。在形成所述至少一行梳状切割齿的所述过渡区域处的所述卷边保持凸缘可设置有阶梯状凹形凹陷部,从而形成所述梳状切割齿的变薄齿尖。(The invention provides an electric beard trimmer. The present invention relates to cutting body hair, such as the stubble of beard for multiple days. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cutter system for an electric shaver and/or trimmer, comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements having at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth, wherein the cutting elements are movably supported relative to each other by a support structure, wherein at least one of the cutting elements has a C-shape when seen in cross-section, the C-shape comprising a pair of bead retaining flanges attached to the support structure and a slightly dome-shaped or flat central section, the row of comb-shaped cutting teeth being formed in a transition section between the bead retaining flanges and the central section. The crimping retaining flange at the transition region forming the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth may be provided with a stepped concave depression forming a thinned tooth tip of the comb-shaped cutting teeth.)

1. Cutter system for an electric shaver and/or trimmer (1), comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements (4,5) with at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth (6,7), wherein the cutting elements (4,5) are movably supported relative to each other by a support structure (14), wherein at least one of the cutting elements (4,5) has a C-shape, as seen in cross-section, comprising a pair of curl retention flanges (4a,4b) attached to the support structure (14) and a dome-shaped or flat central section (4C), the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth (6,7) being formed in a transition section between the curl retention flanges (4a,4b) and the central section (4C), characterized in that, at the transition section, the bead retaining flanges (4a,4b) are provided with stepped concave depressions (4d) forming thinned tooth tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth (6, 7).

2. The cutter system according to the preceding claim, wherein the thinned tooth point forms a U-shape in cross-section and/or comprises adjacent portions of the retaining flange (4a,4b) and the central section (4c) folded back-to-back onto each other to form a U-shaped tooth point in cross-section.

3. The cutter system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the transition section is curved in cross-section by at least 165 ° or at least 175 °.

4. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stepped concave depression (4d) is provided between a frame portion (12) of the support structure (14) attached to the bead retaining flange (4a,4b) and the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth (6,7) and/or in close proximity to the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth (6, 7).

5. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stepped concave recess (4d) faces away from a skin contacting and/or skin facing surface (50) defined by the central section (4c) of the cutting element (4).

6. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the teeth (6,7) is less than 300% or less than 250% of the thickness of the sheet material forming the C-shaped cutting element (4) at least at the tooth tips, when seen in cross-section.

7. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness (h) of the teeth (6,7) is less than 1mm or less than 0.5mm, at least at the tooth tips, when seen in cross-section.

8. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radius of curvature of the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth (6,7) is less than 150% or less than 125% of the thickness of the sheet material forming the C-shaped cutting element (4).

9. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the C-shaped cutting element (4) is formed from a metal sheet having a tensile strength of more than 500N/mm²Is made of the spring steel.

10. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein another one of the cutting elements (5) extends into a gap between the bead retaining flanges (4a,4b) and the central section (4C) and/or into a gap between the central section (4C) and the concave recess (4d) of the C-shaped cutting element.

11. The cutter system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the C-shaped cutting element (4) is provided with at least one area with perforations (8) in the central section (4C) of the C-shaped cutting element (4), wherein the support structure (14) comprises a support rib (19) extending from a base portion of the support structure (14) and forming a support edge supporting the other one of the cutting elements (5) at a section positioned between the at least one area with perforations (8) and the concave recess (4d) of the bead retaining flange (4a,4b) of the C-shaped cutting element (4).

12. The cutter system according to the preceding claim, wherein the support edges of the support ribs (19) facing the inner cutting element (5) are spaced from each other by a distance in the range of 35% to 70% or 40% to 60% of the distance defined between the rows of comb teeth (6,7) at the opposite edges of the cutting elements (4, 5).

13. Electric shaver and/or trimmer comprising a cutter system constructed according to one of the preceding claims.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to cutting body hair, such as the stubble of beard for multiple days. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cutter system for an electric shaver and/or trimmer, comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements having at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth, wherein the cutting elements are movably supported relative to each other by a support structure, wherein at least one of the cutting elements has a C-shape when seen in cross-section, the C-shape comprising a pair of bead retaining flanges attached to the support structure and a slightly dome-shaped or flat central section, the row of comb-shaped cutting teeth being formed in a transition section between the bead retaining flanges and the central section.

Background

Electric razors and trimmers utilize various mechanisms to provide hair cutting functionality. Some electric razors include a perforated cutting foil cooperating with an undercutter movable relative thereto, in order to cut hairs entering the perforations in the cutting foil. Such shear foil type razors are typically used daily to provide a clean shave, wherein short stubble is cut immediately at the skin surface.

On the other hand, other cutter systems comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements with comb-like edges comprising one or more rows of comb-like or bevel-like cutting teeth that reciprocate or rotate relative to each other are commonly used for cutting long stubble or problem hairs that are difficult to cut due to e.g. very small angles to the skin or growth from very elastic skin. Depending on the type of driving motion, the teeth of such comb-like or ramp-like cutting elements usually protrude substantially parallel to each other or substantially radially and can cut hairs that enter the gaps between the cutting teeth, wherein the cutting or shearing is effected in a scissor-like manner when the cutting teeth of the mating element close the gaps between the finger-like cutting teeth and pass each other.

Such cutter systems for longer hairs may be integrated into an electric shaver or trimmer, which at the same time may be provided with the aforementioned shear foil cutter. For example, the cutting element may comprise two rows of comb-like cutting teeth arranged, for example, at opposite sides of the cutting element and a shearing foil-like cutting perforated region between the rows of comb-like cutting teeth.

For example, EP 2425938B 1 shows a razor with a pair of long hair trimmers integrated between the cutting foil cutters. Furthermore, EP 2747958B 1 and CN 206287174U disclose a hair trimmer with two rows of cooperating cutting teeth arranged at opposite sides of the razor head, wherein the cutting teeth of the upper comb-shaped cutting element are provided with rounded and thickened tooth tips that overhang the tooth tips of the lower cutting element in order to prevent the protruding tooth tips from penetrating into the skin and from irritating the skin. A similar cutter system is shown in US 2017/0050326 a1, wherein in such a cutter system the lower comb cutting element is fixed and the upper comb cutting element is movable.

Razors and/or trimmers that combine shearing foil-like cutting perforations between rows of comb-like cutting teeth at opposite edges and said rows of comb-like teeth sometimes comprise C-shaped outer cutting elements, the edges of which are curled to form limbs that are bent inwards like limbs of a C or U, wherein such curled limbs are held by a supporting frame. The transitional edge portions connecting the curling limbs with the central section of the external cutting element are profiled or configured to form rows of comb-like teeth for cutting longer stubbles, while the central section of the cutting element is provided with at least one perforated area for cutting short hairs. The outer cutting element cooperates with an inner cutting element, which may be plate-shaped and may comprise rows of comb teeth at opposite edges for cooperation with the comb teeth of the outer cutting element, and may furthermore comprise at least one region between the edges of the comb teeth having perforations or other cut-outs for cooperation with the perforations in the outer cutting element.

Thus, cutting foils such as cutting perforations for cutting short hairs and comb-shaped cutting teeth for cutting longer hairs or stubble may be integrated into the same cutting element, wherein the inner cutting element may typically be biased against the outer cutting element by means of a spring means, which may comprise a pair of flexible spring arms extending from a central base portion of the support structure towards the inner cutting element. The spring arms may have a V-shaped configuration and may contact the inner cutting element at a section between a central region of the perforation and the opposing tooth edge. Due to such a biasing of the inner cutting element against the outer cutting element, pulling and pulling of the hair to be cut in the perforation can be avoided, but on the other hand the friction between the cutting elements is rather high, which leads to a high energy consumption of the drive unit and in addition to a heating of the cutting elements, which is often unpleasant or uncomfortable. Such cutter systems are shown in documents CN 209478241U and US 2018/0257248 a 1.

EP 3131716B 1 discloses a similar cutter system, wherein the support structure comprises an outer frame holding the outer cutting element at opposite edge portions thereof, wherein such outer frame comprises a stepped protrusion at an inner surface thereof forming a shoulder for supporting the inner cutting element at the toothed comb-shaped edge. More specifically, the protruding shoulder at the inner surface of the outer support frame defines a gap extending from the shoulder to the outer cutting element, wherein the inner cutting element is slidably received in the gap, wherein such gap provides a vertical gap adapted to the vertical thickness of the inner cutting element. Depending on the vertical clearance between the protruding shoulder and the external cutting member, friction may be reduced, while the cutter system tends to pull and drag hairs to be cut by the cutting perforations, since the internal cutting member may not be held close enough to the external cutting member, so that hairs to be cut may get stuck between the cutting perforations of the external cutting member and the perforations or slits of the internal cutting member cooperating therewith.

Such beard stubble trimmers and razors need to address very different and divergent functional requirements and performance issues such as closeness, roughness, good visibility of the cutting location, efficiency and pleasant skin feel, good ergonomics and handling. Veneering refers to short or very short remaining stubble, while roughness refers to less missed hairs, especially in problematic areas such as the neck. Efficiency refers to fewer and faster strokes sufficient to achieve the desired trimming result. A pleasant skin feel depends on the individual user, but usually involves less irritation in the form of cuts, cuts or abrasions and better sliding on the skin. In the case of styling or trimming profiles, the visibility of the cutting position is particularly important in order to achieve hair removal locally and precisely.

It is quite difficult to simultaneously satisfy such various performance problems. Meeting such needs becomes more difficult when different types of cutting profiles, such as shearing foil-like perforations and comb-like teeth rows, are integrated into the same cutting element, such as a c-shaped cutting blade that reciprocates relative to each other, as such a multi-functional cutter element may not be specifically adapted for one particular cutting function.

More specifically, such C-shaped cutter elements have difficulty achieving sufficient roughness and closeness because the comb-shaped cutting teeth formed in the transition region between the bead retaining flange and the dome-shaped central section tend to miss short stubbles or hairs extending parallel to the skin. Such short stubbles and fallen hairs may not catch on the teeth and thus may not properly enter the spaces between the teeth due to the curved profile of the hem-retaining flange and the cusps.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cutter system which avoids at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art and/or further develops the existing solutions. A more specific object of the invention is to provide for the veneering and thorough cutting of hair and longer stubble, including good control of the cut edge profile, while avoiding skin irritation. Another object of the invention is to reliably and cleanly cut the cooperating cutting teeth and cutting perforations to avoid pulling and tugging of the hair.

According to one aspect, the closeness and thoroughness of the cutting action may be combined with a pleasant skin feel avoiding skin irritation, by means of a C-shaped cutting element whose crimping retention flange has a stepped profile, making the comb-shaped teeth thinner in order to enhance penetration of hair and stubble into the spaces between the teeth, but still allowing the crimping flange to be stably mounted and retained at the support structure.

More specifically, the bead retaining flange at the transition region forming the comb-shaped cutting teeth may be provided with a stepped recess forming a thinned tooth tip of the comb-shaped cutting teeth. Due to such stepped concave depression, the cutting tooth becomes thin enough to get even short stubbles and hairs hooked on the tooth parallel to the skin and engaging the cutting edge of the tooth, taking into account the overall thickness of the cutting tooth relative to the skin side from the outer skin side to the outer opposite side on the distal side, while on the other hand the bead retaining flange provides sufficient distance from the central section of the C-shaped cutter element to be able to accommodate other elements or parts of the cutter system, such as a frame part retaining the bead flange, with a part further away from the tooth tip.

The stepped concave recess may face away from the skin contacting/facing surface formed by the central section of the C-shaped cutting element, and despite such a stepped concave profile of the bead retaining flange, the C-shaped cutting element may have a continuous convex or dome-shaped or flat front side defining said skin contacting surface and/or skin facing surface, thereby allowing continuous skin engagement of other hair cutting structures such as shear foil perforations that may be arranged in said central section of the C-shaped cutter element.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings and possible examples.

Drawings

FIG. 1: perspective view of an electric hair trimmer/shaver comprising a cutting system with a pair of cooperating comb-shaped cutting elements reciprocating relative to each other, wherein a partial view (a) shows the front side of the electric hair trimmer and a partial view (b) shows the hair trimmer working on the chin,

FIG. 2: a cross-sectional view of a beard trimmer/razor showing cooperating comb-shaped cutting elements and a drive system for driving said cutting elements,

FIG. 3: a perspective view of a cutter system comprising a pair of cooperating comb-shaped cutting elements and a support structure for supporting the cutting elements relative to each other,

fig. 4a and 4 b: a cross-sectional view of the cutter system and the support structure, wherein the C-shaped outer cutting element is shown bent or bent around the outer frame portion and the inner cutting element is shown supported by a V-shaped inner support frame having support ribs extending from the base portion of the support structure at a steeper angle than said outer frame portion, wherein fig. 4a shows rigid support ribs and fig. 4b shows flexible spring-like support ribs,

FIG. 5: an exploded perspective view of the elements of a cutter system comprising an outer cutting element and an inner cutting element, an outer support frame for holding the outer cutting element, a trough-or valley-shaped inner support frame comprising rigid support ribs for supporting the inner cutting element, a drive element for reciprocating the inner cutting element and a guide block for guiding the reciprocating drive element,

FIG. 6: a side view of the support structure allowing the cutter system to pivot relative to the handle of the razor/trimmer is shown,

FIG. 7: a side view of the cutter system pivoting about its pivot axis while following the skin contour is shown,

FIG. 8: a plan view of the outer cutting member showing its individual perforated regions, an

FIG. 9: a cross-sectional view of a perforation having a conical or non-cylindrical profile that expands toward the skin contacting surface to assist hair entering the perforation.

Detailed Description

In order to obtain a close-fitting and thorough cutting action and at the same time a comfortable skin feel, avoiding skin irritation, the bead-holding flange of the C-shaped cutting element may have a stepped profile, so that the comb-shaped teeth are thinner for enhanced pick-up and penetration of hair and stubble into the spaces between the teeth, but still allowing a stable mounting and holding of the bead-holding flange at the support structure. At the same time, such a stepped profile helps to provide rigidity and stiffness to the ramp-like edges of the cutting element, thereby preventing undesired flexing of the teeth and enhancing the cutting action.

More specifically, the crimping retaining flange at the transition region forming the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth may be provided with a stepped concave depression, thereby forming a thinned tooth tip of the comb-shaped cutting teeth. Due to such stepped concave depression, the cutting tooth becomes thin enough to travel under hairs parallel to the skin and even get a short stubble hooked and engaged with the cutting edge of the tooth, while on the other hand the bead retaining flange, with a portion further away from the tooth tip, provides a sufficient distance from the central section of the C-shaped cutter element to be able to accommodate other elements or portions of the cutter system, such as a frame portion holding the bead flange.

Despite this stepped concave profile of the bead retaining flange, the C-shaped cutting element may have a continuous convex or dome-shaped or flat front side defining the skin contacting surface and/or the skin facing surface, thereby allowing a continuous skin engagement of other hair cutting structures such as shear foil perforations, which may be arranged in said central section of the C-shaped cutter element.

More specifically, the front side of the central section of the C-shaped cutting element defining the skin contacting/facing surface may continuously dome-shaped or continuously flat extend to the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth.

When the aforementioned C-cutter element is viewed in cross-section, due to such concave depressions, the thinned tooth tip may form a substantially U-shape and/or may include adjacent portions of the retaining flange and the central section that are folded back-to-back onto each other to form a U-shaped tooth tip in the cross-section of the C-cutter element.

The aforementioned transition region between the crimping retaining flange of the cutting element and the dome-shaped or flat central section can be bent over at least 165 ° or 175 ° in cross section. More specifically, at the tooth tip and/or at the tooth, the bead retaining flange may be pressed onto the back of the central section such that the material forming the C-shaped cutting element is double-layered in the region of the tooth. Thus, the thickness of the teeth becomes very small and does not significantly exceed the amount of twice the material thickness.

The stepped concave recess of the bead retaining flange at the comb teeth may be arranged between two inflection points when the cutting element is viewed in cross section, wherein the concave profile of the recess transitions into a convex and/or flat profile adjacent to the concave recess when viewed in cross section. On one side, the tooth tip may form a convex profile according to a curved portion having a very small radius of curvature or a pointed portion defining a kind of protruding peak. On the other side, i.e. the end of the concave recess opposite the tooth tip, the concave profile may be transformed into a slightly convex or flat flange portion.

In view of the imaginary tangent on the crimping flange of the C-shaped cutting element, said tangent may contact on the one hand the tooth tip and on the other hand said slightly convex or flat part of the crimping holding flange, wherein between said two contact points of the imaginary tangent the aforementioned concave recess may form a gap with said tangent. In other words, the transition section between the tooth point and the end portion of the hem retaining flange may include some depressions and/or indentations and/or flat portions on the back face of the C-shaped cutting element. The back side of the C-shaped cutting element faces away from a central section of the C-shaped cutting element defining a skin contacting or skin facing surface of the C-shaped cutting element.

The cross-section of the aforementioned stepped concave depression may be smoothly curved and/or may define a shallow trough shape or valley shape along the back of the ramp-like edge of the C-shaped cutting element.

Irrespective of such a curved profile of the recess, the aforementioned stepped concave recess can be provided between frame portions of the support structure which, on the one hand, hold the bead retention flange and, on the other hand, the tooth tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth and/or can be in close proximity thereto. In other words, the retention flange of the support structure may terminate on the hem retention flange before reaching its concave depression.

Such an arrangement of the concave recess between the holding flange and the tooth tip of the support structure allows to combine the thinned cutting tooth with sufficient space for the support structure.

The thickness of the comb-shaped cutting teeth (and thus those that are stationary and not motor-driven) may be less than 300% or less than 250% of the thickness of the material forming the central section and/or the crimping flange of the cutting element when viewed in cross-section of the C-shaped cutting element. For example, when the C-shaped cutting element is made from a sheet material having a sheet thickness of 0.15mm, the teeth may have a thickness h of less than 1.5mm, or less than 1mm or less than 0.5mm and/or in the range of 0.3mm to 0.5mm or 0.35mm to 0.45 mm. The thickness is measured at 0.3mm and is thus measured from a point at the outermost tip surface 0.3mm inwardly in a direction towards the opposite row of comb-shaped cutting teeth.

The tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth may have a radius of curvature of less than 0.25mm when viewed in cross-section.

For example, the C-shaped cutting element may be formed from sheet metal, in particular from spring steel sheet, wherein use may be made of a cutting element having a thickness of more than 500N/mm²Or more than 750N/mm²The tensile strength of (3).

In addition to the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth, the C-shaped cutting element may also comprise at least one area with perforations provided in the slightly dome-shaped or flat central section, wherein such perforations may cut short stubbles or very short hairs that enter the perforations in a shearing foil-like manner.

Such cutting perforations for cutting short hairs may be limited to the area of the skin contacting or skin facing surface of the cutting elements following the comb-shaped cutting teeth, wherein one of the rows of comb-shaped teeth is moved forward while the middle portion of the skin contacting/facing surface defined by the cutting elements between said opposite rows of comb-shaped teeth is not perforated, when the cutter system is moved along the skin to be shaved.

Such an arrangement of the limiting areas of perforations separated from each other takes into account that, when the cutter system is moved along the skin to be shaved in the usual manner, very short hairs are cut by the perforations immediately following at or close to the comb teeth, i.e. one of the comb cutting edges is moved forward, whereas the perforations further away from the preceding comb cutting edge are less effective in cutting very short hairs. Cutting very short hairs less effectively reduces friction between the cutting elements without sacrificing the efficiency of cutting very short hairs, since the perforations are eliminated in the area of the skin contacting surface. The friction is reduced, because less cutting edges of the less perforations need to pass over each other when the cutting elements are moved relative to each other, and thus already cut hair particles or hair dust from cutting perforations moving forward on the skin to be shaved are no longer cut or ground, so that the friction losses are reduced.

More specifically, the cutting perforations may be arranged in two separate elongated areas of perforations, which are separated from each other by an elongated unperforated central section of one of the cutting elements defining the skin contact surface of the outer cutting element, and each comprise at least two rows of perforations extending along a row of comb-shaped cutting teeth.

In order to allow sufficient support of the cutting elements moving relative to each other without hindering the cutting action of the comb teeth and the perforations, the perforated area may also be separated or spaced apart from the row of comb teeth by an elongated unperforated side of the outer cutting element, wherein the support structure may comprise a pair of flexible or rigid support ribs supporting an inner cutting element in the cutting element below the unperforated side, the inner cutting element being adjacent to or along the outer boundary of the perforated area. More particularly, such rigid or flexible support ribs may extend from a central base portion of the support structure and may have a support edge extending below the other cutting element in a region between the elongated unperforated side of the outer cutting element and the concave recess of the crimp holding flange of the C-shaped cutting element.

In order to keep the internal and external cutting elements in a close fit with each other in the area where the cutting perforation is formed, it may be helpful when the rigid or flexible support ribs extend with their support edges directly adjacent or closely abutting the outer boundary of the area of the perforation. The support ribs and their support edges may immediately contact the inner cutting element along the outermost row of perforations.

In the alternative, the support edge of the support rib may contact the inner cutting element along a line spaced from the outermost row of perforations. However, the support edges of the support ribs may be positioned closer to the outermost row of perforations and then closer to the cutting teeth at the opposite edge of the cutting element. More specifically, the support edge of the support rib may be less than 1/3 or 1/4 of the distance of the support edge from the perforated area than the comb-shaped cutting teeth.

In order to absorb the skin contact pressure caused in the inner cutting member via the outer cutting member in a balanced manner, the support edges of the support ribs facing the inner cutting member may be spaced apart from each other by a distance in the range of 35% to 70% or 40% to 60% of the distance defined between the rows of comb-shaped teeth at the opposite edges of the cutting member. Depending on the user's preference, different portions of the skin contacting surface defined by the external cutting element may be pressed against the skin with different forces, so that different skin pressures may be generated. To balance such differential pressures, it is helpful when considering a cross-sectional view thereof when the inner cutting element is supported by the support ribs at about 1/3 and about 2/3 of the span width of the inner cutting element.

At the opposite edges of the cutting element, the supporting ribs and/or their supporting edges contacting the inner cutting element may extend parallel to the reciprocating axis and/or parallel to the rows of comb-shaped teeth.

The support ribs may be anchored at the base portion of the support structure in different ways. For example, the support ribs may be welded to the base portion or embedded in the material of the base portion. For example, when separate support ribs are present, each of the ribs may be inserted into a slot-like groove in the base portion to hold the support rib in a desired orientation and position.

In the alternative, the support ribs which are inclined to one another at an acute angle can be integrally connected to one another and/or form an integral part of the support rib element. More specifically, the support ribs may be formed by V-shaped limbs of the support frame insert, which may be inserted into a support structure supporting the cutting element and/or attached to a base portion of such a support structure. Such support rib inserts may have a trough-like or valley-like configuration comprising a strip-like bottom portion from which two support ribs extend at said inclination. Such a trough-like insert may be inserted into the support structure and fixedly attached to its base portion. For example, the bottom portion of the insert may be seated at a central portion thereof onto an inner surface of the bottom portion of the outer support frame, wherein the central bottom portion of the outer support frame may form a seat for supporting the rib insert. Seating the support rib insert onto the bottom portion of the outer support frame may absorb the support force and pressure introduced into the support rib, thereby pressing the support rib insert onto the bottom portion of the outer support frame.

The inner support frame insert may be fixedly attached to the outer support frame, for example glued and/or welded and/or form-fitted thereto.

The interposed cutting elements may be driven by a driver connected to the inner cutting element and coupled to a drive train transmitting the driving action of the drive unit, wherein the aforementioned inner support frame comprising rigid support ribs and the outer support frame comprising an outer frame portion holding the outer cutting element and the base portion supporting the inner support frame may comprise one or more central elongated or slit-shaped through holes in which the driver and/or a part of the drive train is slidably received. In other words, the driver and/or drive train extends through the through holes in the inner and outer support frames and is slidably received therein to allow the driver, and thus the sandwiched cutting element, to reciprocate relative to the other cutting element.

The driver may include elongate shaft portions attached to opposite end portions of the inner cutting element and housed in an inner subchamber defined between the rigid support rib and the inner cutting element.

Depending on the type of driver, the interposed cutting element may be a driven cutting element that may reciprocate or rotate.

Basically, each of the cooperating cutting elements may be driven. However, in order to combine a convenient drive system with a safe and soft cutting action, the upper or outer cutting element with the skin contacting surface may be upright and/or may be non-reciprocating and non-rotating, while the lower or inner cutting element, which may be a sandwiched cutting element, may be reciprocated or rotationally oscillated.

As can be seen from fig. 1 and 2, the cutter system 3 may be part of a cutter head 2 attachable to a handle 100 of a shaving razor and/or trimmer 1. More specifically, the shaver and/or trimmer 1 may comprise an elongated handle 100 housing a battery 104, electronic and/or electric components such as a control unit 111, an electric drive motor 103 or a magnetic drive motor and a drive train 109 for transmitting the driving action of the motor to the cutter system at the cutter head 2, which cutter head 2 may be positioned at one end of the elongated handle 100, see fig. 1/2.

The cutter system 3 comprising a pair of cooperating cutting elements 4 and 5 may be the only cutter system of the cutter head 2, as is the case in the example shown in fig. 1. On the other hand, the cutter system 3 may be incorporated into a razor head 2 with other cutter systems, such as shear foil cutters, wherein, for example, the cutter system 3 with at least one row of cooperating cutting teeth 6,7 may be positioned between a pair of shear foil cutters, or in the alternative, may be positioned in front of such shear foil cutters.

As shown in fig. 1, the cutter system 3 may include elongated rows of cutting teeth 6 and 7 that are reciprocally movable in a linear path relative to each other to effect a cutting action by closing the gap between the teeth and passing each other. On the other hand, the cutter system 3 may also include cutting teeth 6 and 7 aligned along a circle and/or arranged radially. Such rotary cutting elements 4 and 5 may have substantially radially protruding cutting teeth 6 and 7, wherein the cutting elements 4 and 5 may be driven to rotate relative to each other and/or rotationally oscillate relative to each other. The cutting action is substantially similar to a reciprocating cutting element, such as radially extending teeth, as the rotation and/or rotational oscillation cyclically closes and reopens the gap between adjacent teeth and crosses each other like a scissors.

As shown in fig. 2, the drive system may comprise a motor whose shaft can rotate an eccentric drive pin received between groove-like profiles of a driver 18 connected to one of the cutting elements 4 which is caused to reciprocate by the engagement of the rotating eccentric drive pin with the profile of said driver 18.

As shown in fig. 3, 4a,4b and 5, the cooperating cutting elements 4 and 5 may substantially have a (at least substantially) plate-shaped configuration, wherein each cutting element 4 and 5 comprises two rows of cutting teeth 6 and 7, which may be arranged at opposite longitudinal sides of the plate-shaped cutting elements 4 and 5, see fig. 4a,4b and 5. The cutting elements 4 and 5 are supported and positioned with their flat sides on top of each other. More specifically, the cutting teeth 6 and 7 of the cutting elements 4 and 5 are in back-to-back contact with each other like the blades of a scissors.

In addition to such comb-shaped cutting teeth 6 and 7, the cooperating cutting elements 4 and 5 may also be provided with at least two cut-through regions arranged between the rows of cutting teeth 6 and 7 in the intermediate portions of the cutting elements 4 and 5. More specifically, the area of each cutting perforation 8 of the external cutting element 4 defining the skin contacting surface of the cutter system 3 may comprise at least two rows of perforations 8, which may be formed as small-sized through holes having a circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal shape.

In particular, such small-sized through-holes forming the perforations 8 may have a hexagonal shape, wherein the long axes of such hexagonal through-holes, i.e., axes passing through opposite corners of the hexagonal shape, may be oriented transverse to the reciprocating axis 10 of the cutting elements 4 and 5.

As can be seen from fig. 9, the perforations 8 may expand towards the skin contacting/facing surface, i.e. the cross-sectional area of the perforations 8 becomes larger towards the skin contacting surface. Such trumpet or cone or truncated pyramid shapes help the hair to enter the perforations, as can be seen from fig. 9.

As can be seen from fig. 8, the perforations 8 are not distributed over the entire central section of the skin contact surface, but are only arranged in a limited area. More specifically, the cutting perforations 8 for cutting short hairs are limited to areas 70, 90 of the skin contacting or skin facing surface 50 of the cutting elements 4 following the comb-shaped cutting teeth 6,7, wherein one of the rows of comb-shaped teeth 6,7 is moved forward while the intermediate portion 80 of the skin contacting/facing surface defined by the cutting elements between said opposite row of comb-shaped teeth is not perforated, when the cutter system 3 is moved along the skin to be shaved.

Such an arrangement of the limiting areas 70, 90 of the perforations 8 spaced apart from each other allows for very short hairs to be cut by the perforations 8 immediately after the previous one of the ramp-like cutting edges, whereas the perforations further away from the front comb-like cutting edge are less effective in cutting very short hairs. Cutting very short hairs less effectively reduces the friction between the cutting elements 4,5 without sacrificing the efficiency of cutting very short hairs, since the perforations are eliminated in the area of the skin contact surface 50. The friction is reduced, because less cutting edges of the less perforations need to pass over each other when the cutting elements are moved relative to each other, and thus already cut hair particles or hair dust from cutting perforations moving forward on the skin to be shaved are no longer cut or ground, so that the friction losses are reduced.

More specifically, the cutting perforations 8 may be arranged in two separate elongated areas of perforations 70, 90, which are separated from each other by an elongated unperforated central section 80 of the outer cutting member of the cutting member 4 defining the skin contact surface 50, and each comprise at least two rows of perforations 8 extending along and/or parallel to the rows of comb-shaped cutting teeth 6, 7.

In order to allow sufficient support of the cutting elements moving relative to each other without hindering the cutting action of the comb teeth 6,7 and the perforations 8, the perforated regions 70, 90 may also be separated or spaced apart from the rows of comb teeth 6,7 by elongated unperforated sides 61, 62 of the outer cutting element, wherein the support structure may comprise a pair of flexible or rigid support ribs 19 supporting an inner cutting element in the cutting element 5 below the unperforated sides 61, 62, which inner cutting element is adjacent to or along the outer boundary of the perforated regions 70, 90.

In order to reduce the friction due to the engagement of the support structure 14 with the moving cutting element 5, the inner cutting element 5 may extend unsupported below said unperforated central section 80 between said regions 70, 90 of the perforation 8.

The elongated unperforated central section 80 of the skin contacting surface 50 defined by the external cutting elements may have a dimension or width that is greater than the dimension or width of each of the perforated regions 70, 90. More specifically, the unperforated central section of the skin contacting surface may extend over an area in the range of 100% -250% or 110% -175% of the area defined by each of the perforated regions, see fig. 8.

More generally, the area of the skin contact surface 50 of the cutter element 4 between the comb-shaped cutting teeth above 2/3 or above 3/4 may be unperforated. In other words, only 1/4-2/3 of the skin contacting surface 50 between opposing ramp-like tooth edges of the cutter system 3 may be perforated, as shown in fig. 8. Such a limitation of the area of the perforations 8 may significantly reduce friction when the cutting elements 4,5 are moved relative to each other.

Such perforations 8 in the outer cutter element 4 may cooperate with perforations 9 in the inner cutter element 5 when said cutter elements 4 and 5 are reciprocated relative to each other along an axis of reciprocation 10. Said perforations 9 in the inner cutting member 5 may also be formed as small-sized through holes, the shape of which corresponds to or differs from the shape of the perforations 8 in the outer cutting member 4. However, as can be seen from fig. 5, the perforations 9 in the inner cutting member 5 need not be small-sized through holes, but may be larger-sized cuts, each of which cooperates with more than one perforation 8 in the other cutting member 4. More specifically, the perforations 9 in the inner cutting element 5 may be formed as longitudinal slot-like cuts extending with their longitudinal axis transverse to the axis of reciprocation 10. Thus, each elongated transverse perforation 9 in the inner cutting member 5 can cooperate with each row of perforations in the outer cutting member 4.

Said cut in the inner cutting member 5 overlaps the perforations 8 in the outer cutting member 4 and, depending on the reciprocating action, closes said perforations 8 to achieve a cutting action and/or to cut off hairs introduced into the perforations 8 and 9.

As can be seen from fig. 3 and 8, the rows of perforations 8 may extend substantially parallel to the rows of comb-shaped cutting teeth 6 and 7 in a portion of the cutting elements 4 and 5 between the rows of comb-shaped cutting teeth 6 and 7.

In order to support the cutting elements 4 and 5 in the aforementioned positions, which are stacked and/or seated back to back on each other, but still allow the cutting teeth 6 and 7 and the perforations 8 and 9 to reciprocate relative to each other, the inner cutting element 5 is sandwiched between the outer cutting element 4 and a support structure 14 comprising an inner frame supporting the inner cutting element 5 and an outer frame 12 holding the outer cutting element 4, see fig. 4a,4 b.

More specifically, said support structure 14 defines a gap 16, wherein the inner cutting member 5 is movable relative to the outer cutting member 4, wherein the inner cutting member 5 is slidably guided in said gap 16.

More specifically, as can be seen from fig. 4a,4b and 5, the external cutting element 4 may have a substantially C-shaped configuration when viewed in cross-section, with the hem edge portions 4a and 4b bent or bent away from the skin contacting surface and forming retaining flanges attached or fixed to said outer frame portion 12 of the support structure 14. The edge portions 4a and 4b may be folded or bent back around the edge portions of the outer frame 12, as can be seen in fig. 4a,4 b. However, in the alternative, it is also possible to seat the retaining flanges 4a and 4b of the cutting elements 4 on the inside of the outer frame 12.

The cutting elements 4 may be rigidly or fixedly fastened to said outer frame portion 12. For example, the cutting elements 4 may be welded or glued to the outer frame 12.

As can be seen from fig. 4a,4b and 5, said outer frame portion 12 of the support structure 14 may comprise a pair of diverging legs forming shallow grooves or valleys, wherein edge portions of said support legs of the outer frame 12 may be provided with slot-like cut-outs 13 forming tooth edges substantially corresponding to the cutting teeth 6 and 7 of the cutting elements 4 and 5. More specifically, said cut-outs 13 in the edge of the outer frame 12 allow hairs to be cut into the teeth 6 and 7 of the cutting elements 4 and 5, but at the same time provide some support to the cutting teeth 6 of the outer cutting elements 4.

The cutting teeth 6 of the outer cutting member 4 may be formed in the transition area between the folded back support flanges 4a and 4b and the front side of the cutting member 4 defining the skin contact surface of the cutter system 3.

The outer cutting element 4 may form a C-shaped plate-like cutting element, the edges of which are curled over to form limbs that curve inwardly like the limbs of a C or U, with such curled limbs 4a and 4b being retained by the outer support frame part 12. The transitional edge portion connecting the curling limb with the central section of the external cutting member is profiled or configured to form a row of comb-like teeth 6 for cutting longer stubble, while the central section 4c of the cutting member 4 is provided with an area of said perforations 8 for cutting short hairs.

More specifically, the bead-holding flanges 4a,4b at the transition region forming the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth 6,7 may be provided with stepped concave depressions 4d, forming thinned tooth tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 6,7, see fig. 4a and 4 b. Due to such stepped concave depressions, the cutting teeth 6,7 become thin enough to travel under hairs parallel to the skin and even get short stubbles hooked and engaged with the cutting edges of the teeth 6,7, while on the other hand the bead retaining flanges 4a,4b provide a sufficient distance from the central section 4C of the C-shaped cutter element 4 to be able to accommodate other elements or parts of the cutter system 3, such as the frame portion 12 holding the bead flanges 4a,4b, with a portion further away from the tooth tips.

Despite the presence of such a stepped concave profile 4d of the bead retaining flanges 4a,4b, the C-shaped cutting element may have a continuous convex or dome-shaped or flat front side defining the skin contacting surface and/or the skin facing surface 50, thereby allowing for a continuous skin engagement of other hair cutting structures, such as shear foil perforations 8, which may be arranged in said central section 4C of the C-shaped cutter element 4.

More specifically, said front side of the central section 4C of the C-shaped cutting element 4 defining the skin contact/facing surface 50 may extend continuously dome-shaped or continuously flat to the tips of said comb-shaped cutting teeth 6, 7.

When the aforementioned C-shaped cutter element is viewed in cross-section, see fig. 4a and 4b, due to such concave depression 4d, the thinned tooth tip may form a substantially U-shape and/or may comprise adjacent portions of said retaining flanges 4a,4b and said central section 4C, which are folded back-to-back onto each other to form a U-shaped tooth tip in the cross-section of the C-shaped cutter element 4.

As shown in fig. 4a and 4b, the aforementioned transition region between the bead retaining flanges 4a,4b and the dome-shaped or flat central section 4c of the cutting element 4 can be bent over at least 165 ° or 175 ° in cross section. More specifically, at the tooth tips and/or at the teeth 6,7, the bead retaining flanges 4a,4b may be pressed onto the back of the central section 4C such that the material forming the C-shaped cutting element 4 is double-layered in the area of the teeth 6, 7. Thus, the thickness of the teeth becomes very small and does not significantly exceed the amount of twice the material thickness.

Said stepped concave recess 4d of the bead retaining flanges 4a,4b at the comb teeth 6,7 can be arranged between two inflection points when the cutting element 4 is viewed in cross section, wherein the concave profile of the recess, when viewed in cross section, transforms into a convex and/or flat profile adjacent to said concave recess. On one side, the tooth tip may form a convex profile according to a curved portion having a very small radius of curvature or a pointed portion defining a kind of protruding peak. On the other side, i.e. the end of the concave recess 4d opposite the tooth tip, the concave profile may be transformed into a slightly convex or flat flange portion.

As can be seen from fig. 4a and 4b, the cross-section of the aforementioned stepped concave recess 4d may be smoothly curved and/or may define a shallow groove shape or a valley shape along the back of the bevel-like edge of the C-shaped cutting element 4.

Irrespective of such a curved profile of the recess 4d, the aforementioned stepped concave recess 4d can be provided between the frame portions 12 of the support structure 14 which on the one hand hold the bead-holding flanges 4a,4b and on the other hand hold the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 6,7 and/or can be in close proximity to the tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 6, 7. In other words, the retaining flange of the support structure may terminate on the beaded retaining flange before reaching its concave depression, see fig. 4a and 4 b.

Such an arrangement of the concave recess 4d between the holding flange 12 and the tooth tip of the support structure 14 allows to combine the thinned cutting teeth 6,7 with sufficient space for the support structure 14.

The thickness of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 6,7 may be less than 300% or 250% of the thickness of the material forming the central section and/or the crimping flange of the cutting element, when viewed in cross-section of the C-shaped cutting element as shown in fig. 4a,4 b. In fig. 4a and 4b, the thickness of the teeth 6, 6 is its vertical dimension and corresponds to the height of the tooth tip. For example, when the C-shaped cutting element 4 is made of a sheet material having a sheet thickness of 0.15mm, the teeth may have a thickness of less than 0.5mm and/or in the range of 0.3mm to 0.5mm or 0.35mm to 0.45 mm.

The C-shaped cutting element 4 may be made of a sheet material having a substantially constant thickness. For example, the crimping flanges 4a,4b may have the same material thickness as the central section 4 c.

The tips of the comb-shaped cutting teeth may have a radius of curvature of less than 0.25mm when viewed in cross-section.

For example, the C-shaped cutting element may be formed from sheet metal, in particular from spring steel sheet, wherein use may be made of a cutting element having a thickness of more than 500N/mm²Or more than 750N/mm²The tensile strength of (3).

As can be seen from fig. 4a,4b, the external cutting elements 4 define, together with the outer frame 12 of the support structure 14, a chamber 17 surrounded by the external cutting elements 4 and the outer frame 12.

Within such a chamber 17, an inner frame 11 is arranged for supporting the inner cutting member 5. The inner frame 11 comprises at least one pair of support ribs 19 extending from a base section 20 of the support structure 14 towards the inner cutting elements 5, which are stacked back to back on the outer cutting elements 4.

More specifically, as can be seen from fig. 4a,4b, said support ribs 19 originate from the central section of the outer frame 12, where the diverging support legs of the outer frame 12 engage each other. The support ribs 19 of the inner frame 11 may extend from the base section 20 towards the inner cutting members 5 at an angle β which is much steeper than the angle Φ between the outer frames 12. As can be seen from fig. 4a, the support ribs 19 of the inner frame 11 may define an angle β of 2 × 20 ° to 2 × 40 ° or 2 × 25 ° to 2 × 30 ° between each other, wherein said support ribs 19 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a central plane perpendicular to the skin contact surface and parallel to the axis of reciprocation 10.

In order to give the support ribs 19 sufficient rigidity, said ribs 19 may have a straight longitudinal axis when viewed in cross-section as shown in fig. 4 a. In other words, the inner and outer surfaces of the support rib 19 may be planar and flat in order to achieve the buckling stiffness. These support ribs 19 may define a V-shaped configuration originating from the base portion 20.

In the alternative, the ribs 19 may be configured to be flexible and/or elastic in order to bias the inner cutting element 5 onto the outer cutting element 4, as shown in fig. 4 b. For example, when viewed in cross-section, see fig. 4b, the ribs 19 may have a curved profile that flexes so as to resiliently urge the cutting element 5 against the other cutting element 4.

As can be seen from fig. 5, the support ribs 19 may be part of the support insert and/or be formed integrally with each other. More specifically, the inner frame 11 may have a trough-like or valley-like configuration comprising a strip-like bottom portion from the edges of which the pair of support ribs 19 extend. For example, the inner frame 11 comprising the support ribs 19 may be formed from a substantially rectangular metal plate, wherein the strip-shaped edge portions may be bent with respect to the middle section so as to form inclined support ribs 19.

The inner frame 11 may form an insert which may be inserted into a chamber 17 defined by the outer frame 12 and the external cutting elements 4. More specifically, the insert forming the inner frame 11 may be seated onto the base portion 20 of the outer frame 12, which base portion 20 is subjected to the forces and pressures induced into the inner frame 11 when the cutter system 3 is pressed against the skin to be shaved.

The inner frame 11 is configured such that the aforementioned gap 16 is defined between the support edges of the support ribs 19 on the one hand and the inner sides of the outer cutting elements 4 on the other hand. More specifically, the height of the supporting ribs 19 is configured such that said gap 16 between the supporting edge of the ribs 19 and the outer cutting member 4 substantially corresponds to the thickness of the inner cutting member 5, wherein the gap 16 may be configured slightly wider than the thickness of the plate-shaped cutting member 5 in order to reduce friction and provide some clearance between the inner cutting member 5 and the supporting ribs 19 and between the inner cutting member 5 and the outer cutting member 4. Such a clearance may be given when the cutter system 3 is unloaded, i.e. not pressed against the skin to be shaved. In the operating state, when the external cutting element 4 is pressed against the skin to be shaved, such gaps are eliminated and the cutting elements 4 and 5 fit tightly onto each other to achieve a smooth cutting of the hairs.

Although such possible clearance is provided by the support structure 14, the support ribs 19 are configured such that the clearance 16 exceeds the thickness of the inner cutting element 4 in its width by an amount which is smaller than the thickness of the hair to be cut. For example, the width of the gap 16 may be less than 40 μm or an amount in the range of 20 μm to 40 μm greater than the thickness of the interposed cutting element 5.

In the alternative, when the rib 19 is flexible, as shown in fig. 4b, the defined gap 16 may be zero or at least less than the thickness of the cutting blade 5 in order to achieve the bias.

As can be seen from fig. 4a,4b, the inner cutting element 4 and the outer cutting element 5 may have a slightly convex profile. More specifically, the skin contacting surface defined by the external cutting element 4 may have a substantially groove-like configuration that is slightly convex. The outer surface of the external cutting element 4 may be slightly domed when viewed in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation 10, see fig. 4a,4 b.

The inner cutting element 5 substantially corresponds to the shape of the outer cutting element 4 in respect of said slightly convex, slot-like shape.

As can be seen from fig. 4a,4b, the support edges of the support ribs 19 facing the inner cutting member 5 may be spaced from each other by a distance in the range of about 35% to 70% or 40% to 60% of the distance defined between the rows of comb teeth 6 and 7 at the opposite edge of the outer cutting member 4. Thus, the rigid support ribs 19 may support the inner cutting element 4 at about 1/3 and about 2/3 of its span width when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation 10. More specifically, the supporting edge of the rib 19 may extend directly adjacent to the outer boundary of the area of the perforation 8, wherein said supporting rib 19 may contact the inner cutter member 5 along the outer longitudinal contour of the cut forming the perforation 9 in the inner cutter member 5.

Due to the configuration of the support ribs 19 extending from the base portion 20 of the support structure 14 at a steeper angle than the support legs of the outer frame 12, the chamber 17 defined by the outer frame 12 and the outer cutting elements 4 attached thereto is divided by said support ribs 19 into an inner sub-chamber 17i and a pair of outer sub-chambers 17o, see fig. 4a,4b, wherein the outer sub-chambers 17o together may have a volume substantially corresponding to the volume of the inner sub-chamber 17 i.

The rigid support ribs 19 of the inner frame 11 may extend substantially parallel to the reciprocation axis 10. More specifically, the supporting edge of the rib 19 contacting the inner cutting member 5 may extend parallel to the reciprocating axis 10.

As can be seen from fig. 6 and 7, the cutter head 2 comprising the cutter system 3 may be pivotably supported relative to the handle of the shaver/trimmer 1 about a pivot axis 21 which may extend substantially parallel to the reciprocation axis 10. The pivot axis 21 may be positioned close to the cutting elements 4 and 5 and/or within the chamber 17 surrounded by the external cutting elements 4 and the outer frame 12.

As can be seen from fig. 5 and 6, the outer frame 12 of the support structure 14 holding the outer cutting elements 4 may comprise a pair of pivot bearing sections 12a and 12b, which may be spaced apart from each other and/or positioned at opposite end faces of the outer frame 12. On the other hand, a pair of support flanges 110 may be provided on the cutter head side of the handle 100, wherein the pivot bearing flanges 110 are rotatably connected to the pivot bearing sections 12a and 12b of the outer frame 12 to form the pivot axis 21.

Spring means 22 may be associated with said pivot axis 21 in order to urge the cutter head 2 in a desired mutual pivot position or orientation, which may be an intermediate orientation allowing pivoting into opposite directions, or in the alternative, an end position or orientation allowing pivoting into only one direction.

The spring means 22 can engage on the one hand the support flange 110 of the handle 100 and on the other hand the outer frame 12.

In order to drive the cutting elements 4 and 5 in a reciprocating manner with respect to each other, a driver 18 may be connected to the inner cutting element 5, wherein such driver 18 may comprise a rod-like drive element attached to opposite end portions of the inner cutting element 5. On the other hand, the driver 18 may comprise a coupling section 18c which couples with a drive element extending from the handle 100 to the cutter head 2. More specifically, the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 of the support structure 14 may comprise an elongated groove 23 or cut-out extending through the base section 20 of the support structure 14, wherein the aforementioned coupling section 18c of the driver 18 may extend through said elongated cut-out 23, see fig. 5 and 4a,4b, to allow coupling with a drive element from the drive train of the motor in the handle 100.

The actuators 18 may be slidably guided at the inner frame 11 and/or the outer frame 12. For example, one or more guide blocks 24 or bearings 24 may be provided at the outer frame 12. For example, such a guide block 24 may be inserted into a central elongated groove 24 extending in a base portion of the outer frame 12, wherein said guide block 24 may comprise a slot-shaped groove 25, wherein the rod driver 18 may be slidably guided.

The driver 18 may be accommodated between the rigid support ribs 19 of the inner frame 11. In particular, said driver 18 may be housed within the inner subchamber 17i and may thus be surrounded by a trough-like insert forming the inner frame 11 comprising the rigid support ribs 19, wherein the coupling section 18c of the driver 18 may extend through a central elongated groove 23 in a bottom portion of said insert forming the inner frame 11.