ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSK..HRIS..MTNORS..SM..................
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DIM360 Ver 2.41 (21 Oct 2013) - 1100000/0
2769812
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC
A1
20140827
EP
12841960.3
20120921
20140305
ja
en
en
2011231531
20111021
JP
20140827
201435
20140827
201435
B26B 19/44 20060101AFI20130508BHEP
B26B 19/02 20060101ALI20130508BHEP
de
ELEKTRISCHER RASIERAPPARAT
en
ELECTRIC RAZOR
fr
RASOIR ÉLECTRIQUE
1
Panasonic Corporation
101377781
EP92921JK900pbe
1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi,
Osaka 571-8501
JP
TAKAOKA, Yoichi
c/o Panasonic Corporation Intellectual Property Center Planning and Management Group 7F Twin 21 OBP Panasonic Tower 2-1-61, Shiromi, Chuo-ku
Osaka 540-6207
JP
YAMASAKI, Masanobu
c/o Panasonic Corporation Intellectual Property Center Planning and Management Group 7F Twin 21 OBP Panasonic Tower 2-1-61, Shiromi, Chuo-ku
Osaka 540-6207
JP
SHIGETA, Hiroshi
c/o Panasonic Corporation Intellectual Property Center Planning and Management Group 7F Twin 21 OBP Panasonic Tower 2-1-61, Shiromi, Chuo-ku
Osaka 540-6207
JP
MATSUOKA, Yasuhide
c/o Panasonic Corporation Intellectual Property Center Planning and Management Group 7F Twin 21 OBP Panasonic Tower 2-1-61, Shiromi, Chuo-ku
Osaka 540-6207
JP
Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser
100060488
Leopoldstrasse 4
80802 München
DE
AL
AT
BE
BG
CH
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
ES
FI
FR
GB
GR
HR
HU
IE
IS
IT
LI
LT
LU
LV
MC
MK
MT
NL
NO
PL
PT
RO
RS
SE
SI
SK
SM
TR
JP2012006035
20120921
ja
WO2013057876
20130425
201317
An electric razor (1) includes a grip portion (2) and a head portion (3) supported by the grip portion (2). The head portion (3) includes: an outer blade (51); an inner blade (54) which is provided inside the outer blade (51) and moves relative to the outer blade (51) to cut body hair inserted into blade holes; and a space portion (S) capable of retaining the cut body hair. In the head portion (3), an opening window (210) communicating with the space portion (S) and a lid portion (200) capable of covering the opening windows (210) in an openable and closable manner are formed. An operator (203) configured to operate the lid portion (200) is formed at an end portion (1c) in a front face (1a) of the electric razor (1).

[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to an electric razor.

[Background Art]
In a conventionally known electric razor, an outer blade holder includes an opening window for passage of water, and the opening window is covered with a lid portion so as to be opened and closed (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
In Patent Literature 1, the opening window is configured to be opened or closed by sliding an operator up and down and rotate the lid portion.

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]
[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. S59-075253

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]
However, according to the aforementioned conventional technique, the operator is provided on the central axis of the razor body that is gripped by a user, and there was a fear that the user could accidentally operate the operator when using the electric razor.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric razor in which the operator configured to open and close the opening window is prevented from being accidentally operated.

[Solution to Problem]
A first aspect of the present invention is an electric razor including: a grip portion; and a head portion supported by the grip portion, in which the head portion includes : an outer blade; an inner blade which is provided inside the outer blade and is configured to move relative to the outer blade to cut body hair inserted into blade holes; and a space portion capable of retaining the cut body hair. In the head portion, at least one opening window communicating with the space portion and a lid portion covering the at least one opening window in an openable and closable manner are formed. Moreover, an operator configured to operate the lid portion is formed at an end portion of the front face of the electric razor.
A second aspect of the present invention is that the opening window is formed at the end portion of the front face of the electric razor, and the operator is provided in a region of the lid portion which covers the opening window.
A third aspect of the present invention is that a switch portion configured to move the outer blade and inner blade relative to each other is provided on the front face of the electric razor.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is that a plurality of the opening windows are provided.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is that an antiskid portion is provided below the operator and located at the central portion on the front face of the electric razor.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is that edges of the inner blade vertically overlap the opening window in a front view of the electric razor.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is that the inner blade reciprocates relative to the outer blade and the opening window vertically overlaps one of the edges of the inner blade in the front view of the electric razor independently of the location of the inner blade reciprocating relative to the outer blade.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is that the inner blade is attached to an inner blade attachment portion of a driver and the inner blade attachment portion does not vertically overlap the opening window in the front view of the electric razor.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is that in a bottom face defining the space portion, a slope portion which slopes toward the opening window from the central portion in the front view of the electric razor.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is that the plurality of the opening windows can be opened and closed with the one operator.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention is that the operator is provided for at least one of the plurality of opening windows.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
According to the present invention, the operator configured to operate the lid portion covering the opening window in an openable and closable manner is formed at the end portion in the front face of the electric razor. In other words, the operator is provided at the position deviated to the right and left from the portion of the front face of the electric razor where the user's thumb is placed when the user grips the grip portion. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operator configured to open and close the opening window from being accidentally operated when the electric razor is in use.

[Brief Description of Drawings]
- Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating an electric razor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the electric razor according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 3 is a view illustrating opening windows according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a front view illustrating opening portions closed by a lid portion.
- Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the opening portions according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a cross-sectional view illustrating the opening portions closed by the lid portion.
- Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a head portion according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a perspective view illustrating the head portion with a blade frame portion and inner blades removed in a state where the opening portions are closed by the lid portion.
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the state where the inner blades are attached to the head portion of Fig. 5.
- Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the opening portions according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a front view illustrating the opening portions opened by the lid portion.
- Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the opening portions according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a cross-sectional view illustrating the opening portions opened by the lid portion.
- Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the head portion according to the embodiment of the present invention and is specifically a perspective view illustrating the head portion with the blade frame portion and inner blades removed in a state where the opening portions are opened by the lid portion.
- Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the state where the inner blades are attached to the head portion of Fig. 9.

[Description of Embodiments]
Hereinafter, a description is given of an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction that plural outer blades are arranged side by side is referred to as a front-back direction (shaving direction) X, the direction that each outer blade extends is referred to as a right-left direction Y, and the vertical direction when a head portion is positioned with outer blades facing upward is referred to as a vertical direction Z. Moreover, in the following description, the side of the electric razor where a switch portion is provided is referred to as a front side in the front-back direction X.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, an electric razor 1 according to this embodiment includes a grip portion 2 gripped by a hand and a head portion 3 supported by the grip portion 2.
The grip portion 2 includes a grip portion body 21 made of synthetic resin. The grip portion body 21 is provided with a switch portion 22 which turns on and off a rotary motor 110 of a driving mechanism 100 (see Fig. 2). In the front view of the electric razor 1 (when the electric razor 1 is seen from the side where the switch is provided), contact terminals 23 are protruded at both ends of the grip portion body 21. The contact terminals 23 are electrically connected through leads 23a to a rechargeable battery 120 incorporated in the grip portion body 21. The electric razor 1 can be charged when the electric razor 1 is placed on a not-shown battery charger so that the contact terminals 23 come into contact with respective contact portions of the battery charger. The electric razor 1 according to this embodiment further includes a trimmer unit 4. In the back side of the grip portion body 21 (the rear side: the side opposite to the face where the switch portion 22 is formed), a trimmer handle 41 is attached so as to slide vertically. At the upper end of the trimmer handle 41, a trimmer blade 41a is formed. The trimmer handle 41 is held by a holder frame 42 (see Fig. 2). The trimmer unit 4 may not be provided.
The grip portion body 21 forming the outer wall of the electric razor 1 is composed of plural pieces joined to one another. The plural pieces can be joined with screws 84 or are fit to one another to be joined. The grip portion body 21 includes a cavity inside, and the cavity houses various electric parts.
In this embodiment, the rotary motor 110, rechargeable battery 120, and the like are housed within an enclosed space formed by joining a front housing 25 and a back housing 26 with an O ring 26a as illustrated in Fig. 2.
The rechargeable battery 120 is attached to a battery base 121 so as to abut on a battery positive electrode bracket 122 and a battery negative electrode bracket 123. The battery positive and negative electrode brackets 122 and 123 are electrically connected to a circuit substrate 124. On the circuit substrate 124, a switch button shaft 127 is attached. The switch button shaft 127 is pressed when the switch portion 22 is pressed, thus switching on and off of the rotary motor 110 (see Fig. 2). The rotary motor 110 is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 120 through leads 112. Reference numeral 22a of Fig. 2 indicates a filter holder plate; 22b, a filter; 125, an O-ring; and 126, a washer.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, bottom covers 29a and 29b are attached to the bottoms of the front and back housings 25 and 26, respectively. On the front side of the front housing 25, a front panel 28 is attached. Above the front panel 28, a shutter cover 27 is provided, which holds a shutter (lid portion) 200 so that the shutter can slide in the vertical direction.
The head portion 3 includes outer blades 51 exposed upward. When inner blades 54 provided inside the outer blades 51 (under the outer blades 51) are moved relative to the outer blades 51 (reciprocated in the right-left direction Y), body hair inserted into blade holes of the outer blades 51 are cut in cooperation of the outer and inner blades 51 and 54.
Hereinafter, a description is given of the configuration of the head portion 3.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the head portion 3 includes a head portion body 70 integrally provided for the grip portion body 21 and a blade frame portion 30 detachably attached to the head portion body 70.
In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 100 other than the rotary motor 110 is housed in a driving mechanism housing portion 72 formed in a head case 71 opened upward. Moreover, a head case cover 81 is laid over the top opening portion in a state where the driving mechanism 100 other than the rotary motor 110 is housed in the driving mechanism housing portion 72. The head case cover 81 is fixed with screws 84 with a driver waterproofing rubber 82 and a rubber holder plate 83 interposed therebetween. The head portion body 70 is thus formed.
To be specific, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the driving mechanism 100 includes: the rotary motor 110; first and second drivers 130 and 140 which are supported on the rotary motor 110 and reciprocate in antiphase; and a conversion mechanism 180 converting rotation of the rotary motor 110 into reciprocation and transmitting the same to the first and second drivers 130 and 140.
The rotary motor 110 is housed in the grip portion body 21 under the head case 71 with a rotary shaft 111 protruded into the driving mechanism housing portion 72.
A publicly-known mechanism can be used as the conversion mechanism 180. For example, rotation of the rotary motor 110 can be converted into reciprocation by providing an eccentric shaft eccentric to the rotary shaft 111 of the rotary motor 110. In this case, rotation of the rotary motor 110 can be converted to reciprocation of the first and second drivers 130 and 140 in antiphase by providing two eccentric shafts with a phase difference of 180 degrees therebetween around the rotary shaft 111 of the rotary motor 110.
The first and second drivers 130 and 140 are respectively provided with inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 to which the inner blades 54 are detachably attached. Reference numerals 131a and 141a of Fig. 2 indicate springs energizing the inner blades 54 upward, and reference numerals 131b and 141b indicate stoppers holding the springs 131a and 141a energized upward.
In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 100 other than the rotary motor 110 and attachment portions to which inner blades 54 and trimmer blades 41a are attached is housed in the driving mechanism housing portion 72. As described above, the rotary motor 110 is housed in the grip portion body 21, and the attachment portions to which the inner blades 54 and trimmer blades 41a are attached are exposed above the head portion body 70.
To be specific, first, in the process of putting the head case cover 81 over the top opening portion of the head case 71, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 of the first and second drivers 130 and 140 are inserted through insertion holes 81a formed in the head case cover 81 and is exposed above the head case cover 81.
Next, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 exposed at the top are, respectively, inserted through insertion holes 82a and 82b formed in the driver waterproofing rubber 82 and are exposed above the driver water proofing rubber 82. In this process, the neck portions of the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 are tightened with the driver waterproofing rubber 82 to seal the inner space of the driving mechanism housing portion 72.
The inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 exposed above the driver waterproofing rubber 82 are inserted through an insertion hole 83a formed in the rubber holder plate 83 and are exposed above the rubber holder plate 83. To the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 exposed above the rubber holder plate 83, driving rods 132 and 142 are attached, respectively. The driving mechanism 100 is thus housed in the driving mechanism housing portion 72 so that only the attachment portions to which the inner blades 54 and trimmer blade 41a are attached are exposed above the head portion body 70. In other words, in this embodiment, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 of the first and second drivers 130 and 140 and the driving rods 132 and 142 attached to the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 serve as attachment portions to which the inner blades 54 and trimmer blade 41a are attached.
In such a manner, in this embodiment, the head case 71, head case cover 81, driver waterproofing rubber 82, and rubber holder plate 83 form a substantially box-shaped waterproof space (sealed space), so that body hair cut by the inner blades 54 and water used to clean the inner blades 54 is prevented from intruding into the waterproof space that houses the rotary motor 110 and the like. In this case, a space S capable of retaining body hair cut by the inner blades 54 is formed above the head case cover 81, driver waterproofing rubber 82 , and rubber holder plate 83. In other words, the bottom face of the space S is defined by the head case cover 81, driver waterproof ing rubber 82, and rubber holding plate 83.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the blade frame portion 30 includes a box-shaped outer blade cassette 50 and a cylindrical outer frame 60. The outer blade cassette 50 includes the plural outer blades 51 so that the plural outer blades 51 can move up and down. The outer blade cassette 50 is inserted from underneath into the outer frame 60, so that the outer frame 60 covers the entire circumference of an outer blade frame 59 of the outer frame cassette 50.
The outer blade cassette 50 includes the plural outer blades 51 arranged side by side in the front-back direction X. In this embodiment, the outer blade cassette 50 includes three (plural) outer blades 51, and a first net blade 51a, a slit blade 51c, and a second net blade 51b are arranged side by side in the front-back direction X (see Fig. 4).
As illustrated in Fig. 4, each of the net blades 51a and 51b is curved in an inversed U shape along the front-back direction (the short-side direction) X so as to convex upward in a side view (when the outer blades are seen in the right-left direction Y). The net blades 51a and 51b are a little curved along the right-left direction (the longitudinal direction) Y so as to convex upward in a front view (when the outer blades are seen in the front-back direction X). The net blades 51a and 51b are curved to convex upward in the front view in this embodiment but does not need to be curved.
The net blades 51a and 51b include a number of blade holes (not shown).
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the slit blade 51c is curved in a square U-shape along the front-back direction (the short-side direction) X. The slit blade 51c is formed by piercing a number of slits (blade holes) extending from the flat upper wall to side walls.
In other words, in the slit blade 51c, a number of slits (blade holes) are defined by bars having a substantially square U-shape extending from the flat upper wall to the side walls and bars extending in the longitudinal direction (the right-left direction) Y at the bottoms of the side walls.
The net blades 51a and 51b and slit blade 51c constituting the outer blades 51 are attached to respective dedicated outer blade frames to form outer blade units.
The outer blade units are engaged with the outer blade frame 59 so as to independently move up and down, forming the outer blade cassette 50. The outer blade cassette 50 is detachably attached to the outer frame 60 and is detachably attached to the head portion body 70.
The inner blades 54 are dedicated to the respective net blades 51a, 51b, and slit blade 51c constituting the outer blades 51. Specifically, inner blades 54a and 54b are provided under (inside) the net blades 51a and 51b, and each have an inverted U-shape along the curve of the net blades 51a and 51b, respectively (see Fig. 4). A slit inner blade 54c is provided under (inside) the slit blade 51c and has a square U-shape along the curve of the slit blade 51c.
In this embodiment, the inner blades 54a and 54b are attached to the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 of the first and second drivers 130 and 140, respectively. The slit inner blade 54c is attached to the driving rod 132. When the driving mechanism 100 is driven, the inner blades 54a, 54b, the slit inner blade 54c individually reciprocate in the right-left direction (the longitudinal direction) Y. To the driving rod 142, a trimmer blade 41a is also attached. When the driving mechanism 100 is driven, the trimmer blade 41a reciprocates in the right-left direction (the longitudinal direction) Y.
When the inner blades 54a, 54b, and slit inner blade 54c, which are, respectively, provided under (inside) the net blades 51a, 51b, and slit blade 51c, are moved (reciprocated in the right-let direction Y) relative to the respective net blades 51a, 51b, and slit blade 51c in such a manner, body hair inserted into the blade holes of the net blades 51a, 51b, the slits of the silt blade 51b is cut by the net blades 51a, 51b, and slit blade 51c in cooperation with the inner blades 54a, 54b, and slit inner blade 54c.
In this embodiment, the slit inner blade 54c is attached to the outer blade cassette 50 so as to reciprocate relative to the slit blade 51c.
Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 2, elastic pieces 59a are extended downward at the right and left sides of the outer blade flame 59 of the outer blade cassette 50. The pair of right and left elastic pieces 59a include through holes 59b penetrating in the right-left direction.
In the cylindrical outer frame 60 open at both upper and lower ends (upper and lower end openings 60a and 60b), depressed portions 61 are formed in both right and left sides of the lower edge, and hooks (not shown) are protruded inward from the bottoms of the depressed portions 61.
The hooks (not shown) protruded inward from the outer frame 60 are engaged with the through holes 59b when the outer blade cassette 50 is inserted into the outer frame 60 from the lower end opening 60b with the elastic pieces 59a at both right and left ends being inserted through the depression portions 61. The outer blade flame 59, that is, the outer blade cassette 50 is thus attached to the outer frame 60.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, release buttons 90 are provided at both right and left ends of the head portion body 70 so as to protrude and retract and are energized outward in the right-left direction Y by springs 91.
The outer blade frame 59 (the outer blade cassette 50 or the entire blade frame portion 30) is attached to the upper end of the head portion body 70 by putting the blade frame portion 30 over the head portion body 70 from above with the release buttons 90 being inserted through the respective depression portions 61 of the outer frame 60.
In the electric razor 1 according to this embodiment, a blade protection cap 150 illustrated in Fig. 2 is detachably attached. By attaching the blade protection cap 150, the outer blades 51 of the electric razor 1 can be protected.
Herein, in this embodiment, the head portion 3 is provided with opening windows 210 communicating with the space portion S capable of retaining body hair cut by the inner blades 54. The opening windows 210 function as an inlet through which water is introduced into the space portion S in the process of cleaning up body hair accumulated in the space portion S and an outlet through which body hair and water in the space portion S are discharged.
Specifically, slits 62 are formed in the outer frame 60, below the outer blade cassette 50 which is attached to the outer frame 60. The opening windows 210 are defined by the slits 62 and the upper face of the head case cover 81 when the outer frame 60 is attached to the head portion body 70. At this time, the lower side of each opening window 210 is located below the normal upper face of the head case cover 81 by providing notches 81b at the positions that correspond to the slits 62 in the head case cover 81 when the outer frame 60 is attached to the head portion body 70.
In this embodiment, slope portions 81c, which slope toward the opening windows 210 from the center in the front view of the electric razor 1, are provided in the upper face of the head case cover 81, which defines the lower face of the space portion S. Specifically, each of the slope portions 81c, which slope toward the respective opening windows 210, is provided in the central side of the corresponding notch 81b in the front view of the electric razor 1, so that the upper face of the head case cover 81 slopes from the center toward the opening windows 210.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the opening windows 210 are formed at the right and left ends of a front face 3a of the head portion 3, which constitutes a front face la of the electric razor 1. In other words, the electric razor 1 includes two (plural) opening windows 210. The opening windows 210 are formed at positions (end portions 1c) deviated to the right and left side from the central axis (a central portion 1b) of the grip portion 2 in the front face la of the electric razor 1.
In this embodiment, the electric razor 1 includes a shutter (a lid portion) 200 configured to cover the opening windows 210 in an openable and closable manner.
In this embodiment, the shutter (lid portion) 200 has a substantially T-shape and includes a pair of engagement pieces 201 and 201 which are formed at the central lower end and can be engaged with an engagement portion 220 formed in the front face of the front housing 25. The pair of engagement pieces 201 and 201 are engaged with an upper part of the engagement portion 220 when the opening windows 210 are closed (see Fig. 5). The pair of engagement pieces 201, 201 are engaged with a lower part of the engagement portion 220 when the opening windows 210 are opened (see Fig. 9).
At both ends of the horizontal portion of the shutter (lid portion) 200, cover portions 202 capable of covering the respective opening windows 210 are individually provided.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, operators 203 configured to operate the shutter (lid portion) 200 are formed at the end portions 1c in the front face of the electric razor 1.
Specifically, the operators 203 are protruded forward from the respective front faces of the cover portions 202 of the shutter (lid portion) 200. The operators 203 are provided for the cover portions 202 so as to extend in the right-left direction.
As described above, the two (plural) opening windows 210 are formed at the end portions 1c of the front face 1a of the electric razor 1 in this embodiment, and the operators 203 are provided in such regions (cover portions 202) of the shutter (lid portion) 200 that cover the respective opening windows 210.
The cover portions 202 are provided at both ends of the substantially T-shaped shutter (lid portion) 200 so that the two (plural) opening windows 210 can be opened and closed by operating only one of the operators 203.
In the example of this embodiment, the operators 203 are provided for both of the two (plural) opening windows 210. However, it is possible to provide one of the operators 203 for any one of the two (plural) opening windows 210.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the switch portion 22, which drives the inner blades 54 (which moves the outer blades 51 and inner blades 54 relative to each other), is provided on the front face 1a of the electric razor 1.
An antiskid portion 24 is provided at a central portion 1b on the front face face 1a of the electric razor 1.
In this embodiment, the antiskid portion 24 is provided below the operators 203 at the central portion 1b on the front face 1a of the electric razor 1. In other words, the antiskid portion 24 is provided at the center of the grip portion 2.
In this embodiment, the opening windows 210 are formed so as to vertically overlap right and left edges 54d of the inner blades 54 in the front view of the electric razor 1 (see Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10).
The opening windows 210 are formed so as to vertically overlap the edges 54d of the inner blades 54 in the front view of the electric razor 1 independently of the location of the inner blades 54 reciprocating relative to the outer blades. To be specific, both edges 54d of the inner blades 54 are configured to vertically overlap the respective opening windows 210, which are configured to vertically overlap both edges 54d of the stopped inner blades 54, either when the inner blades 54 reciprocating in the right-left direction is located at the rightmost position or when located at the leftmost position.
Furthermore, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 of the first and second drivers 130 and 140, to which the inner blades 54 are attached, are configured not to vertically overlap the opening windows 210 in the front view of the electric razor 1. In this embodiment, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 are located at the center in the front view of the electric razor 1, and the opening windows 210 are formed at positions out of the positions where the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 are provided.
As described above, in this embodiment, the operators 203 configured to operate the shutter (lid portion) 200, which covers the opening windows 210 in an openable and closable manner, are formed at the end portions 1c in the front face 1a of the electric razor 1. In other words, the operators 203 are provided at the positions deviated to the right or left from the position in the front face 1a of the electric razor 1 where the user's thumb is placed when the user grips the grip portion 2. Accordingly, the user of the electric razor 1 can be prevented from accidentally operating the operators 203, which are configured to open or close the opening windows 210, while using the electric razor 1.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the opening windows 210 are formed at the end portions 1c in the front face 1a of the electric razor 1, and the operators 203 are provided in the regions (cover portions 202) of the shutter (lid portion) 200 that cover the opening windows 210. This facilitates transmission of the force applied to the operators 203 for opening or closing the opening windows 210 to the regions (cover portions 202) that cover the opening windows 210, thus improving the operability of the shutter (lid portion) 200.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the switch portion 22, which moves the outer and inner blades 51 and 54 relative to each other, is provided on the front face 1a of the electric razor 1. The user can, therefore, operate the switch portion 22 and operators 203 with one hand, thus improving the usability of the electric razor 1.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electric razor 1 includes the plural opening windows 210. Accordingly, in the washing process, one of the opening windows 210 can be designed to function as a water inlet while another one can be designed to function as a water outlet, so that the space portion S can be cleaned more efficiently.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the antiskid portion 24 is provided at the central portion 1b on the front face 1a of the electric razor 1. By providing the antiskid portion 24 in the central portion 1b of the front face face 1a of the electric razor 1 in such a manner, it is possible to prevent slippage of the user's thumb placed on the grip portion 2 when the user grips the grip portion 2. This can more reliably prevent the operators 203, which is configured to open or close the opening windows 210, from being accidentally operated.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the antiskid portion 24 is provided below the operators 203. Accordingly, if the user' s thumb placed when the user grips the grip portion 2 moves to the right or left, the operators 203 are not located in the range to which the user's thumb moves. It is, therefore, possible to prevent the operators 203, which are configured to open or close the opening windows 210, from being accidentally operated.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the edges 54d of the inner blades 54 are configured to vertically overlap the opening windows 210 in the front view of the electric razor 1. The opening windows 210 are thus formed near the edges 54d of the inner blades 54 where body hair tends to accumulate, so that the accumulating body hair can be discharged from the opening windows 210 more smoothly.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the edges 54d of the inner blades 54 are configured to vertically overlap the opening windows 210 in the front view of the electric razor 1 independently of the locations of the inner blades 54 reciprocating relative to the outer blades 51. This allows body hair to be discharged from the opening windows 210 still more smoothly.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 are configured not to vertically overlap the opening windows 210 in the front view of the electric razor 1. Accordingly, water introduced from the opening windows 210 collide with the inner blade attachment portions 131 and 141 and cannot reach deep inside (the back side). It is, therefore, possible to improve the performance of cleaning the space portion S.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the head case cover 81 as the bottom face defining the space portion S includes the slope portions 81c that slope from the center in the front view of the electric razor 1 toward the opening windows 210. This allows water in the central part of the head cover 81 to flow easily to the opening windows 210 along the slope portions 81c. Accordingly, the inside of the space portion S can be cleaned more efficiently. In this embodiment, the upper face of the head case cover 81 slopes forward and downward when the electric razor 1 is stood up (as illustrated in Fig. 4: in such a state where the grip portion 2 is stood substantially vertically). In other words, the upper face of the head case cover 81 slopes such that the side provided with the opening windows 210 is lower. Accordingly, this embodiment also has such an advantage that the space portion S can be dried more efficiently when the electric razor 1 is stood up.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the plural opening windows 210 can be opened and closed by one operator 203. By allowing the plural opening windows 210 to be opened and closed with one operator 203, the plural opening windows can be opened and closed with one operation, thus facilitating opening and closing the opening windows 210.
Moreover, if the operator 203 is provided for one of the plural opening windows 210, the operator can be located more flexibly, thus improving in design.
Hereinabove, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be variously changed.
For example, the inner blades may be reciprocated using a rotary motor and a conversion mechanism in the embodiment.

[Industrial Applicability]
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric razor in which the operator opening and closing the opening can be prevented from being accidentally operated when the electric razor is in use.
1. An electric razor, comprising:
a grip portion; and
a head portion supported by the grip portion, wherein
the head portion includes: an outer blade; an inner blade which is provided inside the outer blade and is configured to move relative to the outer blade to cut body hair inserted into blade holes; and a space portion capable of retaining the cut body hair, wherein
the head portion are formed at least one opening window communicating with the space portion and a lid portion covering the at least one opening window in an openable and closable manner, and
an operator configured to operate the lid portion is formed at an end portion of the front face of the electric razor.
2. The electric razor according to claim 1, wherein the opening window is formed at the end portion of the front face of the electric razor, and the operator is provided in a region of the lid portion which covers the opening window.
3. The electric razor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a switch portion configured to move the outer blade and inner blade relative to each other is provided on the front face of the electric razor.
4. The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the opening windows are provided.
5. The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an antiskid portion is provided below the operator and located at the central portion on the front face of the electric razor.
6. The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein edges of the inner blade vertically overlap the opening window in a front view of the electric razor.
7. The electric razor according to claim 6, wherein
the inner blade reciprocates relative to the outer blade, and
the opening window vertically overlaps one of the edges of the inner blade in the front view of the electric razor independently of the location of the inner blade reciprocating relative to the outer blade.
8. The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the inner blade is attached to an inner blade attachment portion of a driver, and
the inner blade attachment portion does not vertically overlap the opening window in the front view of the electric razor.
9. The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in a bottom face defining the space portion is formed a slope portion which slopes toward the opening window from the central portion in the front view of the electric razor.
10. The electric razor according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of the opening windows can be opened and closed with the one operator.
11. The electric razor according to claim 4 or 10, wherein the operator is provided for at least one of the plurality of opening windows.

Amended claims under Art. 19.1 PCT
. laim 1] (Currently amended) An electric razor, comprising:
a grip portion; and
a head portion supported by the grip portion, wherein
the head portion includes: an outer blade; an inner blade which is provided inside the outer blade and is configured to move relative to the outer blade to cut body hair inserted into blade holes; and a space portion capable of retaining the cut body hair, wherein
the inner blade is attached to an inner blade attachment portion of a driver,
the head portion are formed at least one opening window communicating with the space portion and a lid portion covering the at least one opening window in an openable and closable manner,
an operator configured to operate the lid portion is formed at an end portion of the front face of the electric razor, and
edges of the inner blade vertically overlap the at least one opening window in a front view of the electric razor while the inner blade attachment portion does not vertically overlap the opening window in the front view of the electric razor.
. laim 2] The electric razor according to claim 1, wherein the opening window is formed at the end portion of the front face of the electric razor, and the operator is provided in a region of the lid portion which covers the opening window.
. laim 3] The electric razor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a switch portion configured to move the outer blade and inner blade relative to each other is provided on the front face of the electric razor.
. laim 4] The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the opening windows are provided.
. laim 5] The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an antiskid portion is provided below the operator and located at the central portion on the front face of the electric razor.
. laim 6] (Currently amended) The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the inner blade reciprocates relative to the outer blade, and
the opening window vertically overlaps one of the edges of the inner blade in the front view of the electric razor independently of the location of the inner blade reciprocating relative to the outer blade.
. laim 7] (Currently amended) The electric razor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in a bottom face defining the space portion is formed a slope portion which slopes toward the opening window from the central portion in the front view of the electric razor.
. laim 8] (Currently amended) The electric razor according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of the opening windows can be opened and closed with the one operator.
. laim 9] (Currently amended) The electric razor according to claim 4 or 8, wherein the operator is provided for at least one of the plurality of opening windows.
. laim 10] (Canceled)
. laim 11] (Canceled)

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description
- JP
S59075253
B
[0004]