Cutting head for an electric shaver

Abstract

A cutter head for an electric shaver comprises an outer shearing foil provided with a series of hair entrance slots arranged in a row. Cooperating with the outer shearing foil is an inner cutter assembly which includes at least one inner blade having a cutting edge elongated in a general direction of the length of each slot and is driven to move in relation to the shearing foil so that the cutting edge is in hair shearing relation with the row of the slots. Formed with the inner blade is a hair scooping projection which projects in a general direction of the movement of the cutting edge and define a sloping edge extending downwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge such that a long hair strands entering the slots can, as the inner blade advances, be slid or guide along the sloping edge up to the cutting edge where the strand is successfully sheared against the edge of the slot. The cutting edge is dimensioned to have its longitudinal ends positioned within the length of each slot so that the cutting edge is not in sliding engagement with the portion of the outer shearing foil other than the webs separating the adjacent slots. Accordingly, the resistance between the cutting edge and the shearing foil is reduced to enable a smooth shearing operation at a minimum power requirement. Also, the hair scooping projection proceeds along the row of the slots in advance of the cutting edge upon the movement of the inner blade in such a way as to straddle across the adjacent webs on both sides of each slot, thus preventing the cutting edge from falling into the slot.