Electric shaver and cleaning system therefor

Abstract

In a cleaning system for cleaning hair clippings from the interior space of an electric shaver, a shaver support is provided for supporting the electric shaver during operation of the cleaning system. A pressure vessel defines a source of cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior of the shaver and is in fluid communication with a gas delivery assembly that receives cleaning gas from the pressure vessel. The gas delivery assembly comprises at least one nozzle assembly configured and arranged for directing cleaning gas received from the pressure vessel to flow directly into the interior space of the shaver. In one embodiment the pressure vessel is cartridge that is removeable from the cleaning system for refilling or replacement.

1 . A cleaning system for cleaning hair clippings from an electric shaver, said electric shaver having an interior space in which hair clippings accumulate during operation, said cleaning system comprising: 
 a shaver support for supporting the electric shaver during operation of the cleaning system;    a pressure vessel defining a source of cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior of the shaver; and    a gas delivery assembly in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for receiving cleaning gas from the pressure vessel, said gas delivery assembly comprising at least one nozzle assembly configured and arranged for directing cleaning gas received from the pressure vessel to flow directly into the interior space of the shaver.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the pressure vessel contains a pressurized fluid adapted for exhaustion from the pressure vessel in a gaseous state to define said cleaning gas.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pressurized fluid in the container is compressed air.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pressurized fluid comprises a compressed gas in a liquid state whereby the compressed gas vaporizes upon decompression as it is exhausted from the pressure vessel to define said cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior of the shaver.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 4  wherein the pressurized fluid is liquid carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the gas delivery assembly further comprises a valve operable between a closed configuration in which the valve blocks the flow of cleaning gas to the at least one nozzle assembly, and an open configuration in which cleaning gas is allowed to flow to the nozzle assembly for delivery into the interior space of the shaver.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 6  wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 6  further comprising a metering device operatively connected to the valve for operating the valve between its open and closed configurations, the metering device being operable between a first configuration corresponding to the closed configuration of the valve and a second configuration corresponding to the open configuration of the valve for delivering cleaning gas into the interior space of the shaver.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shaver is of the type comprising at least one outer cutting member for contact with a user's skin and having openings therein for receiving hairs therethrough, and at least one inner cutting member disposed within the interior space of the shaver and movable relative to the outer cutting member to cut hairs received through the openings in the outer cutting member, the at least one nozzle assembly of the cleaning system being configured and arranged to direct cleaning gas into the interior space of the electric shaver other than through the openings in the at least one outer cutting member.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a filter assembly for collecting hair clippings exhausted from the shaver during operation of the cleaning system.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the gas delivery assembly comprises at least two of said nozzle assemblies, said gas delivery assembly further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for receiving cleaning gas from said pressure vessel into said manifold, the nozzle assemblies being in fluid communication with the manifold for receiving cleaning gas from the manifold for delivery into the interior space of the shaver.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the pressure vessel comprises a cartridge configured for being releasably held by the cleaning system.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a housing having an opening for receiving the shaver at least partially within the housing, the shaver support being at least in part in registry with the opening of the housing, said pressure vessel and gas delivery assembly each being disposed at least in part within the housing.  
     
     
         14 . A combination electric shaver and cleaning system for cleaning hair clippings from the electric shaver, said electric shaver comprising: 
 an outer cutting member for contact with a user's skin and having openings therein for receiving hairs therethrough, the outer cutting member at least in part defining an interior space of the shaver in which hair clippings accumulate;    and an inner cutting member within the interior space of the shaver and moveable relative to the outer cutting member to cut hairs received through the openings of the outer cutting member, the shaver having at least one inlet port other than the openings in said outer cutting member and in fluid communication with the interior space of the shaver for receiving cleaning gas into said interior space;    said cleaning system comprising a shaver support for supporting the electric shaver during operation of the cleaning system;    a pressure vessel defining a source of cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior space of the shaver; and    a gas delivery assembly in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for receiving cleaning gas from said pressure vessel, said gas delivery assembly comprising at least one nozzle assembly configured and arranged for directing cleaning gas from the pressure vessel to flow directly into the interior space of the shaver.    
     
     
         15 . The combination set forth in  claim 14  wherein the outer cutting member of the shaver defines a downstream end of the shaver through which cleaning gas received into the interior space of the shaver is subsequently exhausted along with the hair clippings, the inner cutting member of the shaver being upstream of the outer cutting member, the at least one inlet port being disposed upstream of the outer cutting member such that cleaning gas enters the interior space of the shaver at said at least one inlet port and flows downstream to the outer cutting member for exhaustion from the shaver.  
     
     
         16 . The combination set forth in  claim 15  wherein the at least one inlet port is disposed upstream of the inner cutting member such that cleaning gas enters the interior space of the shaver at said at least one inlet port upstream of the inner cutting member and flows downstream over the inner cutting member to the outer cutting member for exhaustion from the shaver.  
     
     
         17 . The combination set forth in  claim 14  wherein the shaver comprises a rotary shaver.  
     
     
         18 . The combination set forth in  claim 14  wherein the shaver comprises a foil shaver.  
     
     
         19 . The combination set forth in  claim 14  wherein the gas delivery assembly further comprises a valve intermediate the pressure vessel and the at least one nozzle assembly, said valve being operable between a closed configuration in which the valve blocks the flow of cleaning gas to the at least one nozzle assembly, and an open configuration in which cleaning gas is allowed to flow to the nozzle assembly for delivery into the interior space of the shaver.  
     
     
         20 . The combination set forth in  claim 19  wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.  
     
     
         21 . The combination set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a metering device operatively connected to the valve for operating the valve between its open and closed configurations, the metering device being operable between a first configuration corresponding to the closed configuration of the valve and a second configuration corresponding to the open configuration of the valve for delivering cleaning gas into the interior space of the shaver.  
     
     
         22 . The combination set forth in  claim 12  wherein the pressure vessel contains a pressurized fluid adapted for exhaustion from the pressure vessel in a gaseous state to define said cleaning gas.  
     
     
         23 . The combination set forth in  claim 22  wherein the pressurized fluid comprises compressed air.  
     
     
         24 . The combination set forth in  claim 22  wherein the pressurized fluid comprises a compressed gas in a liquid state whereby the compressed gas vaporizes upon decompression as it is exhausted from the pressure vessel to define said cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior of the shaver.  
     
     
         25 . The combination set forth in  claim 24  wherein the compressed gas comprises liquid carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         26 . A cleaning system for cleaning hair clippings from an electric shaver, said electric shaver having an interior space in which hair clippings accumulate during operation, said cleaning system comprising: 
 a housing having an opening for receiving at least part of a shaver therein;    a shaver support in the housing for supporting the electric shaver during operation of the cleaning system;    a cartridge disposed at least in part within the housing and defining a source of cleaning gas for cleaning hair clippings from the interior of the shaver, said cartridge being removeable from the cleaning system for refilling or replacement of said cartridge; and    a gas delivery assembly in fluid communication with the cartridge for receiving cleaning gas from the cartridge, said gas delivery assembly comprising at least one nozzle assembly configured and arranged for directing cleaning gas received from the pressure vessel to flow into the interior space of the shaver.