Abstract: In an external cutting member (10) which is configured to be used in a hair-cutting unit in combination with a rotatable internal cutting member, a base (11) includes at least one hair-cutting track (21) which is provided with a plurality of hair-entry openings, and an annular base portion (31) located between a central portion (17) of the base (11) and an innermost one of the at least one hair-cutting track (21). The annular base portion (31) is provided with a profiled section which is located between a straight inner section (32) and a straight outer section (33) of the annular base portion (31), which is annular about a central axis (16) of the external cutting member (10), and which is shaped according to a predefined profile, seen in a cross-section of the external cutting member (10) comprising the central axis (16).

Abstract: A cutting mechanism for a hair cutting apparatus, such as a shaving apparatus, includes an outer cutting member having hair-entry openings and an inner cutting member having cutting elements each having a first cutting edge. The inner cutting member is moveable with respect to the outer cutting member so as to perform a cutting operation within a cutting region of the cutting mechanism. Adjacent hair-entry openings are separated by a dividing element having a cutting section that lies within the cutting region and a non-cutting section that is outside the cutting region. The non-cutting section includes an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall. A single chamfer is provided between the inner wall of the non-cutting region and the side wall of the non-cutting region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a guard element is configured to be used in a hair-cutting unit and which is of a design including a shaving track with hair-entry apertures where the shaving track has a thickness profile with at least one thickness value. According to the manufacturing method, a sheet is proviced, and the thickness profile of the shaving track according to the design of the guard element is realized in the sheet at a position where the shaving track is to be formed. Subsequently, material is removed from the sheet at the position where the shaving track is to be formed so as to create the hair-entry apertures.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism (4) for a hair cutting apparatus (1), such as a shaving apparatus, comprising an outer cutting member (6) comprising a plurality of hair-entry openings (14) and an inner cutting member (8) comprising a plurality of cutting elements (18) each having a first cutting edge (20). The inner cutting member (8) is moveable with respect to the outer cutting member (6) so as to perform a cutting operation within a cutting region of the cutting mechanism. Adjacent hair-entry openings (14) are separated by a dividing element (16) comprising a cutting section (32) that lies within the cutting region and a non-cutting section (36) that is outside the cutting region. The non-cutting section comprises an inner wall (30) facing the inner cutting member (8) and a side wall (24) which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall (30). A single chamfer (40) is provided between the inner wall (30) of the non-cutting region and the side wall (24) of the non-cutting region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component from a high-strength blank metal strip or sheet (MS) having a tensile strength of at least 850 MPa. The method comprises reducing the thickness (T) of the strip or sheet (MS) in a folding section (FS) so that a shaped section (SS) having a predetermined shape is obtained in at least a part of the folding section (FS). The strip or sheet (MS) is then folded along the shaped section (SS), so that a surface of a first section (1S) becomes arranged adjacent and parallel to a surface a the second section (2S) of the metal strip (MS). Finally, the first and second sections (1S,2S) are joined, so that the strip or sheet (MS) remains folded. With this method, it is possible to use high-strength steel, e.g. AISI 301 stainless steel, and still fold a thin strip or sheet (MS) without undesired cracks in the folding section. For example, the invention is applicable for manufacturing of plate-shaped hair-pulling elements (HPE) for a cutting unit (CU) of a shaving apparatus.

Abstract: A guard element (4) for use in a hair cutting unit as a guard of a movable hair cutting element of the hair cutting unit has a disc-shaped base (10) and an annular wall (20) comprising a main part (21) extending from the periphery of the base (10), and a flange-shaped part (22) comprising an outwardly bent section (24). The annular wall (20) is reinforced on the basis of at least one of a design where a smallest inner periphery of the flange-shaped part (22) has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of a largest inner periphery of a straight section (23) of the main part (21) connected to the periphery of the base (10), and a design where a free end section (25) of the flange-shaped part (22) is at least partially bent.