A novel retarding mechanism is shown to reduce the inertia of the battery shell during a linear detachment movement from a handle of an appliance, such as a battery powered razor or shaver. The retarding mechanism is based on the interaction between the battery shell found on a lower portion of a razor handle and a battery carrier found within the upper portion of a razor handle. Specifically, an engagement spring having at least one knob type structure is mounted on an interior surface of the battery shell and axially engages protrusions and/or recesses on an exterior surface of the battery carrier during a detachment movement of the battery shell. During opening or detachment of the shell, the engagement of the knob with protrusions produces a retarding force effect of the shell during the linear detachment.