Flexible razor assembly and cartridge

Cutlery – Razors – Multiple blade

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C030S049000, C030S047000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06182366

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flexible razor cartridges and razor assemblies having such flexible cartridges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recognition of the fact that surfaces to be shaved are not perfectly planar, razor cartridges have been designed to flex during shaving. In order to maximize the flexibility of the cartridges, including associated blades, various designs have been developed. For example, one advantageous design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,923 where a segmented guard bar is utilized. That design has proven to be very successful in providing overall flexibility to the razor cartridge without noticeable distortion to the blade geometry during shaving.
The consistent achievement of a close, safe and comfortable shave depends upon careful control of the blade geometry. While prior art designs including the design discussed above in connection with the '923 patent have been acceptable, a need continues to exist for a razor cartridge with improved flexibility.
The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a razor cartridge which may include one or more blades which utilizes flexible beams to provide enhanced flexibility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is directed toward a flexible razor cartridge comprising a frame and at least one blade supported on the frame. The at least one blade extends longitudinally along the frame and is movable along with the frame upon application of a force encountered during shaving between an rest position where the at least one blade is in a substantially planar configuration and a flexed position where the at least one blade is in a substantially concave or convex configuration with respect to the top surface thereof. The razor cartridge also comprises at least one flexible beam secured to the frame below the bottom surface of the at least one blade and extending longitudinally therewith. The flexible beam is normally arranged in a neutral position when the at least one blade is in its at rest position. The at least one flexible beam is deformable to a flexed position along with the at least one blade, where it is biased to facilitate the at least one blade and the frame of the razor cartridge to return to their at rest position.
Preferably, the at least one blade of the razor cartridge comprises a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades may comprise three blades.
It is also preferable for the at least one flexible beam to comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible beams which extend substantially parallel to each other.
The blades of the razor cartridge may include a front end where a cutting edge is formed and a rear end remote from the cutting edge. The at least one flexible beam may comprises a plurality of hills and valleys where the hills are arranged closer to the rear end of the at least one blade and the valleys are arranged closer to the front end of the at least one blade.
The frame of the razor cartridge may comprise a plurality of ribs which extend at least partially below the bottom surface of the bottom blade. The ribs may extend transversely to the longitudinally extending flexible beam and associated blades. In this preferred embodiment, the flexible beam may comprise a plurality of segments arranged between consecutive ones of the ribs.
The razor cartridge of the present invention may also comprise a guard bar and a cap. In an embodiment where the plurality of longitudinally extending flexible beams are included, one of the flexible beams may be arranged below the guard bar while another of the flexible beams may be arranged below the cap.
In an embodiment where at least one of the flexible beams comprise a plurality of consecutively arranged segments, such segments may be substantially u-shaped.
The present invention contemplates various structural embodiments of the flexible beams. Thus, the razor cartridge may include flexible beam means attached to the frame thereof which extend longitudinally therealong for facilitating associated blades and the frame to return from the flexed position to the at rest position. The flexible beam means may be arranged below the bottom surface of the bottom blade.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a razor assembly is provided. The razor assembly comprises a flexible razor cartridge as described above in combination with a handle.
The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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