Cutlery – Razors – Multiple blade
Patent
1988-12-28
1989-09-26
Watts, Douglas D.
Cutlery
Razors
Multiple blade
30 47, B26B 2122
Patent
active
048689831
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to blade units for safety razors and more specifically to blade units of the general form described in British Patent specification Nos. 1487834 and 2064410B, respectively.
The units described in those specifications each comprise a narrow, elongate blade strip sharpened along one longitudinal edge and an elongate metallic support member presenting over a length at least equal to the length of the blade strip a surface of lesser width than the blade strip to which one face of the blade strip is directly attached, with the cutting edge of the strip projecting forwardly of the support and with the end portions of the support projecting beyond the ends of the blade strip. Blade units of this general form are hereinafter referred to as "compact blade units".
In GB No. 1487834 the support is of generally wirelike form and in GB No. 2064410B, the support is of angular cross-section, having a narrow flange to which the blade strip is attached and a depending leg.
The above described compact blade units are so styled because they may be given a very small width and depth to advantage with respect both to manufacturing costs and the compactness of the razor heads in which they are employed. They do, however, due to their very compactness, present problems in handling during manufacture, and in assembly of razor heads or cartridges, as well as in packaging and dispensing when designed as exchangeable head units.
A solution to this problem, with particular respect to the compact blade units in the form in which the blade support is of wire-like form, is proposed in British Patent Specification No. 2131337B in which a pair of blade units have a pair of links moulded directly onto the adjacent end portions of the supports to form a permanent integrated assembly in which the two blade strips are held in spaced parallel relation, so as to constitute a tandem blade unit.
The moulded links may be of elastomeric material so as to provide a degree of independent sprung suspension for the blade units.
In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a pair of compact blade units are connected together at their respective ends by a pair of links each of spring sheet metal, each link being of integral form shaped to provide:
guide surfaces for lateral location of the respective blade supports to maintain their spacing, the surfaces permitting limited movement of the blade supports therealong in directions transverse to a notional plane containing the cutting edges of the blade strips; and
a pair of independent spring fingers bearing upwardly on the respective supports to bias them upwardly along the guide surfaces, the links cooperating with the blade units to retain the links longitudinally with respect to the blade units. Thus, the links not only perform the functions of the elastomeric links described in GB No. 2131337, they also provide for positive guidance of the blade units in their relative movement and the springs are able to act totally independently of each other. This cannot, of course, be achieved with integral elastomeric links because of the tendency of elastomers to transmit forces and strains throughout their masses. Furthermore, the degree of springing provided by metallic spring fingers is much more readily controllable in design and manufacture.
Tandem blade units in accordance with the invention may be incorporated permanently in disposable razors, or in exchangeable blade cartridges or may simply constitute exchangeable blade units in themselves.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a link as partially formed;
FIG. 2, 3, and 4A are a side view, end view and perspective view, respectively of a fully formed link;
FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a modified form of link;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tandem blade assembly using the links of FIGS. 2 to 4A;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged scrap view of part of the assembly of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view
REFERENCES:
patent: 4270268 (1981-06-01), Jacobson
patent: 4302876 (1981-12-01), Emmett
patent: 4378633 (1981-06-01), Jacobson
patent: 4403412 (1983-09-01), Trotta
patent: 4516321 (1985-05-01), Francis
The Gillette Company
Watts Douglas D.
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