Cutlery – Razors – Combined
Utility Patent
1999-05-18
2001-01-02
Payer, Hwei-Siu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Razors
Combined
C030S050000, C030S077000, C030S081000, C030S082000
Utility Patent
active
06167625
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to wet shaving systems, and in particular to shaving implements, such as disposable razors or cartridges, having one or more razor blade cutting edges disposed between a guard and a cap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional wet shaving systems, a razor includes a handle and a shaving head. The shaving head, which may be either unitary with the handle or a separate, replaceable cartridge, houses one or more razor blades and includes a guard and cap on opposite sides of the blade cutting edge so as to maintain the blade edge at a predetermined spacing and angle relative to the skin.
The guard is disposed below the blade, forward of the blade cutting edge, to engage the skin prior to the blade. In addition to defining the shaving geometry as described above, the guard acts to pre-stretch the skin by a predetermined amount, so as to allow the blade to shave the skin closely and safely.
Normally, the skin-engaging surface of the guard is textured in some manner, for example to employ horizontal fins or ribs, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,560. Because the guard is normally part of the razor head or cartridge, the projections are metal or a hard plastic.
There have, however, been proposals to provide a guard which is a separate element from the shaving head, in order that the guard may be formed of an elastomeric material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,548,959 discloses a metal razor having a guard element made out of rubber. The rubber guard elements are either mechanically attached to the head or glued to the metal guard.
There is currently on the market a razor cartridge which includes a resilient guard element in the form of a plurality of rows of flexible fins that extend parallel to the blade edge, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,712 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,361. In the cartridge disclosed in the '361 patent, in order to attach the resilient guard element to the plastic cartridge body, the guard is formed of two parts, namely, a skin-engaging portion formed of an elastomeric material and a base portion of rigid plastic material. The rigid plastic base portion is provided with latch members so that the guard assembly can be snapped onto a blade cartridge body. There is also currently on the market a razor cartridge which includes a guard bar having a plurality of flexible, skin-engaging ridges which are in adjoining sections extending alternatively at positive and negative angles relative to the direction of shaving, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,883.
It would be desirable to provide a shaving implement having a guard with a surface formed of flexible skin-engaging members to pre-stretch the skin prior to being shaved by the razor blade, which provides a very stable structure that can be mass produced in an economical and high quality manufacturing process, and which minimizes parts handling, feeding, and subassembly requirements normally required for a cartridge.
It would also be desirable to provide a row of skin-contacting members on the guard which pre-stretch the skin in an improved manner, provide a unique sensation to the user and deliver additional, previously undetected, consumer benefits related to close and comfortable shaving. It would also be advantageous to provide a row of cavities on the guard which would also enhance and sensation to the user as well as meter the correct amount of shaving cream onto the surface to be shaved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A shaving implement such as a disposable razor or razor cartridge according to the invention comprises a shaving head which includes a cap portion, a guard portion, and at least one razor blade. The shaving head includes a skin-contacting element which is preferably formed of an elastomeric material which is insert molded into one or more recesses in the guard to extend across the shaving head.
The skin-contacting element includes a plurality of projections contained within a row of cavities. The projections and the cavities may be in the form of any desired shape, however preferably the projections and cavities are in the form of a geometric shape. While any geometric shape, including triangles, diamonds, squares or circles may be employed, most preferably both the projections and the cavities are in the geometric shape of a trapezoid. Further, a continuous line of the elastomeric material extends parallel and adjacent to the cutting edge of the blades. The geometric shape of the projections and cavities provide the benefit to the user of gradually increasing the tension on the skin as the skin approaches the blade or blades. In addition, the cavities hold and release a metered amount of shaving cream to the surface being shaved. The stretching of the skin prior to shaving is further enhanced by the continuous line of elastomeric material adjacent to the blades. The novel sensation experienced by the user may be controlled via the dimensions of the projections and cavity. For example, the projections may be the same length as, taller than, or shorter than the walls of the cavities. Also, the walls of the cavity may be tapered in either direction.
The present invention employs projections and cavities which preferably are as stiff as or stiffer than the fins used in the products which are currently on the market. The inventors have found that where flexible fins are perpendicular to the shaving direction and act like wiper blades to remove shaving cream and other lubrication prior to the blade shaving the skin, the posts and cavities meter the distribution of the shaving cream and leave a layer of lubricating material on the skin. Moreover, the different elements of the skin-contacting element provide a pleasant and comfortable shave.
The present invention has additional advantages when used in flexible razor cartridges. Such cartridges have a cartridge body which is flexible in a direction perpendicular to the blade, so that the blade can conform to the various contours of the face or other shaving surface. If a skin-contacting element having fins parallel to the blade edge were to be used in a flexible cartridge, the fins would act as stiffening ribs against flexing of the cartridge, thus interfering with its normal operation. In contrast, because of the cavities of the present invention, the skin-contacting element of the present invention is quite flexible in the normal flexing direction of the cartridge.
The recess in the guard for receiving the skin-contacting element may include, in addition to a seat portion, a joint forming portion for forming a mechanical joint, e.g., in a dovetail shape between the skin-contacting element and the guard. The skin-contacting element is insert molded onto the guard portion so as to fill the recess, such that the portion disposed in the dovetail portion forms a dovetail joint to help secure the skin-contacting element in place.
The guard supporting the skin-contacting element may be a plurality of guard segments, arranged parallel to the seat blade edge and having gaps therebetween. In this case, each guard segment is supported by a rib that extends forwardly from a respective rigid seat segment, and is provided with a recess for securing the skin-contacting element.
The skin-contacting element may comprise a plurality of segments secured to individual guard segments. However, as discussed above where the skin-contacting element is elastomeric, it is very flexible due to the cavities, and therefore the skin-contacting element need not be a plurality of segments and may advantageously extend continuously across the shaving head as a continuous element. A skin-contacting element may be secured to the cap as well, either as an alternative or in addition thereto.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings accompanying the application.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 402084 (1998-12-01), Chen et al.
patent: 811999 (1906-02-01), Benet
patent: 1618895 (1927-02-01), Taplinger
patent:
Coffin David C.
King Brian F.
O'Malley Michael P.
Pennella Andrew J.
Almer Charles W.
Payer Hwei-Siu
Warner-Lambert & Company
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