WO1996004111A1

WO1996004111A1 - Razor head with enhanced skin protection

Info

Publication number: WO1996004111A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/008145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles J. Burout, Iii
Original assignee: Warner-Lambert Company
Priority date: 1994-07-29
Filing date: 1995-06-28
Publication date: 1996-02-15
Also published as: AU2912795A; IL114733A0; ZA956319B

Abstract

A razor head having at least two blades (30, 50) with sharpened edges and a first cap member (40) having a skin-engaging surface (42) positioned between the sharpened edges of the blades. Another aspect of the present invention comprises providing a space between a blade and another skin-engaging element which tapers outwardly in order to provide a greater space between the blade and the skin-engaging element at a position remote from the cutting edge of the blade in order to facilitate rinsability during shaving.

Description

RAZOR HEAD WITH ENHANCED SKIN PROTECTION

The present invention is directed to a razor head and, more particularly, to a razor head designed to provide enhanced protection to the surface being shaved.

Background of the Invention Many razor heads found on the market have a guard member disposed forwardly of the cutting edges of two blades and a cap member. Each of these four elements contact the skin surface during shaving and, therefore, are often referred to as "skin-engaging" elements. In a typical safety razor, these four skin-engaging elements are disposed in a spaced relation such that a small space is provided between the guard member and the first blade edge, another space is provided between the two blade edges, and another space may be provided between the second blade edge and the skin-engaging portion of the cap member. Such spaces are typically provided between the skin-engaging portions of these four elements, though not necessarily between other portions of these elements which do not contact the skin. For example, the forward or "seat" blade may be attached directly to the guard member at a point remote from the cutting edge of the seat blade but a space would typically be provided between the skin-engaging surface of the guard member and the sharpened edge of the seat blade.

Though it has been formerly recognized that the relative positioning and spacing of the skin-engaging portions of these skin-engaging elements affects the flow of skin across the cutting edges of the blades as well as the shaving angle at which the skin contacts the blade edges, it is desirable to provide still greater skin flow control.

Furthermore, the relatively small spaces provided between the skin-engaging elements tends to allow an accumulation of shaving debris, i.e., soap, hair, skin cells, etc., which can interfere with the desired flow of skin across the sharpened blade edges. While previously known razor heads have included provisions for rinsing shaving debris that has tended to accumulate in such spaces, it would be desirable to further enhance the rinsability of a razor head. Therefore, it would also be desirable to provide a razor head design which either eliminates the spaces between the skin-engaging elements or enhances the rinsability in spaces where shaving debris may tend to accumulate.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to advances in the design, construction and the manufacture of razor heads. The various aspects of the present invention are designed to improve the overall comfort of the shave by providing enhanced control over the skin surface being shaved as that skin flows over the sharpened edges of one or more blades. The present invention is also designed to minimize the accumulation of shaving debris and to facilitate the easy removal of any shaving debris which does accumulate in spaces on the razor head.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a razor head having at least two blades with sharpened edges and a first cap member having a skin-engaging surface positioned between the sharpened edges of the blades.

Another aspect of the present invention comprises providing a spacing between a blade and another skin- engaging element which tapers outwardly in order to provide a greater space between the blade and the skin- engaging element at an area remote from the cutting edge of the blade in order to facilitate rinsability during shaving .

These and other aspects of the present invention are described in further detail below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is perspective view of a razor head according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the razor head shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a cap member utilized with the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front view of a cap member utilized with the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken lines 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a top view of a spacer of the razor head illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a rear view of the spacer shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 7.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The various embodiments of the present invention comprise a razor head which provides enhanced control over the skin surface being shaved as that skin flows over the sharpened edges of one or more blades.

One embodiment of the present invention shown in the figures comprises a cap 10 comprising a shaving aid 20, cap blade 30, a spacer 40, a seat blade 50, a seat 60 comprising a guard bar 70 and attachment members 80 for attaching the illustrated razor head to a razor 90 (illustrated in part). Guard bar 70 may comprise one or more resilient materials.

As shown in Figure 2, the spacer 40 comprises a forwardly disposed skin-engaging surface 42. According to this illustrated embodiment of the present invention, skin-engaging surface 42 has a skin-engaging surface area, of about 0.025 to 1.5 sq. cm., preferably about 0.4 to 0.6 sg. cm.

According to this illustrated embodiment, the spacer 40 is disposed in contact with seat blade 50 at a position proximate the cutting edge of blade 50. Furthermore, the skin-engaging surface 42 of the illustrated spacer 40 is substantially flat and substantially parallel to an imaginary tangent line drawn between the cutting edges of seat blade 50 and cap blade 30. For example, the exposures of the seat and cap blades may optimally be up to about 0.01 inches. By positioning skin-engaging surface 42 very close to the cutting edge of seat blade 50, the skin being shaved is prevented from flowing around the top of seat blade 50 and better control is achieved over the shaving angle. Similarly, skin-engaging surface 15 of cap 10 prevents the skin being shaved from flowing around the top of cap blade 30. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this design will provide a safer and more comfortable shave. Skin engaging surface 42 most preferably terminates before cap blade 30 thereby defining a space between the lower side of blade 30 and portions of spacer 40. As illustrated, major portions of spacer 40 are also preferably tapered to provide a wider distance between spacer 40 and cap blade 30 at locations remote from the cutting edge of cap blade 30 than at a position closer to the cutting edge. The provision of a space between spacer 40 and seat blade 30, as well as the general taper of portions of this spacer, are designed to facilitate the rinsability of the razor head during shaving. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is desirable to allow the rinsing of shaving debris such as soap, whiskers, skin cells, etc., from the razor head during shaving. The present design not only provides for easy rinsing of the shaving debris, but also minimizes the spaces in which shaving debris can accumulate by positioning skin engaging surface 42 very close to the cutting edge of seat blade 50.

The relative positioning of the different elements of this illustrated embodiment of the present invention is best shown in the exploded view of Figure 3. As illustrated, cap 10 comprises a plurality of downwardly projecting pins 12 designed to pass through the blades, spacer 40 and to be received within complementary holes 61 in seat 60. Pins 12 may be secured to seat 60 in any suitable manner such as by a snap-fit, press-fit, cold forming, or by sonic welding. Though not illustrated, the various embodiments of the present invention may also be formed by insert molding.

In order to facilitate a secure fit while providing rinsability, illustrated spacer 40 comprises raised sections 43 surrounding holes through which pins 12 pass. Additionally, ribs 44 are positioned in spans between the through holes in order to more securely maintain cap blade 30 between spacer 40 and cap 10.

The degree of skin flow control provided by skin- engaging portion 42 is highly dependent upon the precise positioning of skin-engaging surface 42 relative to the cutting edge of seat blade 50. This positioning is also important to maintaining the desired exposure of cutting edge 55. Therefore, according to this illustrated embodiment, at least one sidewall 45 of a plurality of said holes is sufficiently resilient to bias spacer 40 rearwardly against pins 12. According to the illustrated embodiment, the spacer 40 including rear walls 45 may be formed of a wide variety of materials such as acetals, nylon, polypropylene or more resilient materials such as thermoplastic elastomers or one of the resilient materials set forth below. By properly dimensioning the through holes of the spacer and by providing a rear wall, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present design provides for a rearwardly biased spacer 40. It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a resilient forward wall in order to rearwardly bias the spacer.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are bottom, front and cross- sectional side views of cap 10, respectively, showing the positioning and downward extension of pins 12. While this illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises four pins, other embodiments may comprise a greater or fewer number of such pins.

Figure 7, 8 and 9 are top, rear and cross-sectional side views, respectively, of spacer 40. These views more clearly illustrate the relative positioning of resilient members 45 within the through holes partly defined by raised portions 43 of spacer 40. Furthermore, these views illustrate the preferred gradual sloping of inclined surfaces 46 relative to raised portions 43. From the figures and description provided herein, it will be appreciated that inclined surfaces 46 define the lower surfaces of the spaces through which shaving debris can be rinsed during shaving.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one of guard member 70, skin-engaging surface 42 of spacer 40, and the skin-engaging portion 15 of cap 10 are formed of resilient materials which have a higher coefficient of friction with skin than conventional rigid polymers typically employed with razor heads. For example, suitable corrosion-resistant, resilient materials include Hercuprene 1000, 3000 series, Durometer 30 to 90 A scale available from J-Von, Leominster, MA; Kraton G series, Durometer 30 to 90 A scale available from Shell Chemical Co., Lisle, IL; and Santoprene 2271 series, Durometer 30 to 90 A scale available from Monsanto, Co.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, both skin-engaging portion 42, spacer 40 and guard member 70 are formed of such resilient materials.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, at least one of said blades further comprises a wire wrap such as one of those disclosed in U.S. Patent Numbers 1,035,548, 3,263,330, 3,505,734, 3,750,285 and 4,122,006, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1. A razor head comprising a guard member having a skin-engaging surface; a first blade having a cutting edge; a second blade having a cutting edge; and a first cap member having a skin-engaging surface disposed between said cutting edge of said first blade and said cutting edge of said second blade, said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member having an area of at least 0.025 sg. cm.

2. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member is at least 0.4 square centimeters.

3. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member is about 0.025-1.5 square centimeters.

4. A razor head according to claim 3 wherein said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member is about 0.4-0.6 square centimeters.

5. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein said first cap member contacts said first blade member proximate said cutting edge of said first blade.

6. A razor head according to claim 3 wherein said first cap member is spaced from said second blade proximate said cutting edge of said second blade.

7. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein said first cap member is spaced from said second blade proximate said cutting edge of said second blade.

8. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein said second blade is disposed in spaced relation to said first cap member thereby defining a space between said first cap member and said second blade.

9. A razor head according to claim 6 wherein said space is tapered.

10. A razor head according to claim 6 wherein the distance between said first cap member and said second blade proximate said cutting edge is less than the distance between said first cap member and said second blade at a position remote from said cutting edge.

11. A razor head according to claim 1 further comprising a second cap member.

12. A razor head according to claim 9 wherein said second cap member is disposed in contact with said second blade.

13. A razor head according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said cap members or said guard member is formed of a resilient material.

14. A razor head according to claim 1 further comprises a wire wrap around at least one of said blades.

15. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said blades is movable relative to said other blades.

16. A razor head according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said blades is flexible.

17. A razor head comprising a guard member having a skin-engaging surface; a first blade having a cutting edge; a second blade having a cutting edge; and a spacer disposed between and in contact with said first blade and said second blade, said spacer comprising at least one inclined surface which forms a tapered space between said first blade and said second blade.

18. A razor head according to claim 15 wherein said space is narrower at a first position proximate said cutting edge then at a second position remote from said cutting edge.

19. A razor head according to claim 15 wherein said spacer comprises a skin-engaging surface.

20. A razor head according to claim 17 wherein said skin-engaging surface has a surface area of at least 0.025 square centimeters.

21. A razor head according to claim 17 wherein said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member is about 0.025-1.5 square centimeters.

22. A razor head according to claim 17 wherein said skin-engaging surface of said first cap member is about 0.4-0.6 square centimeters.

23. A razor head according to claim 15 wherein said spacer further comprises means for biasing said spacer rearwardly.

24. A razor head according to claim 19 comprising a plurality of pins which pass through said blades and said spacer, said spacer comprising a plurality of holes through which said pins are disposed, and wherein a plurality of said holes of said spacer comprise resilient sidewalls which define said biasing means.

25. A razor head according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said cap members or said guard member is formed of a resilient material.