EP0885699A1

EP0885699A1 - Shaving systems with rinse passages

Info

Publication number: EP0885699A1
Application number: EP98303742A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Schwarz; Wolfgang Althaus
Original assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Current assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Priority date: 1997-06-19
Filing date: 1998-05-13
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-13
Also published as: DE69817088D1; EP0885699B1; DE69817088T2; JPH119853A

Abstract

There is disclosed a shaving system (10) comprising a razor (50) having a razor mechanism (70) for releasably attaching a razor head (50) to the razor. The razor mechanism includes at least one passage (80) therethrough for directing a rinse fluid through the razor mechanism (70). Preferably, the razor also includes at least one passage (44,45) therethrough.

Description

The present invention is directed to shaving systems having improved rinsability and, more particularly, to shaving systems having one or more rinse passages extending through a portion of a razor.

Shaving systems which comprise a razor that releasably attaches to a razor head have found widespread use for providing close and comfortable shaves. Safety razors comprise a guard, a seat blade, a cap blade, and a cap. Each of these elements is typically disposed in skin-engaging contact during shaving. Many razors typically comprise a razor mechanism having metal prongs or forks which engage the razor head so that the razor head can move relative to the razor in one or more directions.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that shaving debris such as shaving aids, soap, hair, skin cells, etc., can adversely affect the operation of the razor mechanism which generally comprises movable elements, e.g., slidable levers, springs, etc., and thus can affect the ability of the shaving system to operate as intended. Some designs attempt to protect razor mechanisms from shaving debris by enclosing the mechanism in a housing of the razor. To enhance proper functioning of the razor mechanism after extended exposure to shaving debris, greater clearances are required between the elements of razor mechanisms. Greater clearances lead to less control over the razor head and negatively influence the resulting shave. Attempts to better seal the razor mechanism within a housing of a razor have only been partially successful and have left small openings which allow shaving debris to contact and accumulate within the razor mechanism over time.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a razor as defined in Claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a shaving system as defined in Claim 8.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a razor mechanism as defined in Claim 22.

In Claim 1 "relatively moveable elements" includes but is not limited to two or more elements that are moveable relative to one another.

An advantage of the invention is to provide shaving systems or apparatuses which comprise one or more rinse passages through which water can pass for removing shaving debris from the razor mechanism.

Preferred features of embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide shaving systems which comprise a razor head and a razor comprising a handle portion, means for releasably attaching the razor head to the razor and, advantageously, at least one passage for directing a fluid, e.g., water, to the releasable attaching means for cleaning and/or reducing the rate of accumulation of shaving debris within the razor mechanism.

Still other embodiments of the present invention provide razor mechanisms for shaving systems in which the razor mechanism comprises a top cover and a bottom cover connected to said top cover with a rinse passage extending between the covers to allow rinsing of the razor mechanism.

The various embodiments of the present invention advantageously comprise at least one rinse passage extending through a razor for directing rinse water through at least a portion of the razor and, most preferably, to the razor mechanism. Other embodiments comprise shaving systems having a razor mechanism with a rinse passage. The various embodiments of the present invention are useful with razor heads having rinse passages. As used herein, the term "razor head" is meant to include cartridges adapted to be connected to a separate razor as well as the operative cutting portion of a disposable razor wherein the handle and cutting portion are formed as a single unit.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shaving system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the shaving system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the razor mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the razor head shown in FIG. 1.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein a shaving system 10 comprises a razor 20, a razor head 50, and a razor mechanism 70 (FIG. 5) which is disposed within razor 20 for releasably attaching razor head 50 via prongs 72 (FIG. 1). This illustrated embodiment of the present invention provides passages for directing water through a portion of the razor and preferably through the razor mechanism for removing and/or reducing the rate of accumulation of shaving debris.

With reference to FIG. 3, razor 20 comprises a chamber 30 for housing a razor mechanism 70 shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, chamber 30 is disposed in an upper portion 22 of razor 20 and comprises an opening 32 through which razor mechanism 70 is received so that prongs 72 extend outwardly from the upper portion 22 of razor 20 (shown best in FIG. 4) and are selectively movable for attaching/detaching a razor head, as well as in response to shaving forces if the particular design so requires. From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the razor mechanism can take different forms in order to provide proper attachment and dynamics for a particular application provided that the razor mechanism comprises at least one rinse passage, as described in greater detail below.

In addition, the illustrated razor 20 comprises at least one passage 40 extending therethrough for directing a fluid, e.g., water from a sink faucet or forced air, to chamber 32 and razor mechanism 70. Specifically, passage 40 has a discharge outlet 42 which opens into chamber 30, and an inlet 44 which opens onto a rearward, upper surface 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of razor 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a support 46 is disposed generally in the middle of razor 20 which provides additional stability particularly to upper portion 22, and separates a second passage 41 from passage 40. Preferably, passage 40 and second passage 41 taper inwardly from the rearward portion of razor 20 toward the forward (razor head engaging) portion in order to facilitate acceleration of the fluid flowing through the passages for more effective debris removal. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the entrances of

passages

40 and 41 are provided with

chamfered surfaces

47 and 48, respectively, to allow easy rinsing and to provide proper entrance for pressurized fluid, e.g., running water from a sink faucet, as well as to minimize splash. Desirably,

passages

40 and 41 of razor 20 are disposed along a substantially straight path with chamber 30 and are generally perpendicular to base 51 of razor head 50, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

From the present description, it will be appreciated that the razor, although shown as being fabricated from a solid member, can comprise several parts or elements, e.g., first and second housing members which can be snap fit, thermally or adhesively joined. The razor is most preferably formed of a thermal plastic material known in the art and, alternatively, can be fabricated out of another water-resistant material.

The illustrated razor mechanism 70, as shown in FIG. 5, generally comprises a top cover 74 and a bottom cover 76 connected via connecting pins 75. Prongs 72 are linked to a spring-biased slide 78 which is operable to cause prongs 72 to move toward and away from each other in a manner known in the art. Razor mechanism 70 advantageously comprises a passage 80 comprising an inlet 82 and a discharge outlet 84 (best shown in FIG. 5). Although the razor mechanism is illustrated as comprising a top cover and a bottom cover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a razor mechanism can comprise a single cover, e.g., either a top or bottom cover, or not have a cover.

As shown in FIG. 6, the illustrated razor head 50 generally comprises a cap 52, a guard 54, a cap blade 56, a seat blade 58, and base 51. Razor 20 (FIG. 1) further comprises an actuation member 26 which attaches to spring-biased slide 78 of razor mechanism 70 (FIG. 5) so that the base 51 of the razor head 50, which has prong-receiving indents, can be engaged by prongs 72. Alternatively, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a razor head which is also adapted for improved rinsability.

By placing shaving system 10 in a fluid stream, e.g., under running water during shaving, fluid will enter

inlets

44 and 45, as illustrated by arrow A in FIG. 1, travel through

passages

40 and 41 to razor mechanism 70, and then exit discharge outlet 84 (FIG. 4) carrying away shaving debris. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, by running water through

passages

40 and 41 as described above, the water will advantageously rinse debris from all movable parts of the razor. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the razor mechanism rinse path is substantially perpendicular to the passages between the blades, cap and base of the razor head which also commonly requires rinsing. This substantially perpendicular arrangement is designed to minimize the amount of debris that could be rinsed from the razor mechanism and enter open spaces of the razor head, and vice-versa.

From the present description it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by providing a shaving system comprising rinse passages, the elements of a razor mechanism can be constructed with greater tolerances while reducing the likelihood that the razor mechanism will malfunction or not operate as intended.

Claims

A razor adapted to selectively support a razor head comprising:

a razor mechanism comprising relatively movable elements, said razor mechanism comprising at least one member for engaging a razor head,

wherein said razor mechanism comprises a rinse passage extending at least partially therethrough for dislodging shaving debris from said razor mechanism.
A razor according to claim 1, wherein said razor also comprises a body portion connected to said razor mechanism and a body passage extending at least partially through said body portion, and wherein said body portion is in fluidic communication with said rinse passage of said razor mechanism.
A razor for supporting at least one blade comprising:

a body portion;

means for connecting a razor head to said body portion;

at least one passage extending through at least a portion of said body portion and terminating proximate said connecting means, whereby rinse water can be directed to said connecting means through said body portion.
A razor according to claim 3 wherein said connecting means releasably connects a razor head to said body portion.
A razor according to claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises a passage extending therethrough, which is in fluidic communication with said passage extending through a portion of said body portion.
A razor according to any of claims 3 to 5 wherein said connecting means comprises a passage extending therethrough, which is in fluidic communication with said passage extending through a portion of said body portion.
A razor according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein said body portion comprises a forward portion proximate said connecting means and a rearward portion, and wherein said passage extends from said rearward portion to said forward portion.
A shaving system comprising:

a razor head;

a razor; and

means for connecting said razor to said razor head, wherein said razor comprises at least one passage therethrough for directing a fluid to said connecting means.
A shaving system according to claim 8 wherein said razor comprises a chamber which receives at least a portion of the connecting means.
A shaving system according to claim 9 wherein said passage comprises an inlet which opens onto an outer surface of said razor and a discharge outlet which opens into said chamber.
A shaving system according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein said razor is provided with two passages therethrough for directing a fluid to said connecting means.
A shaving system according to claim 11 wherein said razor comprises a brace disposed between said passages.
A shaving system according to any of claims 8 to 12 wherein said passage widens as it opens onto an outer surface of said razor.
A shaving system according to claim 13 wherein a portion of said razor adjacent said passage is chamfered.
A shaving system according to any of claims 8 to 14 wherein said connecting means comprises at least one passage therethrough having an inlet disposed adjacent a discharge outlet of said passage of said razor.
A shaving system according to claim 15 wherein a discharge outlet of said passage of said connecting means is disposed adjacent attachment of said razor head.
A shaving system according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein said passage through said razor and said passage through said connecting means are in line.
A shaving system according to claim 8 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein said razor further comprises an actuation member attached to said connecting means to activate said connecting means to connect to said razor head.
A shaving system according to claim 8 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein said razor head comprises a cap and a guard.
A shaving system according to claim 8 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein said razor head comprises at least two blades.
A shaving system according to claim 8 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein said connecting means comprises a top cover and a bottom cover spaced therefrom, and a spring-biased slide operably attached to at least one of said covers to operate a pair of prongs which attach to said razor head.
A razor mechanism comprising:

a top cover;

a bottom cover spaced from the top cover attached to said top cover; and

means for connecting to a razor head, said connecting means being attached to at least one of said covers and wherein at least one rinse passage is provided between said top and bottom covers.
A razor mechanism according to claim 22 wherein said connecting means comprises a pair of prongs.
A razor mechanism according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein said connecting means includes a spring-biased slide operably connected to said prongs and to at least one of said top and bottom covers.