GB2409425A - Razor head - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutting head 4 for a razor comprising a support structure 6 wherein there is provided a plurality of cuffing blades 50 located in a row, side by side, each blade 50 in the row being resiliently biased to a stationary position wherein, when no force is exerted onto any of the cutting blades 50, the cutting edges 52 of the blades are substantially aligned so that the longitudinal axis of the cutting edges 52 are substantially co-axial. Each blade 50 is mounted on an arm 54 which provides the resilient force for the blade 50. All the arms 54 are connected to a single base 56. The base 56, arms 54 and blades 50 form a blade assembly. The blade assembly is made from a single sheet of metal.

Description

RAZOR HEAD

The present invention relates to razors for shaving hair off skin, and in particular, to razors for shaving hair off the body, face and legs of a human, and more in particular, to a razor head for a razor.

A typical design of razor is shown in Figures 1 and 2 hereto which are described in detail below.

One problem with shaving is that the surface of the skin is rarely flat, particularly on the face and legs. Known designs of razors have blades which extend across the majority of the width of the razor head. This results in the problems of the razor head not efficiently adapting to the variations in the contours of the surface of the skin.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting head for a razor compnsmg: a support structure; at least one cutting blade mounted on the support structure, the at least one cutting blade having at least one cutting edge; characterised in that there Is a plurality of cutting blades located in a row, side by side, each blade in the row being resiliently biased to a stationary position wherein, when no force is exerted onto any of the cutting blades, the cutting edges of the blades are substantially aligned so that the longitudinal axis of the cutting edges are substantially co-axial.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blade assembly comprising: a base; a plurality of cutting blades, each cutting blade having at least one cutting edge (10); each cutting blade being attached to the base by a resilient arm which biases the cutting blade to a stationary position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a prior art design of disposable razor; Figure 2 shows a view of the front of the razor head which lies against and moves over the skin of the person being shaved of the prior art design of disposable razor shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of the front of the razor head according to the present invention which lies against and slides over the skin of the person being shaved; Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the razor head in the direction indicated by Arrows C in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cutting blade assembly.

Figures 1 and 2 show an existing design of razor. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the razor comprises a handle 2 attached to which is a razor head 4 The razor head 4 can rigidly fixed to the handle 2 or can be pivotally mounted on the handle 2 so that it pivots in a direction indicated by Arrow A In Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the side 12 of the razor head 4 which is pressed against and pulled along the surface of the skin of the user when shaving.

The razor head 4 comprises a support structure 6 supported by which are two cutting blades 8. Each cutting blade 8 has a cutting edge 10 formed along one side of the cutting blade 8 which projects at an angle from the support structure 6 generally in the direction which the razor head 4 is intended to be pulled across the surface of the skin.

In the design of razor shown, the edge 10 of the blades 8 project forward of the support structure 6. However, in alternative designs, they are slightly recessed so that the support structure 6 is located forward of the cutting edge 10.

The two cutting blades 8 are parallel to each other and are angled relative to the surface of the side 12 of the razor head 4. The edges 10 of the blades 8 are located within a plane which is parallel to the surface 12 of the razor head 4.

A lubrication strip 14 is located above the two blades 8 which passes over the surface of the skin after the blades 8 have passed over that same surface.

In use, the face 12 of razor head 4 is pulled in the direction of Arrow B over the surface of skin to be shaved. As it is pulled across the surface, the support structure 6 is engagement with and slides over the surface of the skin. The two blades 8 cut any hairs projecting from the surface of the skin as the edges 10 of the blades 8 pass over the skin. The lubrication strip 14 then passes over the surface where the blades 8 have cut the hairs.

The support structure and handle are made of moulded plastic.

Figures 3 shows the face 12 of the razor head according to the present invention.

Where the same features are present in the first embodiment which are present is the prior art design shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same reference numbers have been used.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the razor head 4 comprises a support structure 6 supported by which are sixteen cutting blades 50. Each cutting blade 50 has a cutting edge 52 formed along the leading edge of the cutting blade 8 which projects at an angle from the support structure 6 generally in the direction which the razor head 4 is intended to be pulled across the surface of the skin. In the design of razor shown, the edge 52 of the blades 50 project forward of the support structure 6.

Figure 5 shown the metal cutting blades without the rest of the razor head 4. Each cutting blade 50 Is mounted on one end of an arm 54 as shown in both Figures 4 and 5. Each cutting blade 50 is orientated so that it projects at an oblique angle to that of the direction of the arm 54. The angle X is 25 degrees though it will be understood to a person skilled in the art that this can be varied to maximize cutting efficiency.

The second opposite end of each arm 54 is attached to a base 56. Each blade 50 and associated arm 54 is identical to all of the other cutting blades 50 and arms 54 on the razor head 4. The blades 50 and associated arms 54 are separate from and can operate independently of the adjacent blades 50 and arms 54. A single base 56 connects to all of the arms 54. The base 56, arms 54 and cutting blades 50 form a blade assembly and is manufactured from a single sheet of metal, preferably steel.

The base 56 of the blade assembly is rigidly attached to the lower part of the support structure 6.

Each arm 54 can flex as indicated by the dashed line Y in Figure 4 allowing the blade attached to that arm 54 to move into the support structure. The amount of flex is dependent on the force applied to the and 54. The force is normally applied to the arm 54 via the cutting blade 50. When the blade 50 is pushed against the skin, it in turns exerts a force onto the arm 54 causing it to flex allowing the blade 50 to move into the support structure 6 as shown in Figure 4.

When no force is exerted onto any of the cutting blades 50, the cutting edges 52 of the blades 50 are aligned so that the longitudinal axis 58 of the cutting edges 52 are substantially co-axial as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

A lubrication strip 14 is located above the blades 50 which passes over the surface of the skin after the blades 50 have passed over that same surface.

use, the razor head 4 is gently pressed against the surface of the skin to be shaved.

The blades 50 are then pulled by the user across the surface of the skin in the direction B. The blades 50 cut any hairs projecting from the surface skin as the blades pass over the surface of skin. The lubrication strip 14 then passes over the surface where the blades have cut the hairs.

Due to the pressure exerted on the razor head 4 when it is pressed against the surface of the skin, the arms 54 flex allowing the blades 50 to move inwardly into the support structure 6 as indicated by dashed lines Y in Figure 4. However, when the contour of the surface of the skin over which the blades 50 are travelling varies, the arms 54 of each of the blades 50 can flex by differing amounts, allowing the position of each blade 50 in relation to the support structure 6 to alter, thus accommodating the variations in the contour of the surface of the skin.

Claims (21)

1 A cutting head for a razor composing: a support structure; at least one cutting blade mounted on the support structure, the at least one cutting blade having at least one cutting edge; characterized in that there is a plurality of cutting blades located in a row, side by side, each blade in the row being resiliently biased to a stationary position wherein, when no force is exerted onto any of the cutting blades, the cutting edges of the blades are substantially aligned so that the longitudinal axis of the cutting edges are substantially co-axial.

2 A cutting head as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when no force Is exerted onto any of the cutting blades, the cutting blades are at approximately the same orientation as each other relative to the support structure.

3 A cutting head as claimed In either of claims 1 or 2 wherein each blade Is mounted on one end of a resilient arm, the other end of the resilient arm being attached to the support structure, the resilient arm biasing the blade to its stationary position.

4 A cutting head as claimed in claim 3 wherein each blade and corresponding arm are integral with each other.

A cutting head as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4 wherein the blades are at an oblique angle to the arms.

6 A cutting head as claimed in claim 4 wherein the range of angles is between l degree and 45 degrees.

7 A cutting head as claimed in any of the previous claims wherem all of the cutting blades are identical is size and shape.

8 A cutting head as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 wherein all of the arms are identical is size and shape.

9 A cutting head as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 wherein the blades and arms are connected to a base to form a blade assembly.

A cutting head as claimed in claim 9 wherein the blade assembly is formed as one piece construction.

11 A cutting head as claimed in claim 10 wherein the blade assembly is formed from a single sheet of material.

12 A cutting head as claimed in claim l l wherein the blade assembly is formed from a single sheet of metal.

13 A blade assembly comprising: a base; a plurality of cutting blades, each cutting blade having at least one cutting edge (10); each cutting blade being attached to the base by a resilient arm which biases the cutting blade to a stationary position.

14 A blade assembly as claim in claim 13 wherein when no biasing force is applied to any of the arms, the plurality of cutting blades are located in a row, side by side, at approximately the same orientation as each other, the cutting edges of the blades being aligned so that the longitudinal axis of the cutting edges are substantially co-axial.

IS A blade assembly as claim in either of claims 13 or 14 wherein the blades project an oblique angle to the anus.

16 A blade assembly as claim in claim 15 wherein the range of angles is between 1 degree and 45 degrees.

17 A blade assembly as claim in any of claims 13 tol6 wherein all of the cutting blades are identical is size and shape.

18 A blade assembly as claim in any of claims 13 to 17 wherein all of the arms are identical is size and shape.

l9 A blade assembly as claim in any of claims 13 to 18 wherein the blade assembly is formed as one piece construction.

A blade assembly as claim in any of claims 13 to 19 wherein the blade assembly is formed from a single sheet of material.

21 A blade assembly as claim in any of claims 13 to 20 wherein the blade assembly is formed from a single sheet of metal.