SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE UNIT FOR SAFETY RAZOR

Abstract

Disclosed is a blade unit for a safety razor comprising a connecting structure for fixing the blade unit to a handle, a blade housing comprising a plurality of blades having cutting edges lying in a shaving plane, and a rear portion next to the plurality of blades, comprising a non-flexible back portion extending parallel to the shaving plane, and a lubricating pad having a flexible portion and a non-flexible portion, the non-flexible portion being arranged on and supported by the non-flexible back portion, the flexible portion extending rearwards from the non-flexible portion beyond the non-flexible back portion to define a rear edge of the rear portion of the blade unit, the flexible portion forming a convex skin-contacting surface when bending away from the shaving plane in use.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A blade unit for a safety razor, wherein the blade unit comprises: a connecting structure configured to fix the blade unit to a handle; a blade housing comprising a plurality of blades having respective cutting edges lying in a shaving plane and being arranged to exert a cutting action when moved across a user's skin in a shaving direction; and a rear portion arranged next to the plurality of blades in the shaving direction, comprising a non-flexible back portion extending parallel to the shaving plane, and a lubricating pad consisting of a flexible portion and a non-flexible portion, the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad being arranged on and supported by the non-flexible back portion, the flexible portion of the lubricating pad extending rearwards from the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad beyond the non-flexible back portion to define a rear edge of the rear portion of the blade unit, the flexible portion of the lubricating pad being configured to form a convex skin-contacting surface when bending away from the shaving plane in use.

17. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein a back surface of the lubricating pad, opposite to the skin-contacting surface, is planar.

18. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein a back surface of the lubricating pad, opposite to the skin-contacting surface, has an inward step.

19. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein the flexible portion of the lubricating pad is curved in an arc shape along the rear edge.

20. The blade unit of claim 17, wherein the flexible portion of the lubricating pad is curved in an arc shape along the rear edge.

21. The blade unit of claim 18, wherein the flexible portion of the lubricating pad is curved in an arc shape along the rear edge.

22. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein the non-flexible back portion comprises a straight member and an arched member that are connected to each other so as to define at least one hole or recess in which part of the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad is disposed.

23. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein the blade unit further comprises a forward portion arranged next to the plurality of blades in the shaving direction on an opposite side of the rear portion, comprising a non-flexible back portion parallel to the shaving plane, and an elongate lubricating strip arranged on and being supported by the non-flexible back portion and which extends up to a front edge of the forward portion of the blade unit.

24. The blade unit of claim 23, wherein a skin-contacting surface area of the lubricating pad is greater than a skin-contacting surface area of the elongate lubricating strip.

25. The blade unit of claim 23, wherein the rear portion of the blade unit and the forward portion of the blade unit are connected by side portions of the blade unit, to define a supporting stricture of the blade housing.

26. The blade unit of claim 23, wherein the lubricating pad and elongate lubricating strip extend along at least 60% of an outer perimeter of the blade unit when viewed from a direction perpendicular onto the shaving plane.

27. The blade unit of claim 23, wherein the lubricating pad and elongate lubricating strip extend along at least 80% of an outer perimeter of the blade unit when viewed from a direction perpendicular onto the shaving plane.

28. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein the lubricating pad extends along at least 30% of an outer perimeter of the blade unit when viewed from a direction perpendicular onto the shaving plane.

29. The blade unit of claim 16, wherein the lubricating pad extends along at least 40% of an outer perimeter of the blade unit when viewed from a direction perpendicular onto the shaving plane.

30. A safety razor, wherein the safety razor comprises the blade unit of claim 16 and a handle having a proximal portion to which the blade unit is fixed and a distal portion.

31. The safety razor of claim 30, wherein the proximal portion arcuately bends away from the shaving plane.

32. The safety razor of claim 30, wherein the proximal portion comprises a non-flexible annular rim surrounding a flexible elastic portion to which connecting structure is attached.

33. The safety razor of claim 31, wherein the proximal portion comprises a non-flexible annular rim surrounding a flexible elastic portion to which connecting structure is attached.

34. The safety razor of claim 30, wherein the connecting structure is at an off-centered position of the flexible elastic portion relative to the non-flexible annular rim.

35. A method of manufacturing a blade unit for a safety razor, wherein the method comprises: providing a connecting structure configured to fix the blade unit to a handle; providing a blade housing comprising a plurality of blades having respective cutting edges lying in a shaving plane and being arranged to exert a cutting action when moved across a user's skin in a shaving direction; and providing a rear portion arranged next to the plurality of blades in the shaving direction, comprising a non-flexible back portion extending parallel to the shaving plane, and a lubricating pad consisting of a flexible portion and a non-flexible portion, the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad being arranged on and supported by the non-flexible back portion, the flexible portion of the lubricating pad extending rearwards from the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad beyond the non-flexible back portion to define a rear edge of the rear portion of the blade unit, the flexible portion of the lubricating pad being configured to form a convex skin-contacting surface when bending away from the shaving plane in use.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety razor including a blade unit according to a first embodiment;

[0023] FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are further perspective views of the safety razor including the blade unit according to the first embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0027] FIGS. 6(a) and (b) are further bottom and top views of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a front view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a back view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a side view of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0031] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0032] FIGS. 11(a) and (b) are a cross-sectional view of the blade unit and a side view of the blade unit, respectively, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the blade unit according to a second embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the blade unit shown in FIG. 12;

[0035] FIG. 14 is a top view of the blade unit shown in FIG. 12;

[0036] FIG. 15 is a front view of the blade unit shown in FIG. 12;

[0037] FIG. 16 is a back view of the blade unit shown in FIG. 12;

[0038] FIG. 17 is a side view of the blade unit shown in FIG. 12;

[0039] FIGS. 18(a) and (b) are a cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the blade unit and a top view of the blade unit, respectively, shown in FIG. 12; and

[0040] FIG. 19(a) and (b) are a top view of dissembled parts of the blade unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a bottom view of the lubricating pad shown in FIG. 12, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that illustrate exemplary embodiments consistent with this invention. Other embodiments are possible, and modifications can be made to the embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the detailed description is not meant to limit the invention.

[0042] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 to 19, which are views of a blade unit and safety razor including the blade unit, according to embodiments. The safety razor 8 has a blade unit 10 and a handle 16 (only a part of which is shown in FIG. 1). The blade unit 10 includes a connecting structure 14 that fixes the blade unit 10 to the handle 16, a blade housing 12 and a supporting structure 13 of the blade housing 12. The blade housing 12 holds a plurality of blades 18 (five blades in this particular case) having respective cutting edges 20 that lie in a shaving plane P. Thus, as used herein, the term “shaving plane” generally refers to the plane in which cutting edges lie. The direction perpendicular to the shaving plane can be referred to as the thickness direction.

[0043] The supporting structure 13 comprises a rear portion 24 located behind the blades in a shaving direction d (when assembled) and a forward portion 30 located in front of the blade in the shaving direction d (when assembled). As used herein, the term “shaving direction” signifies the direction in the shaving plane in which the blade unit is intended to be moved. Also, the direction in which the rear portion 24 protrudes can also be referred to as the protruding direction which is parallel to the shaving direction. The rear portion 24 and the forward portion 30 are connected by side portions 38. The supporting structure 13 controls the contact of the cutting edges 20 of the blades 18 with the skin during shaving.

[0044] The rear portion 24 of the supporting structure 13 comprises a non-flexible back portion 26 to which is mounted a lubricating pad 22, two examples of which are shown in FIGS. 19a and 19b. (For clarity, the lubricating pad 22 is shown separated from the non-flexible back portion 26). In both examples, the lubricating pad 22 comprises a flexible portion 23 and a non-flexible portion 25 that form a continuous shaving aid. However, the thicknesses of the flexible portion 23 are different.

[0045] More specifically, in a first example (FIGS. 1 to 11 and 19a), a back surface 27 of the lubricating pad 22, opposite to the skin-contacting surface, is planar. In a second example (FIGS. 12 to 18 and 19b), a back surface 27 of the lubricating pad 22, opposite to the skin-contacting surface, has an inward step 29. This means that the flexible portion 23 of the lubricating pad 22 can have different thicknesses and thus different degrees of flexibility. In other words, the flexible portion 23 of the lubricating pad 22 can be thicker and therefore relatively more resistant to being bent backwards in a direction perpendicular to and away from the shaving plane, or thinner and therefore relatively less resistant to being bent backwards in a direction perpendicular to and away from the shaving plane. For example, the flexible portion 23 of the second example can be half as thick as the flexible portion 23 of the first example.

[0046] The non-flexible back portion 26 of the supporting structure 13 comprises a straight member 40 and an arched member 44 that are connected to each other, so as to define one or more holes 42 in which part of the non-flexible portion 25 of the lubricating pad 22 is disposed when mounted thereon. (When the supporting structure 13 is attached to the blade housing 12, the holes 42 are closed at one end by the blade housing 12 to form recesses.) The flexible portion 23 of the lubricating pad 22 is curved in an arc shape that extends along substantially the entire rear edge 28 between the side portions 38.

[0047] The forward portion 30 of the supporting structure 13 comprises a non-flexible back portion 32 on which is mounted an elongate lubricating strip 34. The non-flexible back portion 32 and elongate lubricating pad 34 meet flush at a front edge 36 of the front portion 30 of the blade unit 10. The terms “lubricating strip” and “lubricating pad” are used to signify that the length-to-width ratio in the shaving plane, i.e., the ratio of the size in a direction parallel to the blades (length direction) to the size in a direction parallel to the shaving direction d (width direction), of the elongate lubricating strip 34 and the lubricating pad 22 are different. In this particular case, the elongate lubricating strip 34 and lubricating pad 22 both extend at least along the length of the exposed cutting edges 20 of the blades 18 and have similar length, though the lubricating pad 22 is substantially wider than the elongate lubricating strip 34. In this particular case, the elongate lubricating strip 34 has a length to width ratio of about 10:1, while the lubricating pad 22 has a length-to-width ratio of about 4:1 at its widest point.

[0048] The composition of the lubricating strip/lubricating pad can include a gliding agent. Materials which may be selected as the gliding agent are: PEG-400/1,4-Butanediol/SMDI Copolymer, PEG-115M, PEG 45M, and PEG-5M, or a combination thereof. The composition of the lubricating strip/lubricating pad can include an antioxidant agent, for example Tocopherol. The composition of the lubricating strip/lubricating pad can include an anti-inflammatory agent, for example aloe barbadensis leaf juice. The composition of the lubricating strip/lubricating pad can include a backbone structure. Materials which may be selected as the backbone structure are: styrenic block copolymers and polystyrene, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the composition of the lubricating strip and the composition of the lubricating pad are the same, but this need not be the case.

[0049] The handle 16 has a proximal portion 46 closer to the blade unit 10 and a distal portion 48 (not shown in FIG. 1) farther from the blade unit 10. The connecting structure 14 of the blade unit 10 connects (either fixedly or detachably) to the proximal portion 46 of the handle 16. Thus, the blade unit 10 may be configured for use with a separate handle or may be permanently attached to the handle 16. The proximal portion 46 of the handle 16 also includes a pivot mechanism that allows the blade unit 10 to pivot back-and-forth in a plane perpendicular to the shaving plane P. The pivot mechanism can, of course, allow other pivoting motions such as side-to-side. The proximal portion 46 arcuately bends away from the shaving plane P, to permit the rear portion 24 of the blade unit 10 to pivot backwards, i.e., to bend away from the shaving plane, over a large angular range.

[0050] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein.

[0051] For example, although embodiments are described in which separate lubricating elements, i.e., a lubricating strip and a lubricating pad, are provided, such lubricating elements can be a unitary lubricating element which, for example, covers an area of the supporting structure around the blade housing. Furthermore, the lubricating strip need not be provided at all.

[0052] Although embodiments are described in which five parallel blades lying in a shaving plane are provided, the blade housing may comprise more than five blades or fewer than five blades, i.e., the blade housing may comprise at least one blade. When mode than one blade is provided, these do not have to lie in a shaving plane, for example the blades could be in a staggered arrangement.

[0053] Although embodiments are described in which the shaving aid comprises polymeric material having a lubricating property, the shaving aid may have, either alternatively or in addition, other, e.g., moisturizing, properties considered beneficial during shaving. Furthermore, the shaving aid can take a form other than a pad or a strip. Moreover, the skin-contacting surface of the shaving aid does not have to be smooth but can have, either alternatively or in addition, a finned, holed or other structure.

[0054] Although embodiments are described in which the straight and arched member of the rear portion define a plurality of holes (which form recesses when mounted in the blade housing), fewer or no holes (recesses) can be provided.

[0055] Although embodiments are described in which the lubricating strip and lubricating pad have particular dimensions, it will be apparent that shaving aids having other dimensions can be employed.

[0056] Although embodiments are described in which the rear portion has a non-flexible back portion (which is preferably made from plastic), the non-flexible portion of the lubricating pad can be configured to function as the non-flexible back portion so that the non-flexible back portion can be omitted from the rear portion.

[0057] Although embodiments are described in which the back surface of the lubricating pad has an inward step, the back surface of the lubricating pad can be configured so that it continuously thins towards the rear edge. Alternatively or additionally, the skin-contacting surface of the lubricating pad may become (continuously or stepwise) thinner towards the rear edge. Also, instead of an inward step the back surface of the lubricating pad may have a groove.

[0058] It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

[0059] For example, expressions such as “perpendicular”, “parallel”, “conform to” and the like are defined to mean “substantially perpendicular”, “substantially parallel” and “substantially conform to”. Likewise, the dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited.

[0060] Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “30%” is intended to mean “about 30%”.

[0061] The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0062] The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0063] d shaving direction

[0064] P shaving plane

[0065] 8 safety razor

[0066] 10 blade unit

[0067] 12 blade housing

[0068] 13 supporting structure

[0069] 14 connecting structure

[0070] 16 handle

[0071] 18 blades

[0072] 20 cutting edges

[0073] 22 lubricating pad

[0074] 23 flexible portion

[0075] 24 rear portion

[0076] 25 non-flexible portion

[0077] 26 non-flexible back portion

[0078] 27 back surface

[0079] 28 rear edge

[0080] 29 inward step

[0081] 30 forward portion

[0082] 32 non-flexible back portion

[0083] 34 elongate lubricating strip

[0084] 36 front edge

[0085] 38 side portions

[0086] 40 straight member

[0087] 42 hole

[0088] 44 arched member

[0089] 46 proximal portion

[0090] 48 distal portion