Razor connectors

Abstract

A razor connector for including a main body configured to be attached to the razor handle, the main body having a substantially flat portion and peripheral ends bent towards the flat portion, and an upper portion configured to be attached to a razor cartridge, the upper portion being adjacent to the substantially flat portion of the main body, and the razor connector beeing a monolithic resilient element configured to connect the razor cartridge with the razor handle and to resiliently suspend the razor cartridge when attached to the razor handle.

Claims

1. A razor connector, the razor connector comprising: a main body configured to be attached to a razor handle, the main body including a substantially flat portion and peripheral ends bent towards the substantially flat portion, and an upper portion configured to be attached to a razor cartridge, the upper portion being adjacent to the substantially flat portion of the main body, wherein the razor connector is a monolithic resilient element configured to connect the razor cartridge with the razor handle and to resiliently suspend the razor cartridge when attached to the razor handle.

2. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral ends are U-shaped.

3. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein when the main body is attached to the razor handle, wherein the upper portion of the razor connector extends outwardly from the razor handle.

4. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion is formed as a clip.

5. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion is formed as a fork having a plurality of tines.

6. The razor connector according to claim 5, wherein at least one tine of the plurality of tines includes an opening configured to be coupled with a protrusion of the razor cartridge.

7. The razor connector according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of tines is formed such that at least one tine is offset with regards to the other tines defining a two-dimensional area.

8. The razor connector according to claim 7, wherein at least one tine of the plurality of tines includes an opening configured to be coupled to the razor cartridge.

9. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the razor connector includes: a proximal end configured to be attached to the razor handle, wherein at least a proximal portion of the main body defines the proximal end, and a distal end, configured to be attached to the razor cartridge, wherein the upper portion defines the distal end, and in a cross sectional view directed from the proximal end to the distal end of the razor connector, each of the peripheral ends forms a U-shaped end facing the other peripheral end.

10. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the razor connector is formed from a bent blank or cut metal leaf.

11. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein, when the main body is attached to the razor handle, the upper portion of the razor connector extends outwardly from the razor handle.

12. The razor connector according to claim 1, wherein the razor connector is formed from a single resilient leaf.

13. A razor comprising the razor connector according to claim 12, a razor cartridge comprising one or more blades, and a razor handle connected to the razor cartridge through the razor connector.

14. A razor comprising: a razor connector according to claim 1, a razor cartridge comprising one or more blades, and a razor handle connected to the razor cartridge through the razor connector.

15. The razor according to claim 14, wherein the razor handle is releasably connected to the razor cartridge.

16. The razor according to claim 14, wherein the razor connector is fixedly attached to the razor cartridge.

17. A razor connector, the razor connector comprising: a main body, wherein the main body includes a flat portion and peripheral ends bent towards the flat portion, wherein the flat portion and the peripheral ends define a volume configured to be attached to a razor handle, and an upper portion configured to be attached to a razor cartridge, the upper portion being adjacent to the substantially flat portion of the main body, wherein the razor connector is a resilient element configured to connect the razor cartridge with the razor handle and to resiliently suspend the razor cartridge when attached to the razor handle.

18. A razor connector, the razor connector comprising: a main body, wherein the main body includes a flat portion and peripheral ends bent towards the flat portion, wherein the flat portion and the peripheral ends define a volume configured to be attached to a razor handle, and an upper portion configured to be attached to a razor cartridge, the upper portion being adjacent to the substantially flat portion of the main body, wherein the razor connector is a unitary resilient element configured to connect the razor cartridge with the razor handle and to resiliently suspend the razor cartridge when attached to the razor handle, wherein the upper portion is formed as a fork having a plurality of tines, wherein the plurality of tines is formed such that at least one tine is offset with regards to the other tines defining a two-dimensional area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a front view of the razor connector attached to a razor cartridge according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a schematic representation of a first perspective view (from a lower back side) of the razor connector according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 2B shows a schematic representation of a second perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector of FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 2C shows a schematic representation of a third perspective view (from a lower front side) of the razor connector of FIG. 2A and 2B;

(6) FIG. 3A shows a schematic representation of a first perspective view (from a back side) of the razor connector attached to a razor cartridge according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 3B shows a schematic representation of a second perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector of FIG. 2A connected to a razor cartridge and to a razor handle according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

(8) FIG. 3C shows a schematic representation of a third perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector of FIG. 3A and RB connected only to a razor handle according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

(9) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a perspective view (from a back side) of a razor connector attached to a razor cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

(10) Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

(11) As used in this disclosure and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this disclosure and in the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

(12) The detailed description and the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative aspects and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The illustrative aspects depicted are intended only as exemplary. Other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents thereof are possible. Furthermore, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a front view of a razor connector 1 attached to a razor cartridge 2 according to examples of the present disclosure.

(14) The razor connector consists of a single resilient leaf which is formed, e.g. cut and bent. The razor connector thus comprises a resilient element made from the single resilient leaf. The resilient leaf is thus formed to a resilient element that it provides two functions at the same time: a removable attachment of the razor cartridge 2 to the handle (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. e.g. FIG. 3B), and a resilient suspension of the cartridge 2 in its attached state.

(15) FIG. 2A shows a schematic representation of a first perspective view (from a lower back side) of the razor connector 1 according to examples of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B shows a schematic representation of a second perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector 1 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C shows a schematic representation of a third perspective view (from a lower front side) of the razor connector 1 of FIG. 2A and 2B.

(16) The razor connector 1 extends from a proximal end 4 (in FIG. 2A-C on a lower side) to a distal end 5 (along axis Z in FIG. 1). The razor connector 1 comprises a main body 20 at its proximal end 4, the main body 20 being configured to be attached to the razor handle, and an upper portion 10 at its distal end 5 (in FIG. 2A-C on a upper side), the upper portion 10 being configured to be removably attached to the razor cartridge 2.

(17) As shown in particular in FIG. 2B or 2C, the formed leaf (razor connector 1) has a bent cross section in a plane x′, y′, or in other words, in a view directed from the proximal end 4 to the distal end 5 of the razor connector 1. In this way the resulting razor connector fills a volume x′, y′, z′, compared to the (originally flat) leaf from which the resilient element is formed thereby forming a bulky razor connector.

(18) At least the section of the razor connector (cf. e.g. the region where axis X″ is indicated in FIG. 2A) between the main body 20 and the upper portion 10 is configured to function as a resilient spring element in the razor connector 1. Accordingly, the razor connector 1 may be pivotable about at least a first axis X″ (cf. also FIG. 2A) which may be parallel to the extension of the razor cartridge and substantially parallel to the blades and may be in a section of the razor connector between the proximal and the distal end.

(19) Further in these examples, the main body 20 comprises a bent cross section defining a volume (cf. e.g. FIG. 2B) that in use, i.e. when the razor cartridge and the razor handle are put together by the razor connector, fits into an opening within the proximal end of the razor handle 3 (cf. e.g. FIG. 3C. Accordingly, due to the bent shape of the main body 20, the main body 20 is further comprised of a central portion 23 having a flat shape and of peripheral ends (i.e. in its lateral left and right portions in the example of FIG. 2A) bent towards each other forming facing U-shaped ends 21, 22. Hence, in a z′-direction (cf. FIG. 2B), i.e. in a cross sectional view directed from the proximal end to the distal end of the razor connector, the main body 20 comprises peripheral ends bent to form facing U-shaped ends 21, 22.

(20) In some examples, the upper portion 10 is formed as a clip configured to removably attach the razor connector 1 to the razor cartridge 2. In more examples, the clip may be also regarded as a fork having a plurality of tines 11-13 configured to be removably attached to the razor cartridge 2.

(21) In examples, in order to form a clip the plurality of tines 11-13 may be formed such at least one tine is offset with regard to the others (cf. in particular FIG. 2B). In this way the tines 11-13 are arranged in at least two different planes. E.g. as illustrated in the example of FIG. 2C, the central tine 12 may be in a first plane and the peripheral tines 11 and 13 in a second plane, e.g. closer to the main body 20.

(22) In some examples as further shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the central tine 12 includes an opening 14 configured to engage with a protrusion of the razor cartridge. Furthermore, the central tine 12 may be slightly longer that the razor cartridge such that when mated, the central tine 12 protrudes out of an insertion opening of the razor cartridge (cf. e.g. FIG. 3A). In this way the opening 14 engages with the respective protrusion of the razor cartridge 2 keeping the cartridge in its position and ready to use. Only when the central tine 12 is slightly bended in an appropriate manner in an operation state of the razor, the protrusion of the cartridge and the opening 14 of the razor connector 1 can be disengaged, such that the razor cartridge 2 can be removed from the razor connector and thus from the handle. Hence, the connector 1 allows a secure connection of the cartridge 2 to the handle 3.

(23) In one example the cartridge may be non-removably attached to the handle. In this case, the upper portion 10 comprising the tines 11-13 and the opening 14, is fixedly attached to the razor cartridge, for example by ultrasonic welding, laser welding, gluing or by any other suitable means.

(24) FIG. 3A shows a schematic representation of a first perspective view (from a back side) of the razor connector 1 attached to a razor cartridge 2 according to examples of the present disclosure. As shown in this figure, the razor cartridge 2 comprises one or several openings (or slots) which are configured to receive the tines 11-13 and similarly as explained in connection with FIGS. 2A-2C the razor connector and the razor cartridge may comprise an opening-protrusion assembly such that the razor connector 1 is securely connected to the cartridge 2.

(25) FIG. 3B shows a schematic representation of a second perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector 1 of FIG. 2A connected to a razor cartridge 1 and to a razor handle 3 according to examples of the present disclosure. FIG. 3C shows a schematic representation of a third perspective view (from a lateral side) of the razor connector 1 of FIG. 3A and 3B connected only to a razor handle 3 according to examples of the present disclosure.

(26) As shown, in particular in FIG. 3C, the main body 20 is configured to be housed within a distal end of the razor handle 3 (in view of axis Z in FIG. 1) such that the upper portion 10 of the razor connector 1 extends outwardly or protrudes from the distal end 6 of the razor handle 3.

(27) In examples, the main body 20 is formed such that it fills the space within an opening of the razor handle 3 to provide a reliable fitting or attachment of the razor connector 1 to the handle 3. In other words, the outer (3D) shape of the main body 20 may be adapted to the opening of the razor handle 3. Such a configuration of the main body allows pivoting of the razor cartridge 1 around an axis Z (cf. FIG. 1) which is substantially perpendicular to a razor handle central axis and/or, in examples, substantially perpendicular to first axis X. First axis X and second axis z may intersect each other. The U-shaped ends 21 and 22 substantially as herein disclosed may thus be deformed when the razor cartridge 1 is rotated about the second axis Z. For example, during pivoting, one of the two U-shaped ends (depending on the direction of rotation) may be deformed towards the direction of rotation while the other may be deformed in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereby softening movement of the razor cartridge.

(28) In some examples, the main body 20 may be configured to be non-removably attached to the razor handle 3, e.g. it may be glued to the handle 3.

(29) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a perspective view (from a back side) of a razor connector 1 attached to a razor cartridge 2.

(30) In this example, the upper portion 10 of the razor connector 1′ has substantially the same structure as described above. However, the main body 20 of the razor connector 1′ has the shape of the central portion 23 having the flat leaf or sheet shape, i.e. without the peripheral U-shaped ends. Accordingly, the manufacturing process may be slightly simplified (cf. to the embodiments described above). With this configuration of the razor connector, the razor cartridge is only capable of pivoting about the first axis X.

(31) Throughout the description, including the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms “substantially” and/or “approximately” and/or “generally” should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances.

(32) Although the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular examples, it is to be understood that these examples are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure.

(33) It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.