SHAVING HEAD WITH INCREASED INTER BLADE SPAN

Abstract

A razor cartridge comprises a first blade support and a second blade support. Each of the first and second blade supports include a flat portion having an inner surface which faces away from a shaving surface S. A first blade is attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the first blade support, the first blade includes a first cutting edge. A second blade attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the second blade support, the second blade includes a second cutting edge. A distance between the first and second cutting edges is within a range of 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm.

Claims

1. A razor cartridge comprising: a first blade support and a second blade support, each of the first and second blade supports include a flat portion having an inner surface which in use faces away from a shaving surface; a first blade attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the first blade support, wherein the first blade includes a first cutting edge; and a second blade attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the second blade support, wherein the second blade includes a second cutting edge; wherein a distance between the first and second cutting edges is within a range of 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm, wherein within the distance between the first and the second cutting edges, the cutting edges and the blade supports are the only portions of the razor cartridge extending toward the shaving surface during use.

2. The razor cartridge of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second cutting edges is within a range of 1.70 mm to 2 mm.

3. The razor cartridge of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second cutting edges is within a range of 1.75 mm to 1.95 mm.

4. The razor cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second blade support includes a front end configured to contact skin.

5. The razor cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one front end is rounded.

6. The razor cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second blade support includes a base portion extending at an angle β from the flat portion, the angle β formed between the flat portion and the base portion of the respective first and second blade supports being within a range of 104° to 120°.

7. The razor cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a third blade support, the third blade support including a flat portion having an inner surface which in use faces away from the shaving surface; and a third blade attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the third blade support, wherein the third blade includes a third cutting edge; wherein a distance between the second to the third cutting edges is within a range of 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm, wherein within the distance between the second and the third cutting edges, the cutting edges and the blade supports are the only portions of the razor cartridge extending toward the shaving surface during use.

8. The razor cartridge of claim 7, wherein the distance between the second to the third cutting edges is within a range of 1.70 mm to 2 mm.

9. The razor cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the distance between the second to the third cutting edges is within a range of 1.75 mm to 1.95 mm.

10. The razor cartridge of claim 7, further comprising a fourth blade support, the fourth blade support including a flat portion having an inner surface which in use faces away from the shaving surface; and a fourth blade attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the fourth blade support, wherein the fourth blade includes a fourth cutting edge; wherein a distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges is within a range of 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm, wherein within the distance between the third and the fourth cutting edges, the cutting edges and the blade supports are the only portions of the razor cartridge extending toward the shaving surface during use.

11. The razor cartridge of claim 10, wherein the distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges is within a range of 1.70 mm to 2 mm.

12. The razor cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges is within a range of 1.75 to 1.95 mm.

13. The razor cartridge of claim 10, wherein the third and/or fourth blade supports include a front end that is configured to contact skin.

14. The razor cartridge of claim 13, wherein at least one front end is rounded.

15. A shaver comprising a handle and a razor cartridge according to claim 1, the razor cartridge being connectable to the handle, wherein the razor cartridge comprises four blade assemblies, wherein the distance between consecutive cutting edges is 1.85 mm±0.1 mm, wherein within the distance between consecutive cutting edges, the cutting edges and the blade supports are the only portions of the razor cartridge extending toward the shaving surface during use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 details a side view of a plurality of blade assemblies of a conventional razor having the blades mounted on the upper surface of the blade support.

[0025] FIG. 2 details a side view of a plurality of blade assemblies having the blades mounted on the lower surface of the blade support.

[0026] FIG. 3A details a perspective view of a shaver including a handle and a razor cartridge including the plurality of blade assemblies of FIG. 2.

[0027] FIG. 3B details a cross-section of the razor cartridge of FIG. 3A along plane A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of conventional blade assemblies, each blade assembly 10 includes a blade support 12 and a blade 14. Each of the plurality of conventional blade assemblies are configured to be assembled into a razor cartridge (not shown).

[0029] The blade support 12 may include a base portion 12a and a flat portion 12b. The flat portion 12b may have a front end 12c. The flat portion 12b may extend at an angle α relative to the base portion 12a. The flat portion 12b may have an upper surface 12b′ facing a shaving surface S when in use and a lower surface 12b″ opposite the upper surface 12b′.

[0030] The blade 14 may include an upper surface 14a also facing the shaving surface S, a lower surface 14b opposite the upper surface 14a, and a cutting edge 14c. The lower surface 14b of the blade 14 may be attached to the upper surface 12b′ of the blade support 12.

[0031] As can be seen in the example shown in FIG. 1, the only point of contact with the shaving surface S, which is skin in this example, is the cutting edges 14c. This configuration can thus place excess blade pressure on the skin, which can lead to nicks and cuts. As such, in conventional shavers, a distance A between adjoining blade assemblies (IBS) is known to be smaller than 1.25 mm so that the blade pressure on the skin is spread out over a larger surface area.

[0032] Shown in FIG. 2 is a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly 100 includes a blade support 120 and blade 140. In the example shown in FIG. 2 four blade assemblies 100 are shown. In examples, other number of blade assemblies may be foreseen as long as there are two consecutive ones to establish the herein disclosed distance between two consecutive blade cutting edges (IBS).

[0033] The blade support 120 may include a base portion 120a and a flat portion 120b. The flat portion 120b may extend at an angle β relative to the base portion 120a. The angle between the flat portion 120b and the base portion 120a may be, for example, between 104° to 120°. The flat portion 120b may have an upper surface 120b′ facing the shaving surface S when in use and a lower surface 120b″ opposite the upper surface 120b′. The lower surface 120″ may thus face away from the shaving surface S when in use.

[0034] The blade 140 may include an upper surface 140a, a lower surface 140b opposite the upper surface 140a, and a cutting edge 140c. The upper surface 140a of the blade 140 may be attached to the lower surface 120b″ of the blade support 120. The blade may have a thickness between 0.04-0.12 mm.

[0035] The flat portion 120b of the blade support 120 may have a front end 120c. As can be seen in the example shown in FIG. 2, the front end 120c and the blade cutting edge 140c both act as contact points with the shaving surface S, e.g. the skin. This configuration spreads the blade pressure over a larger surface area of the skin, which reduces the blade pressure on the skin thereby reducing irritation. Put in other words, this contributes to further smoothening skin contacting during shaving. Also the fact that there are additional skin (shaving surface) contacting points helps following the contour of the skin/shaving surface thereby reducing the well-known bulging effect, i.e. the possibility of the skin to be bulged in between consecutive blade cutting edges during shaving. This reduces nicks and cuts.

[0036] Furthermore, this configuration allows for an increase in the IBS, i.e. the distance A between consecutive cutting edges of adjoining blade assemblies 100. With the above described configuration, the distance A (IBS) may be between 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm, more specifically from 1.70 mm to 2 mm and most specifically from 1.75 to 1.95. In an example, the IBS may be 1.85 mm±0.1 mm. This means that pressure on skin is reduced at the same time as the cartridge is less prone to clogging therefore rinsing necessity is reduced.

[0037] The front end 120c may be flat or rounded. An aspect of having a rounded front end 120c is that it further increases the sliding of the blade assembly on the skin (shaving surface). This further contributes to improve glideness.

[0038] Also shown in FIG. 2 is a distance B, which is the distance between the cutting edge 140c and the front end 120c of the adjoining blade support 120. With the configuration of the present disclosure, distance B may be between the range of 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm.

[0039] Shown in FIG. 3A is a shaver 1 including a handle 6 and a razor cartridge 2 including the plurality of blade assemblies 100 substantially as disclosed herein mounted in a head unit 5. Due to the IBS of conventional razors, it is common for the head unit to include five blade assemblies therein. However, with the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a razor cartridge 2 that includes four blade assemblies 100 enclosed within the same head unit 5 that traditionally included five blades. This can reduce the cost of razor cartridges 2 while performance is at least maintained or even improved. Furthermore, this blade assembly 100 may be incorporated into existing standard head units 5, thus a manufacturer does not need to make major changes to their existing manufacturing process, therefore reducing the costs associated with a change over.

[0040] Shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is an exemplary razor cartridge 2 including a shaving head unit 5 having four movable shaving blade assemblies 100. In examples, it is envisioned that any suitable number of blades may be used, for example two or more blades. In examples, the shaving blade assemblies 100 may be fixed blades. Including blade assemblies, e.g. four shaving blade assemblies 100, expedites the shaving experience as well as extends the life of the razor head.

[0041] The razor cartridge 1 may have a guard bar 3 and a rear cap 4. In examples, the razor cartridge 1 may not include the guard bar 3 and/or rear cap 4.

[0042] In the shaving direction, the guard bar 3 is shown in front of the blade assemblies 100 and the rear cap 4 is provided behind the blade assemblies 100.

[0043] As aforementioned, the razor cartridge 2 includes four resilient elements 7 (for example spring fingers) elastically biasing each blade assembly 100 towards a rest position. In examples where the razor cartridge 2 includes a different number of blade assemblies 100, a corresponding number of resilient elements 7 may be foreseen. Accordingly, the blade assemblies 100 may be movable under forces encountered during shaving. The resilient elements 7 may be molded as a single piece with the head unit 5.

[0044] In some examples, the razor cartridge 2 may include fixed blade assemblies 100 that may not have resilient elements 7.

[0045] It has been found that a razor cartridge 2 including four movable blade assemblies, as shown in the example of FIG. 3B, wherein the IBS between each consecutive cutting edge is 1.85 mm±0.1 mm and the blade is mounted in the lower surface of the blade support, the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving by the cutting edges 140c is about 10 times lower than a pressure exerted by conventional razor cartridges five movable blades with the cutting edge mounted on the upper surface of the blade support and the IBS being of about 1.0-1.4 mm.

[0046] Further, it has been found that a razor cartridge 2 including four movable blade assemblies, as shown in the example of FIG. 3B, wherein the IBS between each consecutive cutting edge is 1.85 mm±0.1 mm and wherein the blade is mounted in the lower surface of the blade support, the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving by the cutting edges 140c is of about 10 times lower than a pressure exerted by razor cartridges with four movable blades with the cutting edge mounted on the upper surface of the blade support and the IBS being of about 1.85±0.1 mm. Such a reduction in the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving is also accompanied by the increased flow of debris and water and shaving foam due to the increased IBS.