Razor handle

Abstract

A razor handle including a hollow, elongated gripping member having an open end, a second end and an intermediate opening, a cartridge connection member having a first end adapted to retain a razor cartridge and a second end forming an insert having a receiver, and a fastener adapted to pass through the intermediate opening of the gripping member and engage the receiver on the insert to securely retain the cartridge connection member on the gripping member. Also, a method of manufacturing a razor handle including inserting an insert of a cartridge connection member into an open end of a gripping member, passing a stem member of the fastener through an intermediate opening of the gripping portion, and securing the stem of the fastener to the cartridge connection member to retain the cartridge connection member on the gripping portion.

Claims

1. A razor handle comprising: an elongated gripping member having a first terminal end and a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end, said gripping member comprising a rigid support having a hollow portion, said gripping member further comprising an open end at the first terminal end, and an intermediate opening closer to the second terminal end than the first terminal end, and an elastomeric gripping surface overmolded onto an outer surface of the rigid support covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the rigid support, so that the gripping surface is integrally formed with the rigid support; a cartridge connection member comprising a first end adapted to retain a razor cartridge and a second end forming an insert for insertion in the hollow portion of the gripping member at the open end of the gripping member, said insert comprising a receiver that aligns with the intermediate opening of the gripping member when the cartridge connection member is properly seated on the gripping member; and a fastener comprising a first end with at least one stem member adapted to pass through the intermediate opening of the gripping member and through the receiver on the insert to secure the cartridge connection member on the gripping member, wherein the at least one stem member comprises a locking tab for attachment directly to the insert.

2. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the gripping member further comprises at least one of a keyway and a key and the cartridge connection member further comprises the other of a keyway and a key that cooperate to properly align the cartridge connection member with the gripping member.

3. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a surface to draw the cartridge connection member into the gripping member to secure the cartridge connection member to the gripping member.

4. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the gripping surface comprises one or more areas having textured elements.

5. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the rigid support comprises a plastic.

6. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric gripping surface comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

7. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the cartridge connection member comprises a rigid material.

8. The razor handle of claim 7 wherein the cartridge connection member comprises a material taken from the group consisting of a metal, a die cast metal, a plastic, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and combinations thereof.

9. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises an aperture in the insert of the cartridge connection member.

10. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material.

11. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the locking tab cooperates with the receiver on the cartridge connection member to lock the fastener to the cartridge connection member.

12. The razor handle of claim 1, wherein the at least one stem member of the fastener comprises two or more deflectable stems, a first one of the deflectable stems comprising the locking tab and a second one of the deflectable stems comprising an additional locking tab, the locking tabs cooperating with the receiver on the cartridge connection member to lock the fastener to the cartridge connection member.

13. The razor handle of claim 1 wherein the fastener further comprises a second end comprising a head for covering the intermediate opening when the fastener engages the insert of the cartridge connection member.

14. The razor handle of claim 13 wherein the head comprises an inner surface from which the at least one stem member extends and an outer surface that is visible on an exterior surface of the gripping member when the at least one stem member of the fastener engages the receiver of the cartridge connection member.

15. The razor handle of claim 14 wherein the head forms a watertight seal of the intermediate opening on the gripping member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be better understood when considered in view of the attached drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts. The drawings, however, are presented merely to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention without limiting the invention in any manner whatsoever.

(2) FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a preferred razor handle of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of a preferred razor handle of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1C is a bottom plan view of a preferred razor handle of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a preferred razor handle of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 3A is a first assembly schematic in partial cross section, showing the insert of the cartridge connection member being inserted into the gripping member.

(7) FIG. 3B is a second assembly schematic in partial cross section, showing the insert of the cartridge connection member fully inserted into the gripping member with the fastener prior to attachment.

(8) FIG. 3C is a third assembly schematic in partial cross section, showing the insert of the cartridge connection member fully inserted into the gripping member and the fastener attached to the cartridge connection member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) The preferred embodiment of the razor handle 2 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A-1C comprises a hollow elongated gripping member 4, a cartridge connection member 6 and a fastener 8 for fixing the cartridge connection member 6 to the gripping member 4.

(10) As more fully shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3A-3C, the preferred gripping member 4 comprises an open end 10, a closed second end 12 and an intermediate opening 14. The preferred gripping member 4 is formed of a rigid support 16 with a gripping surface 18 covering the exterior surface of the rigid support 16. As such, the rigid support 16 generally comprises the shape of the gripping member 4. The rigid support 16 also includes a keyway 20, preferably in the form of channel within an interior wall of the rigid support 16, to align the cartridge connection member 6 within the gripping member 4.

(11) The gripping surface 18 of the gripping member 4 preferably comprises an elastomeric material, and most preferably a TPE, applied directly on the rigid support 16 by an over-molding of the elastomeric material on the entire outer surface of the rigid support 16. The gripping surface 18 also preferably comprises areas with texture elements 22, including a pattern of raises and depressions to further improve the grip.

(12) The preferred cartridge connection member 6 is formed of a rigid material, and most preferably a die cast metal or a plastic, such as ABS plastic, with a cartridge connection portion 24 at a first end and an insert member 26 at a second end. The cartridge connection portion 24 shown comprises structure that forms a part of the cartridge connector for retaining a razor cartridge, however, it is understood that the cartridge connection portion 24 can be any structure that is adapted to couple a cartridge connector or cartridge connector subassembly to the cartridge connection portion 24 for retaining a razor cartridge to the cartridge connection member 6.

(13) The insert member 26 of the cartridge connection member 6 is adapted to fit securely within the gripping member 4, and preferably comprises a receiver or aperture 28 which cooperates with the fastener 8 to fix the fastener 8 to the insert member 26. The preferred insert member 26 shown also comprises a key 30, in the form of a rib on the insert member 26, which fits within the keyway 20 of the rigid support 16 of the preferred gripping member 4 to properly align the cartridge connection member 6 on the gripping member 4.

(14) The preferred fastener 8 shown in the attached drawings comprises a head 32 with an enlarged upper surface 34 and a plurality of stem portions 36 extending below the head 32. The fastener 8 can be formed of any suitable material, with a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a plastic and preferably an ABS plastic, being most preferred, to form at least a portion of the fastener 8.

(15) In the preferred embodiment, a pair of stem portions 36 have opposed outwardly extending locking tabs 38 at the terminal ends where the stem portions 36 deflect to provide a snap fit connection with the aperture 28 of the insert member 26. In the preferred embodiment, connection of the locking tabs 38 within the aperture 28 creates a permanent connection, generally resulting in destruction of the fastener 8 if forcibly removed. The preferred fastener 8 shown in the drawings also includes additional stem portions 36 that do not have locking tabs, which are included to help position and fit the fastener 8 in the aperture 28.

(16) Additionally, the preferred fastener 8 comprises a ramp 39, such as on the front face of the stem portion 36 (as shown in FIG. 3B), that acts against a corresponding portion of the perimeter of the intermediate opening 14, thereby forcing the opposed surface of the stem portion 36 against the perimeter of the aperture 28 to draw the cartridge connection member 6 into the gripping member 4 to ensure a tight fit.

(17) The head 32 of the fastener 8 preferably fits within the intermediate opening 14 when fixed to the insert member 26, so that the upper surface 34 sits flush with or slightly below the exterior surface of the gripping member 4.

(18) To help seat the head of the fastener 8 within the intermediate opening 14, the intermediate opening 14 may have a smaller exterior dimension than interior dimension. This may be a beveled or inwardly angled side wall, from the exterior of the gripping surface 18 to the interior of the rigid support 16, a shelf between the exterior of the gripping surface 18 and the interior of the rigid support 16, or any structure that permits the head 32 of the fastener 8 to fit securely within the intermediate opening 14. Similarly, the head 32 of the fastener 8 may have a corresponding angled side wall or shelf to securely fit the fastener 8 on or within the intermediate opening 14.

(19) Additionally, the intermediate opening 14 on the gripping member 4 is located closer to the second end 12 of the gripping member 4 than to the open end 10. In keeping, the aperture 28 is located at a position on the insert member 26 that extends farther within the gripping member 4, to align with the intermediate opening. This provides additional stability between the cartridge connection member 6 and the gripping member 4.

(20) The razor handle 2 is preferably manufactured in a series of steps, generally shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. As shown in FIG. 3A, the insert member 26 of the cartridge connection member 6 is inserted into the open end 10 of the gripping member 4, with the key 30 of the insert member 26 sliding within the keyway 20 of the rigid support to align the cartridge connection member on the gripping member.

(21) When the insert member 26 is fully inserted in the gripping member 4, as shown in FIG. 3B, the aperture 28 on the insert member 26 is lined up with the intermediate opening 14 on the gripping member 4, so that the stem portions 36 of the fastener 8 may be passed through the intermediate opening 14. The head 32 of the fastener 8 can then be pressed down to create a snap fit between the locking tabs 38 at the terminal ends of the stem portions 36 and the aperture 28 of the insert member 4, as shown in FIG. 3C.

(22) Variations, modifications and alterations to the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above will make themselves apparent to those skilled in the art. All such changes are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, limited solely by the appended claims.

(23) Any and all patents and/or patent applications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference.