Razor

Abstract

A razor apparatus including a head having at least one blade member on each of a first and a second opposed side of the head. Each blade member has a straight front cutting edge. The head includes a frame defining an opening through which the cutting edges are accessible. The frame also includes a rotatable mounting element for attachment of the head to a handle. The head is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the handle at least 180° when the rotatable mounting element is activated.

Claims

1. A razor apparatus including a head having at least one blade member on each of a first and a second opposed side of the head, each blade member having a straight front cutting edge and a rear non-cutting edge, the head including a frame defining an opening through which the cutting edges are accessible, the frame having a rotatable mounting element for attachment of the head to a handle, wherein said rotatable mounting element includes a slide button and said slide button comprises wing elements received within channels in said handle, wherein said rotation is around a longitudinal axis of said handle and wherein said head is rotatable at least 180° when the rotatable mounting element is activated.

2. The razor of claim 1 wherein the rotatable mounting element comprises a worm gear.

3. The razor of claim 1 wherein the slide button including a first position in which the first side of the head is in a shaving position and a second position in which a second side of the head is in a shaving position wherein rotation of the head is implemented by movement of the slide button between the first and second position, and a third position wherein said slide button disengages said head from the razor handle.

4. The razor of claim 3 wherein said handle is configured to receive a replacement head.

5. The razor of claim 3 wherein said slide button includes a projection configured to engage a tab on said head during disengagement of the head from the razor handle.

6. The razor of claim 1 wherein said handle includes an ergonomic gripping surface.

7. The razor of claim 6 wherein said ergonomic gripping surface includes an arcuate section such that the head is positioned off of a longitudinal axis of the handle at the gripping surface and is closer to an intended shaving surface.

8. The razor of claim 7 further comprising a slide button including a first position in which the first side of the head is in a shaving position and a second position in which a second side of the head is in a shaving position wherein rotation of the head is implemented by movement of the slide button between the first and second position, and a third position wherein said slide button disengages said head from the razor handle, wherein said slide button is closer to said longitudinal axis than said head.

9. The razor of claim 1 further including a hinge disposed between the first and second opposed sides of the head.

10. The razor of claim 9 wherein said hinge is comprised of a flexible plastic or rubber.

11. The razor of claim 9 wherein said hinge fills at least 75% of a space between opposed blade members.

12. The razor of claim 1 wherein said rotatable mounting element comprises a cylindrical body including a keyway.

13. The razor of claim 12 wherein said rotatable mounting element further comprises a chamber receiving said cylindrical body, said chamber including a key engaging said keyway.

14. The razor of claim 1 including multiple blades on each side of the head.

15. The razor of claim 1 wherein said handle further comprises a chamber receiving said rotatable mounting element.

16. The razor of claim 15 further comprising a cover closing said chamber.

17. The razor of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing said rotatable mounting element against rotation.

18. A method for reversing an orientation of a razor blade cartridge on a razor handle comprising providing a razor apparatus including a head having at least one blade member on each of a first and a second opposed side of the head, the head having a rotatable mounting element for attachment to the handle, wherein said rotatable mounting element includes a slide button and said slide button comprises wing elements received within channels in said handle, and engaging a rotation causing device disposed on said handle causing 180° of rotation of said head around a longitudinal axis of said handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are illustrations of a prior art razor.

(3) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a razor of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a back side plan view of the razor.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front side plan view of the razor.

(6) FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the razor with its head rotating between a first shaving position and a second shaving position.

(7) FIG. 7 is a close-up partial cross-section illustration of a head rotation feature of the razor.

(8) FIG. 8 is an illustration of a blade cartridge ejection feature.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the razor.

(10) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the razor components.

(11) FIGS. 11-11C provide front, cross-section and exploded views of the razor handle.

(12) FIGS. 12-12B provide front, cross-section and perspective views of the rotating head of the razor.

(13) FIGS. 13-13B provide front, cross-section and perspective views of the handle-blade cartridge connection joint of the razor.

(14) FIG. 14 provides a detailed view of the slide button and worm gear elements of the rotation mechanism.

(15) FIGS. 15-15C provide front, cross-section and detailed views of the handle and cartridge mating region.

(16) FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the sequence of cartridge rotation and further including cartridge removal.

(17) FIG. 17 illustrates a hinge between opposed blade sides of the blade cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(18) Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

(19) A more complete understanding of the components, processes and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

(20) Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

(21) The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(22) As used herein, the terms about, generally and substantially are intended to encompass structural or numerical modifications which do not significantly affect the purpose of the element or number modified by such term.

(23) As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

(24) The razor of the present disclosure can include a handle holding a blade cartridge that will rotate 180° when the first blade side is dull and used. The slide button can include a locked first position and a locked second position wherein the bridge rotates when the button is slid toward the head end of the razor. The locked first position locates a first side of the blade cartridge facing the shaving side of the razor and the locked second position locates the second side of the blade cartridge on the shaving side of the razor. The slide button can further include a cartridge ejection position. The present disclosure provides rotation of a blade cartridge without human physical contact with the blade cartridge. Further, the present disclosure effects rotation at a robust joint of the handle.

(25) Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, razor 200 includes handle 202 and blade cartridge 204. The handle 202 can be formed of a material such as a polycarbonate or a metal such as aluminum alloy. The handle 202 can also include grip pads 203 and 205 formed of an elastomeric material. Blade cartridge 204 includes a frame 206 in which first side blades 208 are located. Frame 206 further houses second side blades 209. Slidable actuator button 210 is provided on the handle 202 to provide rotation of the blade cartridge 204 as described herein below. A primary gripping surface 212 is formed by pad 205 on the back side which provides an ergonomic configuration wherein a blade side of cartridge 204 is oriented for functional engagement with a user's body. Pads 203 can be provided on the front side of handle 202 to provide a desirable tactile engagement with a user's fingers.

(26) With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the blade cartridge 204 rotation and ejection mechanisms are depicted. Moreover, the slidable actuator button 210 causes the blade cartridge 204 to be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the handle 202 from a first side position to a reversed position. More particularly, after the first side 208 has been sufficiently used to become dull, the blade cartridge 204 is rotated such that the second side blades 209 are rotated into a shaving position as encouraged by the ergonomic shape of the handle 202.

(27) Referring now to FIG. 9, the longitudinal axis “L” of the razor is depicted. As illustrated, the razor handle 202 can have a front side curve 252 which places blade cartridge 204 forward relative to the longitudinal axis when gripped by a user in the ergonomic operating position. This provides a razor shape which encourages shaving with side 257 of the razor

(28) Referring now also to FIG. 14, the actuator button 210 is illustrated in greater detail. Particularly, slidable actuator button 210 is shown to include a worm gear 230 configured to mount rotatably upon a post 232 formed integrally on the slidable actuator button 210. Groove 234 formed in the surface of worm gear 230 engages a projection 237 (see FIG. 15B) on the wall of the chamber 238 housing the worm gear 230, causing rotation thereof when slidable actuator button 210 is pushed forward.

(29) Worm gear 230 also includes a key 233 which mates with a keyway 239 in projection 236 on rotation member 242. Slidable actuator button 210 can be pushed forward such that rotation member 242 rotates 180 degrees, orienting an opposed side of the blade cartridge 204 into a shaving position.

(30) Spring 240 can be included to provide a bias between rotation member 242 and the slidable actuator button 210 such that rotation of the blade cartridge 204 is only initiated when intentional movement of the slidable actuator button 210 is performed by the user.

(31) More particularly, the blade cartridge is mounted to the handle in a rotatable manner via a post element within the handle. The post is received within a socket formed in the head. A slidable locking member is further secured to the handle. The locking member allows selective rotation and disengagement of the head. In an engaged state, the head is rotatable on the post to allow the working surface of the head to be changed. In a disengaged state, the head is removable from the handle and a replacement head can be substituted therefore.

(32) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 16, a third position (further forward) for slidable actuator button 210 allows projection 222 to engage tab 220 such that blade cartridge 204 becomes disengaged from the handle 202. Slidable actuator button 210 can then be retracted to a starting position and a replacement blade cartridge 409 attached to the original handle.

(33) As schematically illustrated in FIG. 16, the present razor includes a first cartridge side shaving position 401, a rotation stage 403 leading to a second cartridge side shaving position 405, and a blade cartridge ejection stage 406 allowing a replacement cartridge 409 to be attached to the razor handle.

(34) FIG. 10 provides an exploded view of the various components in a disassembled condition. These components include blade cartridge 204, connecting folding joint 260, rotation head 242, spring 240, worm gear 230, side button 210, and handle 202. Handle 202 includes head 272 with cover 270, top grip pad 205 and bottom grip pad 203.

(35) FIGS. 11-11C and 15-15C provide detailed illustrations of the various components of the cartridge handle 202 engagement region 250. Region 250 receives the internal components of slide button 210 including post 232, and worm gear 230.

(36) Head 272 in combination with cover 270 forms cavity 238 suitable for receiving slide button 210 and includes channels 288 that define a slide path for wings 292 of slide button 210.

(37) FIGS. 12-12B illustrate the rotatable head 242. Rotatable head 242 includes projection 236 receiving the worm gear 230 and recess 265 receiving connecting folding joint 260.

(38) FIGS. 13-13B illustrate the connecting folding joint 260 which is disposed between the blade cartridge 204 and the rotatable head 242. Connecting folding joint 260 includes chamber 293 and slot 294 configured to releasably receive rotatable head element 242. Connecting folding joint 260 further includes bar mount 297 configured to receive barrel elements 298 of blade cartridge 204 and establish a slight flexing action with respect to the blade cartridge in use.

(39) With reference now to FIG. 17, a further aspect of the present razor is depicted. Particularly, the razor includes a hinge 303 disposed between the opposed first side of blades and the opposed second side of blades. The hinge can be a flexible sheet of plastic or rubber, such a PVC, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, natural rubber, EPDM, silicone rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, the hinge limits the range of motion of the blades. The range of motion, the flex and the preload tension can be determined by thickness and the type of material used in constructing the hinge. The hinge can allow the razor to provide a range of motion bi-laterally.

(40) The hinge can advantageously also prevent shaving elements (water, shaving cream, removed hair) from reaching the opposed unused side of blades. In this regard, it may be advantageous for the hinge to cover all or at least a significant area (e.g. >75%) of the interface between the opposed blade sides.

(41) The blades may be formed from a base material such as stainless steel. Particularly, in the base material such as a stainless steel, in order to increase hardness of the razor blade, a heat treatment process is performed, and then in order to form a razor blade edge, a grinding process is performed. Thereafter, a process of depositing various coating materials on an edge of a final razor blade is performed.

(42) In accordance with another aspect of the invention a polycrystalline ceramic substrate blade is provided. The ceramic material can be polycrystalline alumina. In particular embodiments, the razor blade polycrystalline ceramic substrate material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, mullite, hafnia, yttria, zirconia, and alumina, and has a grain size of less than five thousand Angstroms and a bend strength in excess of 300 MPa; the sputter-etched surfaces immediately adjacent the cutting edge have widths of about 0.1 micrometer and an effective included angle substantially greater than the included angle of the mechanically abraded facets, and the blade further includes a sputter-deposited layer of electrically conductive metal of less than five hundred Angstroms thickness on the cutting edge, and an adherent polymer coating of less than ten micrometers thickness on the metal coated cutting edge. Ceramic blades typically exhibit excellent mechanical characteristics such as high hardness, anti-corrosion capability, and wear resistance.

(43) Ceramic blades can be formed as green ceramic bodies by molding or injection and subsequently sintered. Since the ceramic bodies are quite thick, further machining treatments such as cutting and polishing are required to thin the ceramic bodies and create edges. However, machining treatments may cause surface roughness and defects such as induced residual stress.

(44) U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,786, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a ceramic blade formed by injection. Injection alone, however, cannot directly form a thin blade, thereby applications of the injected ceramic blade are restricted.

(45) U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,121,660, 5,048,191, and 5,056,227 the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference, disclose ceramic blades mechanically treated by, for example, grinding and polishing, to reach a desired thickness. Mechanical treatments may, however, cause surface roughness and induced residual stress. Thus, an additional protective layer is required to increase strength and toughness.

(46) A coating layer can be applied on both sides and the edge, wherein the ceramic body is formed using a scraper to create a substantially flat surface and prevent residual stress damage. The coating material may be used in a thin film of a metal-based or ceramic-based carbide, nitride, and oxide, which are a general hard thin film material. Further, after the hard thin film material is coated at the razor blade, when a user shaves, the hard thin film material decreases a friction with a skin, and in order to improve a shaving performance, an organic material of PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (hereinafter, referred to as ‘PTFE’) may be deposited. Therefore, in order to increase adhesive strength between the razor blade and the hard thin film and an organic material such as the PTFE, a metal thin film of Chromium (Cr), Titanium (Ti), Tungsten (W), and Niobium (Nb) may be deposited between the PTFE and the hard thin film.

(47) Diamond materials may also be used for the blades. This could include either polycrystalline diamond materials or monocrystalline diamond is possible. Monocrystalline diamond is extremely difficult to produce and to machine, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, it is very expensive so that it is likely to be unsuitable for use in mass-produced products, such as for example razor blades. Polycrystalline diamond layers, as are used in the state of the art, are distinguished by a clearly heterogeneous distribution of the size of the crystalline domains.

(48) The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

(49) To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.