Personal grooming device

Abstract

Some embodiments may include a personal grooming device. Such a device may include a head portion. The head portion may include a means for mounting at least one razor. An embodiment may also include a means for rotating the razor clockwise and/or counterclockwise by a predefined number of degrees less than one full turn.

Claims

1. A personal grooming device, comprising: a handle portion (120) having a generally elongate shape; a head portion (110) disposed at an end of the handle portion (120); a razor blade (140) rotatably attached to a face (112) of the head portion (110), and being adapted to reversibly rotate through a one hundred eighty degree range of motion, wherein the razor blade (140) is in an operable orientation at either end of the one hundred eighty degree range of motion; a manually actuatable lever (130) in mechanical communication with the razor blade (140) and adapted to cause the razor blade (140) to reversibly rotate through the one hundred eighty degree range of motion; an enclosure (305A, 305B) defining a hollow space within the head portion (110), wherein the face (112) area of the head portion (110) includes an aperture (309) extending into the hollow space of the head portion (110), the aperture (309) of the face (112) area being adapted to receive a mounting post (333) of the razor blade (140); a planetary gear (330) having a central aperture (335) sharing a common axis with the aperture (309) extending into the hollow space of the head portion (110), the planetary gear (330) being adapted to press fit to the mounting post (333), wherein the planetary gear (330), aperture (309) and mounting post (333) cooperate to define the rotatable attachment between the razor blade (140) and the head portion (110); a sun gear (322) mounted by a pin (321) to an annulus (311) formed upon an interior surface (307) of the enclosure (305B), the sun gear (322) rotatably engaging the planetary gear (330); a linkage having a first end (315), a second end (319), and an off-center pivot point (317) between the first end (315) and the second end (319), wherein the second end (319) of the linkage slidably engages a radial slot (325) in the sun gear (322), and wherein the off-center pivot point (317) engages an annulus (313) formed upon the interior surface (307) of the enclosure (305B); and the lever (130) having tabs (132) at either end, and a recess (134) between the tabs (132), the recess (134) being adapted to engage the first end (315) of the linkage, wherein the tabs (132) of the lever protrude from opposing lever apertures (306) of the enclosure (305A, 305B), wherein the linkage, the sun gear (322) and the planetary gear (330) cooperate to define the mechanical communication between the razor blade (140) and the lever (130).

Description

VI. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawing of an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side-view of an embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a manual embodiment; and

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an electrical embodiment.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a personal grooming device for shaving parts of the body such as, for instance, the head. In general, embodiments include a handle portion terminating at one end in a head portion. A head portion typically includes at least one generally flat area adapted to support at least one mount for fixedly holding a disposable razor blade. Furthermore, embodiments can include a means for rotating a razor head through a predetermined number of degrees, and may allow for quickly reversing the cutting direction of the razor blade.

(7) A suitable handle portion can include a generally elongate structure having a first end and a second end, where one end terminates in a head portion. Some embodiments may include a contoured handle portion. For example, a contoured handle portion may be adapted to ergonomically fit the grip of an average user or of a specific user, and accordingly, may include one or more indentations for accommodating the digits of a user's hand. However, other embodiments may include a handle portion having any convenient shape such as a simple rectangular or circular cylindrical shape. Furthermore, embodiments may lack a handle entirely, and instead include a means for holding the head portion on a finger. For instance, a ring structure suitable for receiving a human finger may be used for holding and/or operating the device.

(8) A suitable head portion can include a wide variety of shapes and contours provided they are suitable for cooperating with a mounting mechanism for fixedly attaching a disposable razor head to the device. Non-limiting examples of suitable shapes for head portions include those having at least one generally flat surface suitable for cooperating with a mounting mechanism for presenting a mounted razor head to a body surface in a cutting relation. In some embodiments a generally flat surface can include a contoured surface which is specially shaped to align a razor head with a body surface. Furthermore, some embodiments can include a recessed mount for receiving a razor head in a fixed relation recessed into the head portion.

(9) Mechanisms for rotating disposable razor heads according to embodiments of the invention can include a wide variety of suitable means. For instance, embodiments may include purely mechanical means for rotating a razor head which may be manually actuated and may or may not include a spring-loaded means. Alternatively, embodiments may include electrically powered means for rotating a razor head such as a battery powered motor, solenoid, or other electromechanical means.

(10) Furthermore, suitable handle portions and/or head portions are made from generally water-resistant materials such as organic polymer materials known in the art. For instance, polyolefins, polyesters, phenolic polymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymers, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyamides, polyimides, polymelamines, polyurethanes, polyacetals, polyetheretherketones (PEEK), polyionomers, polybutylenes, polyphenylene oxides, or polyphenylene sulfides, or any combination thereof

(11) Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment 100 having a head portion 110 and a handle portion 120. The handle portion 120 includes a grip 122 adapted to promote non-slip handling of the embodiment 100. The embodiment also includes a razor blade 140 attached to a face of the embodiment 100. The razor 140 is adapted to rotate 180 in response to movement of a manually actuated lever 130. FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment from a side. The face 112 of the head portion 110 is visible in this view, along with a means for mounting 142 the razor 140 to the head portion 110. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the particular means for mounting can be selected from any of a wide variety of means known in the art. For example, and without limitation, appropriate means for mounting a razor 140 can include a releasable mechanism such as a spring-load releasable mechanism adapted to hold a razor 140 until/unless the spring force is overcome thereby releasing the razor 140. Other means may comprise a permanent mount, wherein the overall device 100 comprises a disposable device.

(12) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one particular embodiment 300. The embodiment 300 includes an upper enclosure 305A and a lower enclosure 305B. The grip 320 fits over the handle portion of the assembled enclosure. The manually actuated lever 130 of FIG. 1 is shown to have a pair of tabs 132 which protrude from an aperture 306 on either side of the enclosure. The lever 130 also includes a recess 134 which is adapted to engage a first end 315 of a linkage. The linkage also has an off-center pivot point 317 which pivotally engages an annulus 313 formed upon an interior surface 307 of the lower enclosure 305B. The second end 319 of the linkage engages a slot 325 of a gear 322. The gear 322 is rotatably mounted by a pin 321 to an annulus 311 formed upon the interior surface 307 of the lower enclosure 305B.

(13) Accordingly, depressing the tabs 132 causes the linkage to pivot about its pivot point 317, which results in the second end of the linkage 319 moving from side to side. This in turn causes the gear 322 to rotate. The particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 also includes a planetary gear 330 having a central aperture 335. The mounting post 333 of the razor 140 is inserted into aperture 309 and protrudes into the interior of the enclosure. The portion of the mounting post 333 which clears the top edge of the aperture 309 engages the planetary gear 330 through its central aperture 335 in a press fit. The planetary gear 330 rotatably engages the gear 322, which thus functions as a sun gear. Accordingly, rotation of the sun gear 322 causes rotation of the planetary gear 330 which in in turn rotates the razor 140.

(14) FIG. 4 illustrates an electrically powered embodiment 400. The embodiment of FIG. 4 is similar to that of FIG. 3 except for the replacement of certain manual components with electrical alternatives. For example, the manually actuated lever 130 is replaced with a solenoid 430 which electrically communicates with a power supply 410 through a switch 422. The switch is conveniently fitted with a cap 420 to permit a user to easily operate the switch 422. Actuating the switch 422 either energizes or de-energizes the solenoid 430 depending on the position of the switch 422. For instance, depending on the state of the solenoid 430 the armature 432 may be extended or retracted. Furthermore, the armature 432 engages and mechanically cooperates with an end of a linkage 440. The linkage 440 of this embodiment behaves similarly to the linkage of FIG. 3 in its engagement of a planetary gear system to rotate a razor 140. Of course, it differs in that the linkage 440 of this embodiment 400 moves fore and aft rather than in a pivoting motion.

(15) The embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.