Blade shaving accessory

Abstract

A shaving accessory for use with a can of shaving cream to permit the user to evenly spread the cream dispensed from the can to selected areas of the human body. The accessory comprises an applicator for spreading cream and a positioner for holding the applicator and connecting it to the valve of the can in order that cream may be transmitted through the positioner to the applicator by depressing the valve.

Description

The present invention relates generally to an accessory for the blade shaver and, more particularly, to a device for the uniform application of a soapy material, such as shaving cream, to the shaver's facial area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Since time immemorial man has scraped and shaped his appearance with a sharp instrument, now commonly referred to as a razor. While water, at one time, was the only lubricant, soap became useful, and thereafter, manufacturer's introduced what they referred to as shaving cream, first with a bowl and brush, and later in an aerosol can.

Even with the advent of the aerosol can, application of shaving cream has become less than uniform, with the applicator dealing with clumps and voids as the propellant which expels the soapy material tending to spit out the material in globs.

As a result of this characteristic, the applicator finds it necessary to spread the soap around in order to get a more uniform shave and avoid, as much as possible, scraping and chafing.

2. Overview of the Prior Art

Perhaps the person with the most vision was a Canadian by the name of Vallis who, in 1971, caused U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,541 to issue for a Treating Fluid Container with Applicator Unit. The Vallis device was seen as an improvement for cleaning upholstery and shining shoes, and, for that reason, the brush used is of the same material as the clamp which holds the applicator to the can. The clamp itself is sturdy and able to resist, to a significant extent, the pressure that it will be subjected to as it moves to and fro as it scrubs the surface of the upholstery or surface of a shoe.

A similar scrubbing device is depicted in Torkelson design Pat. No. Des 374,990 for a golf club. Once again, the scrubber, a brush, is clamped to the side of a liquid dispenser. It is of interest that the Vallis patent was not cited by the Examiner during the prosecution of the Torkelson application.

Finally, Green et al. issued a design Pat. No. Des 376,697 for a combination container and applicator which was, obviously, for a viscus fluid, as evidenced by the slot in the applicator. The applicator appears to be integral with the container pump stem. No purpose is denoted, although the word WAX is visible, and neither Vallis nor Torkelson were cited, and in the Green et al. and Torkelson applications, the Examiners were the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has a specific function in the realm of dispensers, and that is to apply a foaming material to the face of the blade shaver in a soft and comfortable manner to facilitate the shaving experience.

It is an objective of the present invention, intertwined with the foregoing, to permit application of a foaming shaving cream to a specific area of one's face so that moustaches, goatees and like facial hair which is not to be removed, is readily preserved, while the remaining areas of the face may be shaved.

The foregoing, as well as other advantages and objectives of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from a reading of the following Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a container of shaving cream with an applicator, in the nature of a soft brush facing upwardly and away from the container, attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the applicator being attached in an alternative manner, and facing generally toward the reader;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which an alternative applicator is depicted;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the applicator of FIG. 3, attached; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the top of the can showing the valve and the accessory attached thereto, partially sectioned to show details of the interrelationship between the two.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a shaving accessory is provided for use in conjunction with an aerosol can of shaving cream to apply the contents of the can to selected areas of the human body.

In accomplishing this objective, a shaving accessory constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at 10 and comprises an applicator of soft material, such as may be seen in FIG. 1, in the nature of an elongated brush element 12 secured at one end of a positioner device 14, at an end thereof, so named because it positions the brush to receive the contents of a vessel containing shaving cream through the brush element.

The brush 14, as illustrated, comprises a series of uniformly, elongated bristles arranged in a random array in close proximity to one another. Each bristle is affixed at one end in a backing plate 16, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bristles and which is economically formed as part of the positioner 14.

The positioner 14 is fashioned to be connected at one end thereof to the valve of a conventional can C of foamable shaving cream F (FIG. 2). Since all cans are not absolutely uniform, particularly in the area of the discharge valve 21, some variation in the size of such valves will necessarily require some modification of the positioner, but such modifications are within the contemplation of the invention, and shall not be deemed as a separate invention.

Returning to the FIG. 1 embodiment, the positioner 14 includes an attachment element 23, which, in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment, takes the form of a tubular positioning ring. The ring is dimensioned to fit snugly about the discharge valve 21. By virtue of the cylindrical structure, the positioner is easily rotated to align an aperture 25, FIG. 5, formed, or otherwise provided, in the cylindrical ring, with the discharge orifice 27 in order that the shaving cream discharged through the discharge orifice will pass through a conduit in the positioner, through the orifice and fill the brush 12. Once the foam permeates the bristles 14 of the brush 12, the user will have a simple task to apply shaving cream F to specific areas of his face, or other areas of the body to be shaved, in preparation for shaving.

The positioner 14 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 represents a positioner that fits over, or about, the relatively large discharge valve available on the market on various brands of shaving cream. A second valve is depicted in FIG. 5, and it is substantially different in size and positioner 114 is illustrated as the invention's solution to the discharge valve alternative, which is also prominently available on a variety of shaving cream brands.

The positioner 114 includes a brush 112 having a backing plate 116 which supports the brush 112. A cap 123 is formed with, or otherwise secured to, and is a part of, the positioner 114. The cap 123 is so dimensioned as to fit snugly over the discharge valve 121 where it may be rotated so as to align an aperture 125 in the cap with the orifice in the backing plate 116, whereby the shaving cream discharged from the aperture 125 in the discharge valve fills the brush in preparation for application of shaving cream to specific areas of one's face.

There are some, particularly on the distaff side, who prefer a softer applicator for use with legs and underarms. To this end, and referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a soft, yet porous, applicator is illustrated at 212. The applicator may be a sponge or similar material, including a porous cloth like pad. The applicator of FIG. 3 functions in essentially the same way as the brush of FIG. 1, while providing a perhaps less abrasive surface to spread shaving cream in a selected location in preparation for shaving.

The applicator 212 and the attendant positioner 214 of FIG. 3 are both small in size and light weight, thereby providing the accessory 110 with the capacity to create a connection between the positioner and the valve of the can C by means of a tube 218 running between the valve 221 and the backing plate 216. It will be appreciated that shaving cream discharged through the valve 221 is fed directly through the backing plate 216 to the applicator where it permeates the applicator and presents the cream to the user ready for application.

It will be understood that there may be some variation in the structure of the accessory of the present invention which will occur to those skilled in the art. However, such variations are within the purview of the present invention which is defined by the claims as set forth hereinafter.

Claims

1. An accessory for use in conjunction with an aerosol can of shaving cream, having a dispensing valve for dispensing the contents of said can to said accessory for selectively spreading shaving cream dispensed therefrom to selected areas of the human body in preparation to shave that area, comprising: an applicator; said applicator being of a soft material, said soft material capable of receiving shaving cream and holding the same therein pending application to selected parts of the human body; a positioner, said positioner engaged with said applicator at one end thereof and mounted to said valve of the can at the other end thereof, and a conduit extending between said valve and said applicator for the passage of shaving cream there through.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said applicator is in the form of a soft bristled brush.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said applicator is in the form of a sponge.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner having a ring, said ring circumscribing said valve to secure said positioner to said valve.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner is formed with a cap, said cap being dimensioned to fit over said valve.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner is formed with an orifice, said orifice being alignable with an aperture in said valve so that shaving cream discharged from said valve fills said applicator.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner connects to said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged from said valve passes through said tube to said applicator.

8. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said applicator is in the form of a soft bristled brush.

9. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said applicator is in the form of a sponge.

10. The accessory of claim 3, wherein said positioner connects to said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged from said valve passes through said tube to said applicator.

11. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said positioner having a ring, said ring circumscribing said valve to secure said positioner to said valve.

12. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said applicator is in the form of a sponge.