The present disclosure relates in general to hand-held shavers and safety-razors with multiple razor-heads.
Recently, shaving has been predominantly accomplished by individuals using a traditional T-bar shaped shaver. The T-bar shaver generally comprises a single razor-head in which one or more blades are oriented perpendicular to an elongated handle forming a T-like shape. These shavers may be disposable after limited use or may have interchangeable razor-head cartridges that can be removed, disposed, and replaced. An example of this type of shaver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,474,508. A shaver with a single razor-head is generally used for all shaving tasks regardless of the area of the body to be shaved. Although individual razor-heads come in differing sizes and configurations they are generally standardized and are usually of minimal size to accommodate finer, more detailed work such as the contours of the face and mouth.
Shavers with multiple razor-heads for various purposes are also known. Some shavers with multiple razor-heads are utilized to provide the ability to shave in two different directions and are referred to as bi-directional shavers. An example of this bi-directional shaver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,875. Multi-headed shavers that are not simultaneously operable are further disclosed. These shavers usually include razor-heads of differing sizes and orientations in which the razor-heads face in opposing directions. These shavers may include a larger razor-head to efficiently accommodate larger shaving tasks for larger areas of the body and a smaller razor-head for more detailed shaving tasks in smaller areas of the body. An example of this type of razor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,905. Multi-headed shavers that operate simultaneously have also been disclosed and make shaving large body parts such as the head or chest more efficient. An example of this type of shaver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,701,033.
Shavers may be employed to remove or shorten hair on small or large areas of the body. Additionally, shaving may occur on curved areas of the body. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a shaver that efficiently accommodates shaving all areas of the body. Further, a shaver that accommodates shaving all areas of the body without interchanging, removing, or adding parts would be desirable.
A versatile multi-headed shaver comprising a plurality of razor-heads with a wide range of maneuverability could accommodate shaving tasks of various shapes and sizes. Such a shaver may also be able to accommodate shaving tasks of various shapes and sizes with minimal assembly or disassembly. The disclosed invention may accommodate some or all desirable features.
In at least one embodiment of this invention, there is a shaver comprising a handle, a plurality of arms, and a plurality of razor-heads. The handle having a proximal portion and a distal portion. Each arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of said arm connected to the distal portion of the handle. Each of the razor-heads is connected to the distal portion of an arm. The shaver also comprises at least a first plurality of pivotal joints. Each razor-head being connected to at least one pivotal joint. Wherein, each razor-head is configured to rotate around at least two distinct axes-of-rotation independent of the rotation of any other razor-head.
In some embodiments, each pivotal joint of the first plurality of pivotal joints is located at the connection between each arm and the handle. In some embodiments, each pivotal joint of the first plurality of pivotal joints is located at the connection between each arm and each razor-head. In some embodiments, each pivotal joint of the first plurality of pivotal joints may be located within each arm. In some embodiments, the shaver comprises a first and second plurality of pivotal joints that cooperate to allow each razor-head to rotate around two distinct axes-of-rotation independent of any other razor-head. In some embodiments, each razor-head may be configured to rotate around three or more axes-of-rotation independent of the rotation of any other razor-head. In some embodiments, each arm is rotatably connected to the distal portion of the handle forming the first plurality of pivotal joints. In some embodiments, there is a first and second plurality of pivotal joints wherein the first plurality of pivotal joints allows each razor-head to rotate around a first axis-of-rotation that is generally parallel to the connected arm and the second plurality of pivotal joints allows each razor-head to rotate around a second axis-of-rotation that is generally perpendicular to the first axis-of-rotation. In some embodiments, the razor-heads are removable cartridges. In some embodiments, the handle may further rotate around an axis-of-rotation. In some embodiments, the shaver may further comprise bi-directional razor blades. In some embodiments, the shaver may further comprise a razor-head a fixed orientation that does not rotate around an axes-of-rotation. In some embodiments, the shaver may comprise a locking mechanism at one or more pivotal joints to restrict the rotation around an axis-of-rotation. In some embodiments, the shaver may further comprise an light source, and power source wherein the power source is located within the handle and powers the light source.
The disclosure also includes a method of using one embodiment of the shaver comprising rotating each razor-head around a first axis-of-rotation to the desired position, rotating each razor-head around a second axis-of-rotation to a desired position and then moving the shaver so that the razor-heads move along a surface severing a protruding hair.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
This disclosure incorporates U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,259 by reference in its entirety. Embodiments of the presently disclosed shavers are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which the numerals designate corresponding elements in each of the several views. As in
The handle 200 may be elongated as in
As in
In some embodiments, the shaft portion 402 of each arm 400 may have a diameter of about 2 to 12 millimeters and a length of about 15 to 30 millimeters. In some embodiments the downward sloping portion 404 nearest the round shaft portion 402 may be round and may have a diameter of about 5 to 15 millimeters. In some embodiments, as in
The arms 400 may be formed from any suitable material sufficiently rigid to hold the desired shape and durable enough to prevent breaking, cracking, or unrecoverable deformation under the pressure necessary for the razor-heads 500 to operate. The arms 400 may be composed of non-corrosive material that does not deform or degrade when exposed to water such as polypropylene.
In some embodiments, as in
In some embodiments, the razor blade seat 504 may hold five razor blades 502. The razor blades 502 may have a length of about 10 to 75 millimeters, a width of about 1 to 10 millimeters, and a thickness of about 0.05 to 1 millimeters. The razor blades 502 should be sufficiently rigid, durable, and sharp to sever a hair as in
The pivotal joints 300 should be configured to allow each razor-head 500 to rotate around at least two distinct axes-of-rotation, as in
In some embodiments, as in
In some embodiments, as in
In some embodiments, as in
In the embodiment depicted in
The pivotal joints 300 may be formed from any suitable material sufficiently rigid to hold the desired shape and durable enough to prevent breaking, cracking, or unrecoverable deformation under the pressure necessary for the razor-heads 500 to operate. The pivotal joints 300 may be composed of non-corrosive material that does not deform or degrade when exposed to water such as polypropylene. Some embodiments may have stainless steel rivets 302.
Alternatively, the handle 200 may be straight, curved, or ergonomically-configured to improve grip, reduce stress, enhance comfort or, improve the ease of holding the handle 200. The handle 200 may be of any suitable shape and size known to one skilled in the art. In some embodiments the handle 200 may be textured, grooved, or contain other materials to enhance the grip, and improve comfort. Further, some embodiments, as in
The arms 400 may alternatively be straight, curved, round, rectangular, polygonal or any other suitable shape known to one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the arms 400 may also be of other suitable sizes. Some embodiments may include a permanent or temporary mechanism for connecting the arms 400 to the handle 200. If temporarily connected, the arms 400 may be released by a button, a fastening screw, a lever, a switch, a tightening screw or other suitable mechanism known to one skilled in the art. Alternatively, some embodiments may include portions of the arms 400 that are splined such as the round shaft portion 402. The arms 400 may be composed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, any vinyl material, acrylic, polyacrylate, or any other polymeric material known to one skilled in the art. Some embodiments may include thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. Some embodiments may incorporate an elastomeric material to add flexibility. Alternatively, the arms 400 may also be composed of metal, wood, or any other suitable material known to one skilled in the art. Some embodiments may include arms 400 composed of multiple materials.
Alternatively, the razor-heads 500 may be of other suitable shapes and sizes. Some embodiments may include razor-heads 500 with fewer than five razor blades 502. In some embodiments, each razor blade seat 504 may hold three razor blades 502. In some embodiments each razor blade seat 504 may hold a single razor blade 502. Some embodiments may include razor-heads 500 with more than five razor blades 502. In some embodiments, each razor blade seat 504 may hold seven razor blades 502. In some embodiments, each razor blade seat 504 may hold twelve razor blades 504. The razor blades 502 may alternatively be composed of martensitic stainless steel, tool steel, other alloy steels, aluminum, cobalt, titanium alloys, or any other suitable metals known to one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the razor-heads 500 may be composed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, any vinyl material, acrylic, polyacrylate, or any other polymeric material. The razor-heads 500 may be composed of thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. The razor-heads 500 may be smooth or made of materials with lower coefficients of friction to reduce irritation to skin. Other materials for the razor-heads 500 and razor blades 502 may be suitable and known to one skilled in the art. Alternatively, some embodiments may include razor-heads 500 composed of metal, wood, or any other suitable material known to one skilled in the art. Some embodiments may include razor-heads 500 composed of multiple materials.
In some embodiments, as in
Alternatively, some embodiments of the shaver 100 may include razor-heads 500 wherein the razor-heads 500 are not removeable cartridges. Some embodiments may include razor-heads 500 wherein only the razor blades 502 are removeable. Replaceable razor blades 502 may be connected by clamps, jaws, rivets, screws, channels, hooks, levers, leaf hinges, live hinges, mounting flanges or any other mechanism known to one skilled in the art.
In some embodiments, one skilled in the art may arrange the razor blades 502 in the razor blade seat 504 to expose only one edge, forming what is known to one skilled in the art as a safety-razor. One skilled in the art may know other ways of providing minimal risk of cutting the skin and may incorporate such features of safety-razors. The razor-heads 500 may contain all the features understood by one skilled in the art for improving the safety, functionality, and comfort of the shaver 100. This includes but is not limited to shave-aiding agents such as lubricating or soothing lotions, shave-aiding components such as curved razor blades, razor blades that move slightly to provide a dynamic response feature that adjust to minor changes in the contours of the skin during use, or self-cleaning mechanisms. In some embodiments, as in
Alternatively, the pivotal joints 300 may be located at the connections between the arms 400 and the razor-heads 500. In some embodiments, the pivotal joints 300 may be within the arms 400. Some embodiments may include only a first plurality of pivotal joints 300 or a single pivotal joint 300 for each razor-head wherein each pivotal joint 300 allows each razor-head to rotate around two distinct axes-of-rotation. Some embodiments may include pivotal joints 300 that allow rotation around more than two distinct axes-of-rotation. Alternatively, some embodiments may include more than a first and second plurality of pivotal joints 300. For example, some embodiments may employ a single pivotal joint, two pivotal joints, three pivotal joints or more to allow rotations around three or more axes-of-rotation. Some embodiments may have pivotal joints 300 located in different locations for different razor-heads 500. For example, one embodiment may include three razor-heads 500, wherein the center razor-head 500 has a pivotal joint 300 located at the connection between the razor-head 500 and the arm 400 while the peripheral razor-heads 500 have pivotal joints 300 located at the connections between the arms 400 and the handle 200. Some embodiments may include multiple pivotal joints 300 located at different positions. For example, in some embodiments, a first plurality of pivotal joints 300 may be located at the connections between the arms 400 and the handle 200, and a second plurality of pivotal joints 300 may be located at the connection between the arms 400 and razor-heads 500. In some embodiments the razor-heads 500 may rotate around distinct axes-of-rotation that are not generally perpendicular. Some embodiments may limit the rotation around one or more pivotal joints 300 to less than 360 degrees.
Some embodiments may contain pivotal joints 300 of different shapes and sizes. Some embodiments may provide pivotal joints 300 using a ball-and-socket mechanism, a collar-and-disk mechanism, or any other mechanisms known to one skilled in the art. Some embodiments may create a pivotal joint using a pin or screw. Some embodiments may use a combination thereof. Alternatively, embodiments that use rivets may use any type of rivets such as semi-tubular rivets, tubular rivets, blind rivets, Oscar rivets, drive rivets, flush rivets, friction-lock rivets.
Some embodiments may include teeth at adjacent portions of a pivotal joint 300 to restrict the pivotal joint 300 from rotating and lock the position. Some embodiments may include splined portions to restrict the rotation and lock the position of any pivotal joint 300. Some embodiments may include polygon shaped portion to restrict the rotation. Some embodiments may include friction engagement to restrict the rotation and lock the position at any pivotal joint 300. Alternatively, a screw, pin, rivet, clamp, lever, latch, or a spring may be used to restrictive the rotation and lock the position of a pivotal joint 300. Some embodiments may require detaching parts and reattaching parts in new positions around an axis-of-rotation to lock the position. Alternatively, displacement may be used to disengage and engage restrictive elements. For example, in
If an elastomeric material is included it may be composed of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene propylene diene, nitrile butadiene, urethanes, rubbers or any other suitable material known to one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the pivotal joints 300 may alternatively be composed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, any vinyl material, acrylic, polyacrylate, or any other polymeric material. Some embodiments may include thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. The pivotal joint 300 may also be composed of metal, wood or any other suitable material known to one skilled in the art. Some embodiments may include pivotal joint 300 composed of multiple materials. For example, the rivets 302 may be composed of stainless steel or plastic-coated aluminum and the remaining portion of the pivotal joints may be composed of polypropylene.
Some embodiments may further contain a light for illuminating the skin. An example of a shaver containing a light is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,062 and incorporated by reference in its entirety. The light may include an incandescent or luminescent lamp such as a light emitting diode (LED) bulb. In some embodiments, the light will be located at the distal portion of the shaver 100. Embodiments with a light should have a power source such a battery or multiple batteries. In some embodiments, the power source may use one or more rechargeable batteries. In some embodiments, the power source may use one or more disposable batteries. In some embodiments, the power source may be located within the handle 200. The power source and connecting wires may be covered and sealed to prevent water damage. Examples of a power source located in the handle are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,169, 8,683,701, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0313425 and incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The plastic and elastomeric portions of the shaver 100 may be created by extrusion molding, injection molding, 3D printing or a combination thereof. The razor blades 502 may be annealed, temperature treated, and stamped out. Alternatively, the shaver 100 and its components may be produce by any other method known to one skilled in the art.
The above disclosure discusses several embodiments however it is not limited to the discussed embodiments. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of the disclosed features. Those skilled in the art will envision other embodiments and adaptations within the scope and spirit of the invention.
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