BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view from the front of an embodiment of a safety razor of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a portion of an isometric view from the rear of an embodiment of a safety razor of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view from the rear of an embodiment of a razor handle of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the head portion of the razor handle of FIG. 4, encircled 5.
FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the head portion of an embodiment of a razor handle of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the head portion of an embodiment of a razor handle of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8A is a partial sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 6 of a second embodiment of a safety razor of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1-3, a safety razor 100 is shown. The razor comprises a handle 200, having a gripping portion 300 and a head portion 400, and a razor cartridge 500. In these figures the cartridge 500 is shown in its at-rest position relative to the handle 200. The cartridge comprises a housing 502 which has at least one razor blade 504 disposed therein. The razor blade has a rectilinear cutting edge 506 and at least a substantially planar body portion 508 adjacent the cutting edge. The housing 502 is preferably a one-piece injection molded component but can also be manufactured from two or more pieces joined together. The housing 502 has pivoting connecting structures 510, 512 that each include inner and outer shell bearing surfaces, terminating surfaces 514, 516 and a cam surface 520. The construction of razor cartridges with pivoting connecting structure having inner and outer shell bearings is well known in the art and is disclosed in detail in at least U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,255 to Jacobson, essential matter of which is herein incorporated by reference. The handle 200 is preferably a unitary injection molded component, most preferably made by a two-shot, also known as two-color, injection molding process. The handle comprises a first shot portion of a rigid material 302, preferably polypropylene and most preferably the grade designated AP5135-HS manufactured by the HUNTSMAN CO. This particular material is selected based on a balance of several preferred characteristics including injection molding process characteristics or moldability, frictional characteristics (as will be referenced later) and its ability to chemically bond to the second shot (as will also be referenced later). The handle comprises a second shot portion of a thermoplastic elastomeric material 304, that at least partially envelopes the first shot to provide enhanced hand gripping characteristics for a user, especially in a wet environment. The second shot can also provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The second shot is most preferably the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) designated THERMOLAST KTF2ATL manufactured by the KRAIBURG CO. This particular TPE is selected based on a balance of several preferred characteristics including moldability; wet gripping characteristics and its ability to form a chemical bond to the polypropylene first shot at the interface between the polypropylene and TPE. This chemical bond satisfactorily bonds the second, TPE, shot on the first shot without the need for additional mechanical attachment means. One of skill in the art will understand other thermoplastic molding materials can also be selected for one or both the first and second shot. One of skill in the art will further understand the handle can also be constructed of two or more components joined together.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-8, these depict the head portion 400 of the razor handle 200 in diverse views. The head portion 400 has handle pivoting connecting structure that comprises a pair of spaced apart arms 410, 412, which each terminate in shell bearings 420, 422 respectively. The shell bearings slidably engage the connecting structure of the razor cartridge to provide pivotal mounting of the cartridge on the handle about a pivot axis 424. The polypropylene material of the first shot of the handle, which comprises at least the shell bearing members of the head portion, is selected at least for its frictional characteristics in that the cartridge can preferably freely pivot relative to the handle independently of any spring bias forces. The head portion 400 also comprises a biasing member 430. The biasing member has a first end 432, integrally coupled with the head portion, a preferably straight intermediate portion 434 and a second end 436 having a cam surface 438. The biasing member also has side surfaces 446, 448. The cam surface 438 is preferably partially cylindrical although shapes approximating a partial cylinder can be utilized. The biasing member 430 preferably consists of the material of the first shot of the head portion but may also consist of the material of the second shot or may comprise both materials. The biasing member is preferably bifurcated at least for a portion of the intermediate portion. Bifurcation provides preferential lateral and torsional stability of the biasing member compared to a unitary structure having the same bending characteristics as a bifurcated biasing member. Lateral stability in this instance is defined as stability in a direction approximately as depicted by reference numeral 440 and torsional stability is defined as stability about an axis passing generally through the first and second ends of the biasing member. Bending characteristics are defined as bending in a direction approximately as depicted by reference numeral 442. The cam surface of the biasing member 438 acts upon the cam surface of the housing 520 to provide the razor cartridge an at-rest position and to permit resilient movement of the razor cartridge away from the at-rest position in response to forces encountered during shaving. As the cartridge pivots away from its at-rest position the cam surface of the housing 520 contacts the cam surface of the biasing member 438 causing the biasing member to elastically deflect substantially in plane 442. Cartridge pivoting is most preferably in a single, rearward, direction away from the at-rest position depicted by arc having reference numeral 425 and is at least an arc of travel of 20°. Cartridge pivoting may also be in two directions where the arc of travel in the rearward direction is greater than the arc of travel in an opposite direction.
The inner ends of each shell bearing 420, 422 have a fin 450, 452 respectively extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the pivot axis 424. Each fin has a tip 460, 462 respectively at the outer end thereof. At least a portion of each tip is closer to the pivot axis 424 than any portion of the cam surface 438 of the biasing member 430. The tips of the fins provide protection to the cam surface during manufacture or bulk storage or handling of the handle before the cartridge is assembled to the handle. In the event that the head portion is accidentally pushed against a hard surface the tips will contact the hard surface first and prevent damage to the biasing member. When a cartridge is assembled to the handle the fins interact with the terminating surfaces 514, 516 of the pivoting connecting structure of the cartridge to substantially prevent rotation of the cartridge in an “end over end” direction as depicted by arrow reference numeral 470 in FIG. 1. “End over end” can also be defined as rotation about an axis 472 (also in FIG. 1) that is both perpendicular to the pivot axis 424 and generally perpendicular to the body portion of the razor blade 508.
The head portion 400 also comprises shields 480, 482 extending inwardly from arms 410, 412. At least a portion of the shield is adjacent and preferably extends above at least a portion of a side surface 446, 448 of the biasing member (as depicted by the dimension having reference numeral 447 in FIG. 8A). In this manner the shields prevent accidental damage to the biasing member during manufacture or bulk storage or handling of the handle from, for instance, contact with a second handle. The shields also substantially prevent a user from accidentally deflecting the biasing member with, for instance, her finger tip during use. Deflection of the biasing member independent of cartridge pivoting could remove contact of the cam surface of the biasing member with the cam surface of the housing, thereby preventing the biasing member from providing resilient pivoting movement of the cartridge in response to forces encountered during shaving.
Referring now to FIG. 8A, this depicts a sectional view of FIG. 6 along line 8-8 of a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the intermediate portion 490 of the biasing member is curved. This embodiment provides different spring characteristics of the biasing member which in turn provide different resistance to resilient movement of the razor cartridge in response to forces encountered during shaving. This embodiment can be preferred to compliment, for example, alternate arrangements of the razor blades within the razor cartridge or razor blades having alternate degrees of sharpness. It will be appreciated that the spring characteristics of the biasing member can be controlled by the shape and size of the biasing member.
In use, the handle of the safety razor of the embodiments of the present invention has improved connection to a razor cartridge. The handle provides improved pivoting characteristics of a razor cartridge relative to the handle. During manufacture, the embodiments of the handle of the present invention provide manufacturing advantages.
It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.
Patent Application
20070283566
