The present invention relates generally to shaving devices and, more particularly, to shaving aid devices having a shaving aid dispensing device.
Several methods for applying shaving aid materials are known. Typically, a shaving cream, soap, gel, or liquid is applied using either one's hands or a brush. However, methods for applying shaving aid that are integrated into the design of the razor are also known. For example, solid lubricating strips attached to the blade cartridge, and dispensers integrated into the design of the razor that utilize pumps, bellows, valves and/or pistons are commonly known. However, each requires the shaving aid to be in a solid form, or, where the shaving aid is not a solid, the user must actuate some type of a mechanism to dispense the shaving aid. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the user with a shaving aid dispensing device that readily provides a non-solid shaving aid, and does not require the user to actuate any type of mechanism.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a shaving aid material dispensing device for use with a razor cartridge includes an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir, and an aperture sized for passing a razor blade cartridge therethrough. A storage medium is disposed in, and substantially fills, the reservoir. The storage medium is operable to store a shaving aid material. A wick substantially covers the reservoir and is operable to draw the shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a shaving device includes a handle, a razor blade cartridge, and the shaving aid dispensing device described above. The shaving aid dispensing device includes an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir and an aperture. The razor cartridge is positioned within the aperture of the dispensing device. A storage medium is disposed in, and substantially fills, the reservoir. A shaving aid material is distributed in the storage medium. A wick substantially covers the reservoir of the dispensing device and is operable to draw shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action. The shaving cartridge and the shaving aid dispensing device are attached to the handle.
An advantage of the present invention is that the shaving aid material may be in liquid, cream or gel form.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the shaving aid dispensing device does not require the user to operate a mechanism to dispense the shaving aid material from the dispensing device.
A further advantage of the present invention is that shaving aid material can be applied from the present invention “on demand”.
Some embodiments of the present invention provide the further advantage of a razor cartridge that incorporates the shaving aid dispensing device.
The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the present invention and accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Continuing to refer to
Referring now to
In embodiments where more than one reservoir 12 is present, such as in
Depending on the intended use of the end product, the wick 18 may be affixed over the reservoir 12 in a manner such that it is not removable during ordinary use. Alternatively, the wick 18 is selectively removable from the dispensing device 10. In either embodiment, a depleted storage medium 14 can be replenished with additional shaving aid material 16. For example, a syringe containing shaving aid material 16 can be inserted through the wick 18 and into the depleted storage medium 14, thereby dispersing addition shaving aid material 16 into the original storage medium 14. In embodiments where the wick 18 is selectively removable from the dispensing device 10, the wick 18 can be removed and the shaving aid material 16 dispersed in the exposed storage medium 14. Alternatively, once the wick 18 is removed, the storage medium 16 can be selectively replaced with a new storage medium 14 filled with shaving aid material 16 and, optionally, a new wick 18 if desired.
The wick 18 is also preferably moldable and shaped to have an outwardly rounded outer surface 34 as shown, for example, in
Referring to
The razor cartridge 36 has at least one cutting edge 40 and may be attached to the dispensing device 10, or the handle 38. In either embodiment, the razor cartridge 36 is positioned in the aperture 26 and is substantially surrounded by the inner wall 20. The razor cartridge 36 is positioned in such a manner that at least a portion of the cutting edge 40 protrudes outwardly through the aperture 26. The outer surface 32 of the wick 18 should be substantially adjacent to the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36. Such positioning allows the user to place the outer surface 32 of the wick 18 and the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36 in contact with the surface to be shaved at the same time.
In some embodiments, the razor cartridge 36 has a plurality of cutting edges 40. The cutting edges 40 of the razor cartridge 36 may be aligned to cut in the same direction. Alternatively, the cutting edges 40 of the razor cartridge 36 may be oriented so that at least one cutting edge 40 is aligned to cut in a substantially different direction than at least one other cutting edge 40, as shown in
Referring to
The razor cartridge 36 may be attached to the handle 38 such that it is not removable under during normal use. Alternatively, the razor cartridge 36 is selectively removable from the handle or the dispensing device 10. Likewise, the shaving aid dispensing device 10 may be attached to the handle 38 such that the shaving aid dispensing device 10 is not intended to be removed during ordinary use. Alternatively, and depending on the intended end use of product, the shaving aid dispensing device 10 may be removably attached to the handle 38.
In operation, the user brings the outer surface 32 of the wick 18 and the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36 in contact with the surface to be shaved. As the user moves the shaving device 39 across the area to be shaved, the wick 18 operates to draw the shaving aid material 16 from the storage medium 14 through the wick 18 by capillary action thereby delivering the shaving aid material 16 directly to the area being shaved. Simultaneously, as the user moves the shaving device 39 across the area to be shaved, the cutting edge(s) 40 operate to shave the undesired hair from the area.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/476,989 filed Jun. 9, 2003.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60476989 | Jun 2003 | US |