Patent Grant
10195754
The embodiments of the present invention relate to shaving blade cartridges, shavers having such shaving blade cartridges, and methods of manufacturing such shaving blade cartridges.
In particular, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a shaving blade cartridge that includes:
a housing extending along a longitudinal axis having a top side and a bottom side opposite to the top side and first and second longitudinal sides each extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis between the top and bottom sides,
a primary cutting blade mounted on the housing between the first and second longitudinal sides, and having a cutting edge,
a primary cap, the primary cap being located rearward of the cutting edge,
a primary guard, the primary guard being located forward of the cutting edge and,
a trimming element, mounted on the housing, having a trimming edge, the trimming edge and the cutting edge being opposite. In other words, the trimming edge and the cutting edge are located facing opposite direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,061 describes a shaving blade cartridge that includes a housing in which primary blades and an additional trimming blade are mounted. The housing of the shaving blade cartridge is a one-piece frame and includes slots in which the primary blades and the additional trimming blade are mounted and fastened. The fastening of the additional trimming blade into the housing leads to important manufacturing tolerances and to manufacturing method complicated to be implemented. The shaving blade cartridge manufacturing time and costs are thus increased.
WO2005011930 also describes a shaving blade cartridge having a primary guard, a primary cap, a trimming cap and a trimming comb guard. The shaving blade cartridge includes a trimming blade and primary blades. The trimming blade is part of an assembly mounted on the housing and includes a trimming blade carrier. The trimming assembly including the trimming blade and the trimming guard is attached to the back of the housing. Such shaving blade cartridge allows fastening of the trimming blade, and more precisely, the trimming blade assembly after the manufacturing process of the housing and after the positioning of the primary blades. However, the shaving blade cartridge of WO2005011930 includes the trimming assembly, which is one more piece and which could lead to an increase of the total weight and the dimensions of the shaving blade cartridge.
The embodiments of the present invention have objectives to mitigate the drawbacks discussed above. The manufacture of the present shaving blade cartridge is simpler without affecting the shaving's quality.
To this aim, according to an embodiment of the invention, a shaving blade cartridge is provided where the primary cap is provided on a rear element, the rear element is fitted on the housing, and the trimming element is sandwiched between the housing and the primary cap.
With these features, no member or organ specific to the trimming element is needed to fasten the trimming element to the housing. Moreover, the rear element can easily be fastened to the housing without any special tooling. Also, the trimming element is integrated to the shaving blade cartridge on an esthetical way. The trimming element is thus held tightly in position. Moreover, less material is used as raw material for the cover.
In some embodiments of the present invention, a person of ordinary skill in the art may also include one or more of the following features:
the primary cutting blade extends along the longitudinal axis; the primary cutting blade thus extends along the same direction as that of the housing, which allows a reduction of the size of the shaving blade cartridge if needed;
the trimming element extends along the longitudinal axis; the housing and the trimming element extends both along the same axis;
the trimming element includes a trimming blade support and a trimming blade, the trimming blade has the trimming edge, and the trimming blade is supported by the trimming blade support; in other words, the trimming blade is supported by a trimming blade support which allows a certain strength; the trimming blade could also be a bent blade (in that case, no trimming blade support is needed);
the trimming blade edge extends in a trimming blade edge plane;
the primary cutting blade extends in a cutting blade plane;
an angle provided between the trimming edge plane and the trimming plane is between 10° and 40°, and is preferably about 20°; such angle range allows a pleasant and effective trimming;
the housing is further provided with a trimming guard located forward of the trimming edge; the trimming guard provides a more pleasant trimming;
the trimming edge extends in a trimming edge plane;
the trimming guard defines a trimming plane;
the rear element is press-fitted on the housing; the press fit allows a solid assembly;
the housing includes a recess located between the primary cutting blade and the first longitudinal side;
the rear element includes a T-shape with a first arm extending in the recess, and a second arm extending in the continuity of the top side of the housing;
the first arm includes a plurality of legs extending in a direction transversal to the second arm;
wherein the housing includes a plurality of recesses located between the primary blade and the second longitudinal side, and each leg of the first arm being press-fitted in a corresponding recess of the housing;
the rear element is snap-fitted on the housing;
the housing includes a recess located between the primary cutting blade and the first longitudinal side;
the rear element is snap fitted in the recess;
the rear element includes a V-shape with two arms, a first arm and a second arm;
the first arm extends in the recess;
the second arm extends in the continuity of the top side of the housing;
the first arm includes a hook, where the recess includes a protrusion, and the hook cooperates with the protrusion; the hook-protrusion cooperation allows an effective snap-fitting;
the second arm of the rear element snap fitted in the housing defines a slot with the housing, the trimming blade support extending in the slot;
the shaving blade cartridge further includes two clips retaining the primary cutting blade on the housing;
the trimming element is smaller in length than the distance between the two clips along the longitudinal axis; the fixation of the trimming element is independent of the clips; the trimming element may be at least as long as the distance between the two clips along the longitudinal axis;
the rear element is further provided with a trimming cap located rearward of the trimming edge; the trimming cap is directly integrated to the rear element;
the trimming guard defines a trimming plane;
the trimming element at rest has a negative exposure with regard to the trimming plane, and preferably the exposure is about −50 [tm to −100 [tm (micrometers);
the trimming element at rest has a positive exposure with regard to the trimming plane, and preferably the exposure is equal to 120 [tm (micrometers); such exposure allows a pleasant and effective trimming; the trimming element at rest can also have a negative exposure with regard to the trimming plane; for example the negative exposure can be of about 50 [tm;
the distance between the trimming edge and the trimming guard is between 400 [tm and 650 [tm (micrometers), and is preferably about 580 [tm or 590 [tm (micrometers), or is preferably about 410 micrometers; such distance allows a pleasant and effective trimming;
the rear element is further provided with a trimming cap located rearward of the trimming edge;
the primary rear cap and/or the trimming cap is (are) provided with a lubrication strip;
the housing includes through holes, which are provided beyond the trimming blade: the through holes allows the through flow of rinsing water.
The embodiments of the present invention are also directed to a shaver including a handle and a shaving blade cartridge as described above, the shaving blade cartridge being connected to the handle.
The embodiments of the present invention are also directed to a method of manufacturing a shaving blade cartridge includes providing a housing extending along a longitudinal axis having a top side, a bottom side opposite to the top side, and first and second longitudinal sides, each extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis between the top and bottom sides; providing a primary guard; assembling a primary guard to the housing, providing a trimming element having a trimming edge; placing the trimming element on the housing, the housing having protrusions being arranged to hold the trimming element, providing a rear element; fixing the trimming element on the housing by fitting the rear element on the housing; mounting a primary cutting blade on the housing between the first and second longitudinal sides, the primary cutting blade having a cutting edge such that the cutting edge and the trimming edge are opposite, the primary guard being located forward of the cutting edge. In another embodiment of the present invention, the primary guard is in one piece with the housing; in that case, there is no need having a step in which the primary guard is assembled to the housing. In any cases, the order of the steps of the methods as defined above is to be respected to achieve properly the manufacture of the shaving blade cartridge.
Other characteristics and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will readily appear from the following description of one of its embodiments, provided as non-limitative examples, and shown in the accompanying drawings.
On the different figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements.
As shown in
As depicted in the figures, the shaving blade cartridge 1 includes a housing 9. The housing 9 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X. Viewed from the top, the housing 9 has a rectangular general shape. However, in some embodiments, the general shape of the housing 9 may be different, for example the housing 9 could have an oval shape, a square shape, or a circular shape. The housing 9 includes a top side 11, a bottom side 13 opposite to the top side 11, and a first and second longitudinal side 15, 17. For example, the bottom side 13 is adapted to be arranged in front of the handle 7, whereas the top side 11 is arranged opposite to the bottom side 13. The top side 11 and the bottom side 13 can be parallel to each other.
As shown in
The housing 9 may also include, as shown in
The first and second lateral sides 19, 21 both join the longitudinal ends 23, 25 of the first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17. In a similar way, the first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17 both join the free ends 27, 29 of the first and second lateral sides 19, 21. The housing 9 can be made of a plastic material. However, other materials can be used. For example, the housing 9 can be made of a metallic material. Moreover, the housing 9 can be made with a combination of two or more different materials. For example, a part of the housing 9 may be made of a first material, whereas the other part of the housing is made with a second material.
The housing 9 can for example include, on the bottom side 13, a connection mechanism 31 (shown in
The housing 9 also includes a blade receiving section 33, as represented in
As shown in
The primary cutting blades 35 are mounted in the housing 9 in the blade receiving section 33 between the first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17 of the housing 9 and between the first and second lateral sides 19, 21 of the housing 9. As shown in
For example, the primary cutting blades 35 are L-shaped as illustrated in
Each primary cutting blade 35 can be freely mounted in the housing 9. More precisely, the primary cutting blades 35 are movably mounted in the blade receiving section 33. Each primary cutting blade 35 is, for example, supported by two elastic fingers. The elastic fingers can be molded as a single piece with the housing 9 and can extend in the blade receiving section 33 towards each other and upwardly from both lateral sides 19, 21 of the housing 9. As shown in
However, in some others embodiments of the present invention (not shown on the figures) the primary cutting blades could be bent blades, as described for instance in patent application WO2013/050606, or curved blades.
According to the present invention, the shaving blade cartridge 1 includes a primary cap 53. The primary cap 53 is located rearward of the cutting edge 41. The primary cap 53 is located toward the first longitudinal side 15. The shaving blade cartridge 1 also includes a primary guard 55. The primary guard 55 is located forward of the cutting edge 41. The primary guard 55 is located toward the second longitudinal side 17.
As represented in
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
As shown in
The second arm 61 is preferably provided with the primary cap 53. The primary cap 53 is, for example, provided with a lubricating strip used during the “main” shaving. The second arm 61 extends outside of the housing 9. The second arm 61 extends on the top side 11 of the housing 9.
More particularly, the second arm 61 extends outside of the housing 9, and can form with the external surfaces of the housing 9, for example with the top side 11 of the housing 9, a continuous surface.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Each recess 67 is defined by an interior wall. The interior wall of the recess may be provided with protrusions 68. As shown in
According to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
As shown in
The trimming element 73 has a trimming edge 75. The trimming edge 75 and the cutting edge 41 of the primary cutting blade 35 are opposite. In other words, the trimming edge 75 and the cutting edge 41 are located facing opposite direction. For instance, the trimming edge 75 is directed toward the bottom side 13 of the housing 9, whereas the cutting edge is directed beyond the top side 11 of the housing 9.
As represented in
In an embodiment of the present invention, the trimming blade 81 can have another shape, or other dimensions than the primary blade. It can especially have a shorter blade length. The trimming blade allows a better shaving of skin areas constricted by adjacent protruding facial features, e.g. skin areas situated under the nose, near the ears, and the same. Thus the trimming shaving is in particular the shaving of skin areas constricted by adjacent protruding facial features with a trimming element. The trimming shaving allows a precision shaving.
As shown in
The trimming element 73 could be a bent blade, as described for instance in patent application WO2013/050606, or a curved blade.
The trimming blade 81 extends along a trimming axis. The trimming axis can coincide with the longitudinal axis X-X.
In an embodiment of the present invention, for example as shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, for example shown in
The definition of the trimming plane depends of the shape of the housing. If the trimming element has a trimming cap and a trimming guard, the definition of the trimming plane is the plane passing through the surface of the trimming guard and trimming cap which are directly near the trimming blade. If the trimming element has a trimming guard and does not have any trimming cap, the trimming plane is the plane passing through the surface of the trimming guard.
The trimming blade 81 and the trimming edge extend in a trimming edge plane Pte. An angle α provided between the trimming edge plane Pte and the trimming plane Pt, as shown in
The trimming element 73 is for example not movable.
The distance between the trimming edge 75 and the trimming guard 77 is between 400 micrometers and 650 micrometers. The distance between the trimming edge 75 and the trimming guard 77 is for example of 580 micrometers or 590 micrometers, in particularly when the shaving blade cartridge includes a trimming cap. The distance between the trimming edge 75 and the trimming guard 77 can also be of 410 micrometers, in particularly when the shaving blade cartridge does not include a trimming cap.
As shown in
The housing 9 includes for example through holes which are provided beyond the trimming blade 81. The through holes may have a rectangular shape. The through holes allow through flow of rinsing water after the trimming.
The primary cutting blade 35 is retained in the housing 9 by a retainer or a clip 87. As shown in
The clips 87, 89, as shown in
As shown in
The second leg 91 of the clip 87, 89 is for example received in a through hole 95 provided in the housing 9. The through hole 95 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis X-X along the lateral axis Z-Z through the housing 9 between the top side 11 and the bottom side 13. The through hole 95 is neither a slot nor a groove. The through hole 95 extends through the housing 9 and when viewed in transversal cross-sectional view is laterally surrounded by the housing's material. The through hole 95 is located adjacent to the primary guard 55.
The second leg 91 of the clip 87, 89, which is received in the through hole 95, is bent around at least a portion of the bottom side 13. The second leg 91 of the clip 87, 89 can extend in a groove provided on the bottom side 13 of the housing 9. For example, the groove for the second leg 91 is in the continuity of groove(s) provided for the first leg.
The trimming element 73 is smaller in length than the distance between the two clips 87, 89 along the longitudinal axis (X-X). In other words, the trimming element 73 extends between the two clips 87, 89, without contact between the clip 87, 89 and the trimming element 73. The trimming element 73 is not maintained or fastened to the housing 9 by the clips 87, 89. The sole retention force or fastening force which maintains the trimming element 73 to the housing 9 is the clamping force of the rear element 57. More particularly, the trimming blade 81 is smaller in length than the distance between the two clips 87, 89.
In a similar way, the rear element 57 is smaller in length than the distance between the two clips 87, 89 along the longitudinal axis (X-X). In other words, the rear element 57 extends between the two clips 87, 89, without contact between the clip 87, 89 and the rear element 57. The rear element 57 is not maintained or fastened to the housing by the clips.
The length of the rear element 57 may correspond to the distance between the two clips along the longitudinal axis (X-X), and a portion of the clip may be wrapped around a portion of the rear element 57. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the trimming element can be retained by the rear element and by the clips.
The design of the shaving blade cartridge 1 allows a cost-effective recycling of the material parts since the disassembly of the trimming blade is neither expensive nor sophisticated. Thus, the environmental impact is reduced.
In order to manufacture a shaving blade cartridge according to the present invention, the following steps can be realized.
The primary guard can be provided and be assembled to the housing.
The trimming element 73 can be placed on the housing. The housing 9 can be provided with arrangements 97, 99 which allow the holding of the trimming element 73 before the fixation of the same. The arrangements 97, 99 can be provided toward the first and the second lateral side 19, 21 of the housing 9. For example, as shown in
In a further step, the trimming element 73 can be fixed by fitting the rear element 57 on the housing 9. The primary cutting blades 35 are mounted on the housing 9 between the first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17, such that the primary guard 55 is located forward of the cutting edge 41. The clips can then be mounted to form the shaving blade cartridge 1. At the end of the method of the manufacture of the shaving blade cartridge according to the present invention, the trimming element 73 is sandwiched between the housing 9 and the primary cap 53.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the steps described above can be performed successively. The assembly process is thus relatively straight forward, easily flexible, and quickly adaptable to different shaving blade cartridges.
According to another method, the primary guard 55 and the housing 9 are one piece; there is no step of assembling the primary guard 55 on the housing 9. The method of manufacturing a shaving blade cartridge can also include:
providing a housing 9 extending along a longitudinal axis X-X having a top side 11 and a bottom side 13 opposite to the top side 11 and first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17 each extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X-X between the top and bottom sides 11, 13, the housing being provided with a primary guard 55,
providing a trimming element 73 having a trimming edge 75,
placing the trimming element 73 on the housing 9, the housing 9 having protrusions 97, 99 being arranged to hold the trimming element 73,
providing a rear element 57,
fixing the trimming element on the housing by fitting the rear element on the housing,
mounting a primary cutting blade 35 on the housing 9 between the first and second longitudinal sides 15, 17, the primary cutting blade 35 having a cutting edge 41 such that the cutting edge 41 and the trimming edge 75 are opposite, the primary guard 55 being located forward of the cutting edge 41.
In the embodiments illustrated in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the protuberances 97 and 99 are different with regard to the other (on the same side of the housing). In another embodiment, the shape of the protuberances 97 and 99 are different on one side of the housing (near the longitudinal end 25 of the first longitudinal side 15 and the free end 27) with regard to the other side (near the longitudinal end 23 of the first side 15 and the free end 27). Any kind of shape and/or any combination of the shapes can be provided on the housing 9 according to the present invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/113,834, filed Jul. 24, 2016, which is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/053880, filed Feb. 27, 2014, the entire contents of which are all incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9751229 | Hodgson | Sep 2017 | B2 |
| 20060070242 | Szczepanowski | Apr 2006 | A1 |
| 20060123631 | Szczepanowski | Jun 2006 | A1 |
| 20110023305 | Whelan | Feb 2011 | A1 |
| 20120279070 | Seo | Nov 2012 | A1 |
| 20170326743 | Hodgson | Nov 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-011930 | Feb 2005 | WO |
| 2005-090023 | Sep 2005 | WO |
| 2008-023210 | Feb 2008 | WO |
| 2009-049216 | Apr 2009 | WO |
| 2011-017239 | Feb 2011 | WO |
| 2011-075505 | Jun 2011 | WO |
| 2013-122900 | Aug 2013 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report of PCT/EP2014/053880, dated Oct. 23, 2014. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180029243 A1 | Feb 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15113834 | US | |
| Child | 15730959 | US |
