Patent Application
20240365962
The present disclosure relates to shaving brushes. In particular, the handle of the shaving brush is adapted to be able to accommodate brush knots of different diameters.
A shaving brush is conventionally used to apply shaving cream, soaps, etc. to the face of a user. The knot of a shaving brush is the hair (natural or synthetic) or bristled end portion of the brush. The brush knot is typically permanently attached to a brush handle using glue or other adhesive. Depending on the end user, a different size, density, configuration, etc. of the brush knot may be desired. As a result, multiple different brushes are needed when different brush knot diameters are desired. This may occur, for example, due to personal preference, a desire to have more control versus the ability to cover more area more quickly, different applications, sharing between different users, etc.
The present disclosure relates to a shaving brush having a handle which can accommodate brush knots having different diameters. As a result, a single brush handle can be used interchangeably with a number of different brush knots. In this regard, the knot is inserted into an upper end of a collet, and the lower end of the collet is inserted into the handle and held in place by a collar. Different collets have bores with a different diameter adapted to hold a knot, but all collets have the same outer diameter.
Some embodiments thus relate to shaving brushes that comprise a handle, a first collet, and a collar. The handle has an open upper end. The first collet has an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being adapted to fit in the open upper end of the handle, and the upper end including a bore with a first inner diameter. The collar is adapted to engage the handle and retain the first collet, and to expose the bore of the first collet.
In some embodiments, the shaving brush further comprises a bushing within the open upper end of the handle that is adapted to engage the first collet. The bushing can be made of a rubber, plastic, polymeric, or other elastic material.
In some embodiments, the upper end of the handle further includes an external thread for engaging the collar. The handle can also further include an o-ring below the external thread. The handle may include a weighted lower end. The handle can be made of a metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, or marble, or any other suitable material.
In some embodiments, the first inner diameter of the bore of the first collet is from about 20 mm to about 30 mm. In particular embodiments, the upper end of the first collet is angled inwards from a central portion at an upper angle measured longitudinally, and the lower end of the first collet is angled inwards from the central portion at a lower angle measured longitudinally, and the upper angle is less than the lower angle. The upper end of the first collet may include an end surface that is visible when the collar engages the handle. Sometimes, the lower end of the first collet further includes a lower bore. The first collet can be made of a rubber or other elastic material.
In additional embodiments, an interior surface of an upper end of the collar includes an angled surface that engages the upper end of the first collet. The collar can also include an internal thread for engaging the handle.
The shaving brush may further comprise a first knot which is affixed within the bore of the first collar.
In other embodiments, the shaving brush further comprises a second collet having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being adapted to fit in the open upper end of the handle, and the upper end including a bore with a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter of the first collet is different from the second inner diameter of the second collet. An outer diameter of the upper end of the first collet and an outer diameter of the upper end of the second collet are substantially equal. Both the first collet and the second collet can be retained between the handle and the collar.
Also disclosed are methods for switching or changing between a first knot having a first diameter and a second knot having a second different diameter on a shaving brush, comprising: separating a collar from a brush handle to expose a first collet upon which the first knot is inserted; removing the first collet from an open upper end of the brush handle; inserting a second collet upon which the second knot is inserted into the open upper end of the brush handle; and re-engaging the collar to the brush handle to retain the second collet with the second knot.
Generally, the first collet and the second collet have identical exterior shapes, but have bores on their upper ends with different diameters. The first collet and the second collet may each be made of a rubber or other elastic material. The handle can include a bushing within the open upper end.
These and other non-limiting aspects and/or objects of the disclosure are more particularly described below.
The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.
A more complete understanding of the processes and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the existing art and/or the present development, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the assemblies or components thereof.
Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.
Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value. All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint.
The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (for example, it includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity). When used with a specific value, it should also be considered as disclosing that value. For example, the term “about 2” also discloses the value “2” and the range “from about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” The term “about” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship between two elements or features as illustrated in the figures. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, the device may be rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.
The present disclosure relates to shaving brushes which can be used with brush knots of different diameters. The shaving brush includes a handle, one or more collets, and a collar. Optionally, a bushing may be present in the handle. One or more interchangeable or replacement brush knots may also be included.
The handle 110 has an upper end 112 and a lower end 114. The upper end 112 is open, or in other words a cylindrical bore 120 extends inward into the handle from the upper end. As best seen in
The upper end 112 of the handle is adapted to engage the collar 300, such that the collet will be retained or fixed in place between the handle 110 and the collar 300. For example, the upper end of the handle may include an external thread 130, which will engage an internal thread on the collar. Alternatively, other joining mechanisms which fix the collar in place relative to the handle can be used. The upper end 112 thus has an outer diameter 127.
In some embodiments, the upper end may also include an external groove 132 located below the external thread 130, or in other words closer to the center of the handle than the external thread. An o-ring 134 (shown in
Referring to
The lower end 114 of the handle may include a tapered groove 138, for comfortable holding of the handle. The lower end may also be weighted (i.e. heavier) compared to the upper end 112. In comparison to the upper end 112, the lower end 114 is closed off. In some embodiments, the bore 120 does not extend all the way through the handle. In other embodiments not illustrated here, the bore can extend all the way through the handle, and the lower end is covered with a cap. The handle is sized to comfortably fit within a human hand, and in some embodiments has a height of about two (2) inches measured along its longitudinal axis.
When present, the bushing 200 is used as a bearing surface between the handle 110 and the collet 400. The bushing may be described as being formed from a shaped tubular sidewall 206. The bushing also has an upper end 202 and a lower end 204. The interior surface 210 of the bushing sidewall is angled (or conical). When measured relative to a vertical line running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing, the angle α of the interior surface may be from about 15° to about 50°.
The exterior surface 220 of the lower end 204 of the sidewall is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing. An external groove 222 may be present on the exterior surface at the lower end of the sidewall. Referring back to
Referring to
As illustrated here, the upper end 202 and the lower end 204 of the bushing are both open. However, it is contemplated the lower end of the bushing could be closed off with a surface if desired.
The collar 300 may be described as being formed from a shaped tubular sidewall 306. The collar 300 has an upper end 302 and a lower end 304, both of which are open. Put another way, there is a hole 303 in the upper end 302 and a hole 305 in the lower end 304. The collar can also be considered to have a cylindrical bore which is surrounded by the sidewall 306. The collar is adapted to engage the handle and to expose the bore of the first collet (which holds the brush knot).
The lower end 304 of the collar may be considered to be that portion of the collar which overlaps with the upper end 112 of the handle. The lower end 304 is adapted to engage the handle. For example, the interior surface 310 of the collar may include an internal thread 312 on a lower end of the collar, which will engage the external thread 130 on the handle. Alternatively, the collar and handle will have complementary joining mechanisms which fix the collar in place relative to the handle, such as snap-fit joints having a rocker arm and a complementary slot.
The interior surface at the upper end of the collar is a conical or angled surface 314. When measured relative to a vertical line running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing, the angle β of the angled surface may be from about 15° to about 50°. The angled surface 314 of the collar will engage the collet.
Referring to
The collet 400 acts as an interface between the brush knot 500 and the handle 110. The first collet 400 has an upper end 410 and a lower end 430, and a central portion 450 between the two ends. The upper end has an upper end surface 412. An upper end bore 420 extends into the first collet from the upper end surface. The bore has an inner diameter 421. In particular embodiments, the inner diameter of the cylindrical bore is from about 20 mm to about 30 mm, which matches the diameters of brush knots that can be used with the shaving brush. The upper end surface has an outer diameter 411, which is greater than the inner diameter 421 of the bore. The bore has a depth 423, and is illustrated here as extending through the central portion 450 and into the lower end 430.
The lower end has a lower end surface 432 having an outer diameter 431. Generally speaking, the lower end of the collet is adapted to fit in the open upper end 112 of the handle, and also into the upper end 202 of the bushing 200 when it is used. In some embodiments, a lower end bore 440 extends into the first collet from the lower end surface. The lower end bore has an inner diameter 441, which is less than the outer diameter 431 of the lower end surface. The lower end bore has a depth 443. The presence of the lower end bore is optional, and is usually present to reduce the amount of material needed to make the first collet. In particular embodiments, the lower end bore inner diameter 441 is less than the upper end bore inner diameter 421.
It is noted that some material usually remains between the upper end bore 420 and the lower end bore 440. Put another way, the height of the first collet is the sum of the heights 413, 453, 433 of the upper end, the central portion, and the lower end, respectively. The sum of the upper end bore depth 423 and the lower end bore depth 443 is less than the height of the first collet. It is also noted that the height 413 of the upper end is usually less than the height 433 of the lower end.
Continuing, the central portion also has an outer diameter 451. The central portion outer diameter 451 is greater than the upper end surface outer diameter 411. The central portion outer diameter 451 is also greater than the lower end surface outer diameter 431. The upper end surface outer diameter 411 is also greater than the lower end surface outer diameter 431.
Referring to
The exterior surface 414 at the upper end of the first collet is angled inwards relative to the central portion 450, or in other words is a conical surface. When measured relative to a vertical line running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing, the angle U of the upper angled surface may be from about 15° to about 50°. Similarly, the exterior surface 434 at the lower end of the first collet is angled inwards relative to the central portion 450, i.e. is also conical. When measured relative to a vertical line running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing, the angle D of the lower angled surface may be from about 15° to about 50°. In particular embodiments, the angle D is greater than the angle U.
Now referring back to
Referring now to
The shaving brush can be used with brush knots of different diameters by selecting an appropriate collet having an upper end bore that matches the diameter of the brush knot and inserting the collet and brush knot between the handle and the collar. Put another way, two separate collets would generally have identical exterior shapes and their upper end would have the same outer diameter, but they would have upper end bores with different inner diameters. Any number of collets could be used with a single brush handle, with each collet having a different upper end bore inner diameter. Thus, the need for multiple different brushes for each knot diameter is addressed.
The user can switch between a first knot having a first diameter and a second knot having a second different diameter by separating the collar from the brush handle to expose a first collet upon which the first knot is inserted. The first collet is removed from the brush handle. A second collet holding the second knot is inserted into the open upper end of the brush handle. Finally, the collar re-engages the brush handle to retain the second collet with the second knot.
The various components of the shaving brush may be made using conventional manufacturing processes.
The handle and the collar are usually made of the same material, which may be made of any desired material. In some embodiments, the handle is made of a metal, plastic, or wood. For example, the handle could be made of anodized aluminum or steel. Suitable plastics could include, for example, acrylates, polycarbonates, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), or vinyl resins. The bushing is made of a rubber or plastic material as desired. The collet is made of a soft rubber and should have shape memory, i.e. the ability to return to its original shape after a load has been applied. The use of rubber for the collet also aids in the making the handle watertight. The brush knot may be made of any suitable natural or synthetic product, such as boar, horse, or badger.
The present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the present disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
