Patent Application
20190315008
Many men and women use razors to superficially remove (i.e. trim) unwanted hair. Some women use razors to shave their legs, to remove hair from their armpits, etc. Some men use razors to shave their faces, their scalps, their chests, etc. Razors typically utilize “blades” to cut unwanted hairs. The blades of a razor cut hairs as a user pulls the razor across his/her skin at the location, to be shaved.
Users of manual multi-bladed razors, e.g. the kind with a handle and a blade assembly, typically apply a lubricant to their skin prior to shaving to minimize the friction between the blades and their skin, and to thereby minimize the frequency and/or severity of unwanted cuts, and/or other types of collateral damage, to their skin that can result from one or more blades cutting their skin and/or bumps or other imperfections on the surface of their skin instead of, or in addition to, the hairs to be cut.
During the process of shaving with a manual multi-bladed razor, some of the cut hairs and lubricant may be pushed into the gaps between and around the blades. The presence of this hair and lubricant mixture blocks the gaps between the blades and must be removed to prevent fragments of cut hairs from interfering with and/or blocking the appropriate contact between those blades and a shaver's skin. It must also be removed so that a path exists through which newly scraped hairs and lubricant can escape so as to prevent the razor from effectively “pushing” an aggregate of lubricant across the surface of the user's skin and obstructing the user's view of the skin to be shaved.
While a completely soluble shaving lubricant would help ameliorate the flushing of surplus lubricant from between a razor's blade, most, if not all, shaving lubricants are not completely, and some are not even easily, dissolved in water. In fact, in order to increase their lubricating effectiveness, many shaving lubricants are formulated with hydrophobic ingredients that make them difficult to dissolve in, and/or to remove with, water.
Not only is it often necessary for a shaver to attempt to force the hairs and lubricant from between a cartridge's blades through the sustained application of a very energetic stream of water, many shaver's feel compelled to “bang” their razors against a hard surface (e.g. their sink countertop) in an attempt to physically dislodge the debris from between the blades. Other users sometimes attempt to clear such debris by sliding a finger nail between the blades often with undesirable consequences.
Removing “used” lubricant and cut hairs from between the blades of a twin-bladed or multi-bladed razor is a difficult and frustrating process. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to generate enough water volume, speed and/or force in the water discharged from the tap of a bathroom sink, such that the kinetic energy of the water successfully remove the debris stuck between a razor's blades.
A user of a manual razor possessing a typical blade assembly will usually hold the cartridge (via its attached handle) under water running from a tap in order to attempt to “flush” accumulated lubricant, hair, and debris, from between the cartridge's blades. This is an ineffective and frustrating process. And, only a relatively small “slice” of a stream of water impacting an unmodified blade assembly will actually impinge upon and/or pass between the blades
An unmodified razor blade assembly (e.g. an unmodified razor cartridge) typical of the prior art has a relatively planar upper surface. Most of the water directed toward the blades of an unmodified blade assembly will hit the “frame” of the assembly, i.e. the perimeter within which the blades are affixed and by which the blades are surrounded, and splash to one side or the other. Only a relatively narrow “slice” of the water directed toward the assembly's blades will actually strike the space between two blades and thereby help to “flush” away any lubricant and/or cut hairs lodged therebetween.
However, by effectively surrounding the blades of the assembly with a multi-walled chamber, channel, or scoop, most, if not all, of an incident stream of water can be directed into a blade channel and therethrough forced to pass over and/or through the blades therein. The constriction of a relatively wide incident stream of water, pursuant to the present disclosure, results in its speeding up via a Venturi effect. And, a flushing of a razor's blades with a faster flow of water more effectively dislodges and removes debris from between and/or around those blades.
There are many variations in the design of the scoops and/or barriers that may be used to achieve the benefit of the present disclosure. Basically, a structure and/or a structural modification is added to or incorporated within a twin-razor, a multi-bladed razor, and/or a razor cartridge, which results in a more effective flushing of the space(s) between adjacent razor blades than was possible in the prior art.
This increase in the effectiveness of the flushing can be achieved through the modified structure's capture of a greater volume (i.e. volume per unit time) of water, than that typical of known blade:assemblies. This increase may be enhanced through the direction of that increased, volume of water toward the blades, and the spaces therebetween, and/or through the reduction in the volume (per unit time) of water which is able to leave a blade assembly through a path that is not adjacent to one or more of a razor's blades.
The increase in the effectiveness of the flushing thereby enabled is, at least in: part, achieved through the creation of a Venturi effect in the water flowing through it. Wherein the Venturi effect increases the speed with which the water incident upon a razor's blade assembly travels through the blades therein. The Venturi effect results from the introduction of water to the “collector” (e.g. scoop) through an aperture whose cross-sectional area is greater than that of the aperture available for its exit (i.e. through the blade channel).
The scope of this disclosure can be extended to any razor design, cartridge design, supporting structure, and/or structural modification, which increases the effectiveness of the flushing of lubricant and/or hairs from between the blades of a twin- or multi-bladed razor, and/or a razor cartridge:
1) through its capture of a volume (per unit time) of water, which is directed toward the razor's blades, through an aperture whose cross-sectional area is greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture in which the razor's blades are embedded and through which the water may exit the razor's blade assembly;
2) through its relative increase in the volume (per unit time) of water that it directs toward those blades, with respect to an equivalent unmodified razor and/or razor blade assembly;
3) through its relative reduction in the volume (per unit time) of water that is allowed to escape the razor's blade assembly without flowing over and/or between the cartridge's blades; and/or
4) through its tendency to increase the speed with which water flows over and/or between the blades of the blade assembly by means of an induced Venturi effect.
A razor apparatus is disclosed which includes a razor cartridge having an aperture, and a plurality of razor blades mounted longitudinally in the aperture and positioned in the aperture parallel to one another and at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the blade channel and thereby forming angled gaps. The plurality of razor blades and the aperture define a blade channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet. The blade channel has a channel cross-sectional area. A scoop is attached to the cartridge and defines a scoop channel. The scoop can have a rectangular shape and is formed by at least three walls of a rectangle. The scoop channel includes an entry mouth having a mouth cross-sectional area. The mouth cross-sectional area is at least 20% larger (or at least twice or three times larger) than the channel cross-sectional area. The scoop channel is configured to direct water flowing in through the mouth into the channel inlet.
A razor apparatus is disclosed including a razor cartridge having an aperture and at least one razor blade mounted longitudinally in the aperture, and the at least one razor blade and the aperture defines a blade channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet. The blade channel has a channel cross-sectional area. A scoop is attached to the razor and defines one or more scoop channels. Each of the one or more scoop channels includes an entry mouth having a mouth cross-sectional area, and the sum of the mouth cross-sectional areas is at least as large as the channel cross-sectional area. Each of the one or more scoop channels is configured to direct water flowing in through the mouth into the channel inlet.
The blades can be angled foming angled gaps and the scoop can direct the water into the blade channel at an angle of between fifteen and sixty degrees relative to the angled gaps or between five and forty-five degrees. A partition in the scoop can be between 0 and 5 mm above a top of the blade(s). The razor cartridge can be at least partially enclosed in a container.
Embodiments disclosed herein for a multi-bladed razor, and/or razor cartridge provide an efficient means for the removal of lubricant and cut hairs from between its blades in conjunction with, and/or as a consequence of, the direction of a free-flowing stream of water (e.g. as from a bathroom faucet) into a razor's blade channel (i.e. the channel within a razor head or cartridge in which one finds the blades of the razor head or cartridge, and into the walls of which those blades are embedded and/or affixed).
Embodiments disclosed herein allow shavers to complete their shaves more quickly, thereby saving them time. They spare the shavers frustration, thereby improving their health and their attitude. They spare them the cost of replacing razors damaged as a consequence of being struck against sinks, countertops, and other hard objects in a desperate attempt to clear the gaps between the blades of the razors.
Embodiments disclosed herein allow the manufacturers and/or sellers of razor(s) which incorporate the same to foster greater customer satisfaction, customer appreciation, customer loyalty, and profits.
Razor cartridges (or complete razors) that incorporate on their upper side, and/or adjacent, to their blade channels, a funnel, scoop, or other water-capturing structural element are disclosed herein. The funnel or scoop captures water when a user places the cartridge under a tap. Because it captures more water than would normally directly impact the blades in a manual razor of the prior art, the funnel or scoop on top of this manual razor passes more water through the blades, creates a Venturi effect that speeds up that water, and thereby rinses away shaving lather and cut hairs more efficiently and more quickly than would a cartridge of the prior art.
The funnel or scoop is attached to the side of the razor opposite to the side from which the blades protrude and against which the user's skin comes in contact. Because of its orientation, and its expected lightweight, the disclosed funnel does hot interfere with shaving. And, any visual obstruction of the area being shaved can be further minimized by fabricating the funnel with transparent or translucent material(s).
Embodiments herein can include:
1. Those which capture water through a funnel and direct it into the relatively constricted aperture of the razor or cartridge's blade channel in which the blades are embedded.
2. Those which obstruct, and thereby divert toward the blades of a razor, portions of a stream of water adjacent to the portion falling directly upon the blades of a razor, thus increasing the volume and speed of the water flowing through the razor's blades.
3. Those which are integral modifications to the razor as well as those which are designed to “clip on” or otherwise attach to razors or cartridges including those of the prior art.
4. Those which are manifested through permanent structural elements as well as those which are “collapsible.”
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
For the sake of brevity, the description and/or discussion of the present disclosure, and/or to embodiments thereof, may utilize references to razors, and/or to razor cartridges (i.e. “cartridges”). However, unless specifically contradicted by word or structure, all such descriptions, discussions, and/or embodiments, apply with equal force to both, even if only disclosed, and/or discussed, in reference to one or the other. The preference herein is to discuss this disclosure and embodiments of the same with respect to cartridges, although such discussions, disclosures, and embodiments, unless specifically contradicted by word or structure, apply with equal force to “non-cartridge” and/or “integral” razors (e.g. those possessing a rigidly attached handle).
A cartridge is typically used in conjunction with a razor handle, and may be removably attached and/or connected thereto.
However, unlike razors typical of the prior art, this embodiment surrounds the “entry mouth of the blade channel,” i.e. the opening of the channel defined within a cartridge through which water flows over the blades 110, and within which the blades are affixed, with a barrier 130 and 140. The upper perimeter of this barrier defines a new upper mouth to the channel through which water can flow to and through the blades 110. This new upper mouth, or “entry mouth of scoop,” has across-sectional area that exceeds the cross-sectional area of the “exit mouth of the blade channel,” i.e. the mouth through which water exits the cartridge after having flowed between or around the blades 110.
This entry scoop mouth accepts a greater volume of water per unit time than does the entry mouth of an unmodified blade channel. This expanded entry mouth allows an incident stream of water to accumulate, to be directed towards the blades, and, because of its constricting cross-sectional area, to speed up, before reaching the blades. The effective constriction in the cross-sectional area of the channel through which water flows to the blades causes the flow of water to increase in speed and to manifest a Venturi effect.
A shaver using a cartridge like the one illustrated in
Three potential directions 220, 230 and 240 of water flow are included in this figure. The portion of the incident stream that will enter the gaps between the blades 200 varies with its “angle of attack.” The maximal “effective” width 250 of the slice of the stream, and the maximal volume and rate of water flow through the blade channel, and through the gaps between the blades 200 therein, is achieved by a stream that impinges on the channel parallel (arrow 240) to the longitudinal axis of the blade channel. The “effective” stream width 260 and 270, as well as the volume and rate of water flow through the blade channel, and through the gaps between the blades 200 therein, decreases as the angle between the stream's flow 220 and 230, and the longitudinal axis of the “blade channel” 210, increase.
In this embodiment, the scoop 300 is composed of three walls or barriers: a wall 290 distal to the user, and one wall on either side of the cartridge, e.g. 300. The third wall of the scoop is composed of the bottom wall of the cartridge, i.e. the one in which the blade channel is embedded.
Water 320 entering the scoop normal to its cross-sectional plane 310 will have a portion of its stream equal in width 350 to enter the scoop. In the absence of the scoop, only a relatively narrow portion of the stream, i.e. with a width 360, would enter the blade channel as a consequence of the same incident stream of water 320.
Regardless of how much water enters the scoop, and/or the blade channel, the output stream 370 will have a width 380.
The excess of water entering the scoop will often, if not always, create a “Venturi effect”. The result of which is that the speed of the water passing through the blade channel will increase by a factor equal to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the stream of water entering the scoop to the cross-sectional area of the stream of water leaving the blade channel. In the case of the example illustrated in
The actual increase in the speed of the water flowing between the blades in an embodiment may be less than the theoretical maximum as a result of many practical factors, some of which are related to the actual cross-section of the stream impinging on the scoop (e.g. if the stream is thin then the benefit of the scoop may not be maximal, etc.). Another example of sub-optimal performance would be if the stream impinging on the scoop were not flowing normal to the scoop's cross-sectional plane (at its mouth).
With respect to cartridges of the prior art, such as the one illustrated in
The embodiments disclosed herein, at a minimum,, provide for improved volume and speed of flow between the cartridge blades in most, if not all, circumstances.
Water flowing 520 into the circular aperture 525 of Genero will tend to collide with the bottom 530 of the cup. Because of this, the water inside 540 the cup will tend to manifest significant turbulence 550. When the water flows 560 laterally toward the blades 570, it will tend to flow 560 into the blades normal to their broad surfaces, thereby tending to dissipate at least a portion of their speed and energy. After colliding with the blades 570, the water will tend to flow 580 downward.
Water flowing 610, 620, and 630 into the circular aperture 640 of Genero will tend to collide with the bottom 650 of the cup. Because of this, the water inside 660 the cup will tend to manifest significant turbulence 670. When the water flows 680 laterally through a connecting channel 690 toward the blades, e.g. 700, it will tend to flow 680 into the blades normal to their broad surfaces, thereby tending to dissipate at least a portion of their speed and energy. After colliding with the blades, the water will tend to flow 710 downward.
Because the aperture of Genero is circular, the more lateral cross-section at line. 8-8 reveals a significantly smaller cup cross-sectional area than does the central cross section at line 7-7. At this position in the cup, the inflowing water must also travel further laterally, i.e. through channel 690, in order to reach the blades, e.g. 700.
Note the very limited openings 980 through which water may be introduced to the blade channel. With respect to the cartridge 930 shown, the amount of water that can flow into the blade channel is substantially less than the amount of water that can flow out of the channel. This would be expected to result in a slow flow of water through the blade channel, and in inefficient and poor flushing of used lubricant and cut hairs from between the blades of the cartridge.
In much of the remainder of this disclosure only a razor cartridge is discussed and/or illustrated. This is done for the sake of efficiency. That is, the redundant illustration of razor handles is unnecessary when the disclosure herein does not typically involve features attached to, or manifested within, the razor handle. The symbolic “connector port” 1010 is provided on cartridge illustrations to provide the reader with a proper orientation for the features illustrated within prototypical cartridges. However, this symbolic connector port is only referenced by number here, and redundant numeric references are not provided for the additional applicable illustrations and figures herein.
All embodiments illustrated and/or discussed with respect to razor cartridges will, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, apply with equal force and validity to “solid” one-piece integral razors (i.e. those without detachable cartridges). This will be clear to those skilled in the art.
This horizontal slice of the cartridge 990 is flush at its top and bottom with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the cartridge blades 1000. The exit mouth 1060 of the blade channel is the portal through which water must exit after flowing from top-to-bottom over and between the blades 1000.
With respect to the illustrated cartridge 990, the effluent stream 1080 that exits the blade channel 1020 has a cross-sectional area 1100 equal to the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's entry mouth 1020.
In many cartridges of the prior art, the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's entry mouth is no greater than the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's exit mouth. And, in many cartridges of the prior art, including the razor of Genero, the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's entry mouth is actually significantly less than the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's exit mouth.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to the embodiment of the prior art illustrated in
With respect to the illustrated cartridge 990, the effluent stream 1100 that exits the blade channel 1020 has a cross-sectional area 1100 equal to the cross-sectional area of the blade channel's exit mouth.
With respect to cartridges typical of the prior art, like the one illustrated in
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing 1120 and outflowing 1100 streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 0.85.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 0.5.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing (not shown) and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 3.53, which is significantly greater'than the ratio associated with prior art razors.
The greater volume and rate of flow entering the scoop of the razor illustrated in
Moreover, the greater volume and rate of water entering the scoop 1160 also means that this embodiment creates flow conditions that tend to lead to the manifestation of a Venturi effect. The water flowing through the scoop, and into the smaller entry mouth of the blade channel 1190, speeds up so that the greater volume, and rate of water flow can still exit through the blade channel's 1190 exit mouth of relatively smaller cross-sectional area. By flowing more quickly, the water flowing through the blade channel 1190, and over and between the blades therein, will more forcefully impact any residue of lubricant and/or cut hairs and thus flush them out more effectively and more efficiently.
As with the similar embodiment illustrated in
The presence of the collar 1260 may allow additional water to accumulate in the scoop thus providing increased pressure to drive the water through the blade channel 1270, and providing improved distribution of water when the input flow is unable to fill the cross-sectional area of the scoop's entry mouth, i.e. when the stream entering the scoop is not uniform and/or of insufficient diameter to simultaneously cover all parts of the entry mouth with an influx of water.
As with the similar embodiments illustrated in
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 1.32.
For example, water 1380 flowing into the leftmost sub-division in the illustrated embodiment, i.e. the sub-divided portion of the scoop delineated by partitions 1360 and 1370, will have a cross-sectional area 1410. However, most, if not all, of that water 1380 will pass through a corresponding sub-division of the blade channel. That water 1390, after perhaps dislodging, dissolving and/or otherwise freeing used lubricant and/or cut hairs from between that portion of the blades located within the corresponding sub-division of the blade channel, then flows out of that corresponding portion of the blade channel 1400.
While the cross-sectional area of 1410 of the maximal stream 1380 able to flow into the leftmost sub-division is less than the area of the maximal stream that would have been able to flow into an undivided scoop (e.g. 1310 of
The embodiment illustrated in
The use of a sub-divided scoop, like the one illustrated in
A fully saturated scoop, and/or scoop sub-division, has the greatest opportunity to fully flush out lubricants, cut hairs and/or other undesirable contaminants from around and/or between a razor's blades. it is the flow condition most likely to reach every space between and around a razor's blades, and the flow condition least likely to leave any portion of the blade channel “un-flushed.”
And, a fully saturated scoop, and/or scoop sub-division, has the greatest potential to develop an accelerated flow through the blades through the manifestation of a Venturi effect, and an accelerated flow will more efficiently and more completely remove blade contaminants.
A user may find that it takes more time to flush each sub-division individually, than it does to flush them all by means of a single, undivided scoop.
As with the similar embodiment illustrated in
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 3.01.
While the cross-sectional area 1530 of the maximal stream 1540 able to flow into the leftmost sub-division (i.e. between walls 1520 and 1510) is less than the area of the maximal stream that would have been able to flow into an undivided scoop (e.g. 1470 of
As with the similar embodiment illustrated in
When this embodiment is rotated, so as to orient the scoop mouth within a horizontal plane, and then moved into a stream of water issuing from the tap on a sink, it tends to “reflect” the inflowing stream 1590 of water off the primary wall 1580B of the scoop, through a ninety degree change in direction, and into the adjacent blade channel 1600. The flow of water through the blade channel 1600 will not only benefit from the scoop's ability to capture a stream 1590 of water greater in volume and rate of flow (i.e. greater in cross-sectional area 1610) than that which the blade channel 1600 could directly capture; and it will not only benefit from an acceleration in the speed of flow of the water through the blade channel 1600 caused by a Venturi effect; the flow through the blade channel in this embodiment will also benefit from the redirection of at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the incoming stream 1590 directly into the blade channel 1600.
Because of the scoop's 1580 greater lateral extent than the blade channel 1600, and its height of equal or greater extent than the corresponding width of the blade channel, the cross-sectional area of the maximally-voluminous water stream 1590 will be significantly greater than the cross-sectional area 1620 of the effluent water stream 1630.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 1.46.
As with the similar embodiment illustrated in
The cross-sectional area 1740 of water 1750 entering the left side 1730A of the embodiment is greater than the cross-sectional area 1760 of the water 1770 that will pass through and then exit the blade channel 1780. As was the case with the embodiments illustrated in
A vertical wall, and/or central partition, (i.e. beneath seam 1790) separates the two side-facing scoop sub-divisions so that water entering one side will tend to pass through, and flush debris from, only the corresponding side of the blade channel 1780. The lower edge of the central partition in the scoop 1730 of the embodiment illustrated in
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to this embodiment can be 1.42.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to each sub-division of the scoop of this embodiment can be 2.84.
The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inflowing and outflowing streams of water with respect to each sub-division of the scoop of this embodiment can be 2.95.
This embodiment uses an “open channel” rather than a “closed channel.” And, while some incident water may still escape to, off, and/or over, the sides of the cartridge (i.e. in the absence of side walls and/or a complete scoop channel), this embodiment will nonetheless increase the amount of water from an incident stream that can be directed into the blade channel and therein remove debris from between and around the blades.
This embodiment illustrates a scoop possessing an irregular mouth and/or channel edge. The effective cross-sectional area of such an irregular scoop channel will vary with the angle at which water impinges upon the cartridge. With respect to the illustrated embodiment 2020, the maximally-voluminous incident stream will be achieved by a stream entering the irregular scoop mouth at an angle approximately normal to the plane that passes through the upper edge of the distal wall 2050 and the upper edge 2070 of the cartridge 2020 furthest from the distal wall 2050.
This embodiment is simpler in construction and may be easier to package efficiently than embodiments with relatively large scoops, and/or scoops with three or more walls.
The distal wall 3290 can first be rotated 3320 (by a user) back along its “hinge” 3330 leading to a configuration illustrated in
After their rotations up to their “active” positions, each side wall can “snap” into position through the interaction of complementary tab, and slot elements on the side and distal walls, e.g. located adjacent to the junctions 3380A and 3380B, and/or seams, between each side wall 3300A and 33006,, respectively, and the distal wall 3290. There are many other ways to “lock” such a scoop in its deployed and operational configuration, and all such methods and means as would be apparent to those skilled in the art are within the scope of this disclosure.
Note the presence of latching tabs 3430 and their complementary slots 3440. When the collapsed barrier wall 3400 is rotated up, the latches engage with their complementary slots and hold the distal wall 3440 in an erect orientation, i.e. they prevent the spontaneous collapse of the raised wall.
After its rotation up to its “active” position, the distal scoop wall 3400 can and will “snap” into position through the locking of latches 3430 into their complementary slots in the cartridge base 3390. There are many other ways to “lock” such a scoop wall in its deployed and operational configuration, and all such methods and means as would be apparent to those skilled in the art are included within the scope of this disclosure.
A significant portion of water flowing in a direction 3450 that leads it to collide with an upper surface of the cartridge 3390, and/or the barrier wall 3400 positioned at its distal end, will be redirected so as to flow through the blade channel and out 3460 of the outflow mouth of the blade channel.
A significant portion of water flowing in a direction 3560 that leads it to collide with an upper surface of the cartridge, and/or the barrier wall 3500 positioned at its distal end, will be redirected so as to flow through the blade channel and out 3570 of the outflow mouth of the blade channel.
The scoop can be rotated (arrow 3630) up and away from a cartridge 3580 allowing the cartridge to be replaced. After the cartridge is replaced, the rotatable scoop 3590, can be rotated back down to engage with an upper surface 3640 of the cartridge, and thereafter direct an inflowing stream of water into the blade channel 3650.
A “clip” 3660 holds the scoop in an operational position, against the underlying cartridge. After rotating the scoop back to its operational position, a firm push by a user “snaps” the arm 3610 into the clip, thereby securing it in the “lowered” position.
The barrier wall 3760 is prevented from lying directly against the upper surface of the cartridge 3740 by posts 3790. When water flows 3800 into the gap between the rotatable wall 3760 and the upper surface of the cartridge, its kinetic energy forces the wall to rotate 3750 up and assume a raised position, which is illustrated in
Collapsible embodiments herein offer the advantages of being more easily and efficiently packaged for storage, transportation and sale.
Razor blade(s) 3930 are affixed within the constricted portion 3900A of the channel, and the blade(s) 3930 are adjacent to the effluent mouth.
In this illustration, the cross-sectional area (3930A and 3930B) of the influent mouth is twice that of the cross-sectional area 3940 of the effluent mouth. Likewise, the cross-sectional area of the stream that the influent mouth can capture is twice the cross-sectional area of the stream that flows out of the effluent mouth. The reduction in the cross-sectional area of the channel tends to create a Venturi effect which increases, and with respect to the illustrated channel would be expected to double, the speed of the water passing through the constricted portion 3900A of the channel, and over, around and between the blade(s) 3930.
If the “efficiency” of a channel configuration is defined as being equal to the percentage of the volume and rate of flow of water captured and diverted to that portion of the channel in which the blade(s) are affixed, relative to the volume and rate of flow of water that flows out of the effluent mouth of the channel, then the “efficiency” of the channel configuration illustrated in
Likewise, with respect to this definition of “efficiency”, the efficiency of the channel configuration illustrated in
However, the efficiency of the channel configuration illustrated in
In the configuration illustrated in
The channel configuration illustrated in
The irregular and/or “open channel” illustrated in
In terms of the earlier definition of “efficiency,” the channel configuration illustrated in
Thus, as was discussed relative to
In terms of the earlier definition of “efficiency,” the channel configuration illustrated in
Thus, as was discussed relative to
While it is not reasonable to estimate the “efficiency” of the channel configuration illustrated in
Thus, as was discussed relative to
In some embodiments, the magnitudes of these angles will be relatively small, such as ranging from 0 to 10 degrees. In other embodiments, they may be larger, such as ranging from 0 to 50 degrees. Other embodiments may be characterized by different and/or unique ranges of typical angular deviations from parallel flow.
The embodiments disclosed herein facilitate peoples' ability to shave themselves. The act of shaving with a manual razor (i.e. .a razor that is manipulated “by hand” and which typically lacks electrical and/or electronic components, and containing one or more fixed blades that are dragged across a person's skin in order to remove unwanted hairs thereon) involves many inter-related actions. A user typically applies to his skin a lubricant of some kind in order to reduce unwanted cuts and pain. The user then typically drags the blade(s) of a razor across the skin, sometimes several times, removing hair and at least a portion of the lubricant thereon. Periodically, a user will remove, or attempt to remove, from the blade(s), and especially from between any pairs of blades, the lubricant and hairs that have accumulated there during the shaving process.
Removing the waste hair and lubricant from a razor's blades is typically a difficult and time consuming process. And, this process is further complicated by the tendency of manufacturers of multi-bladed razors to position those blades in close proximity to one another. The narrow gaps between adjacent blades are easily blocked by waste lubricant and hairs. And, because of the narrowness of the gaps between them, these rows of blades are difficult to flush with water. A set of closely-spaced adjacent blades will only collide with a narrow slice of any stream of water directed against it. The rest of the water will either pass around the outer blades without removing any debris from the gaps between the blades, or it will splash off the fixture holding the blades and pass uselessly down a drain without effect.
Embodiments of the present disclosure solve this problem, and in so doing, satisfy a long-felt need which is commonly complained about by users of manual razors, and has apparently been complained about since the invention of the two- and multi-bladed razors. And, this is the first solution that is practical in terms of use, fabrication, and cost.
The razors, and/or the razor assemblies and/or cartridges disclosed herein incorporate an obstruction or a scoop or other “water gathering and channeling structure” so as to increase the volume and flow rate of water directed through a razor's blades. Moreover, many embodiments not only increase the volume of water that flows over and between a razor's blades, they also simultaneously direct the flow of that water so that it impinges upon those blades in a direction more parallel to the broad surfaces of the blades (i.e. so that it better flows between the blades). Furthermore, because the cross-sectional area of the mouth through which water enters the scoop exceeds the cross-sectional area of the mouth through which it exits the portion of the channel in which the blades are affixed, a Venturi effect tends to accelerate the speed of the water's flow around and between the blades resulting in a more effective dislodging of waste from those spaces.
Thereby the present disclosure can include the following:
1. a structure for capturing, accepting and/or gathering an inflowing stream of water;
2. a channel through which the captured influent stream is carried, at least in part, from the orifice through which it was captured, to the blades from which debris is to be flushed out;
3. a constriction, and/or a region of narrowing in the channel, such that the cross-sectional area of the channel is reduced in at least a portion of the channel in which at least a portion of at least one of the blades is affixed; and
4. an orifice through which the water that flowed through the channel, and/or around, over and/or between the blades, flows out.
The potential variety of structures and/or designs capable of satisfying the elements disclosed herein is large, and all such variations are included within the scope of this disclosure. A few embodiments are provided in the accompanying figures. These are provided as examples of the available variety of potential embodiments and are not limiting in any fashion. Many other embodiments, and variations of the embodiments illustrated in the figures, will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and are hereby included within the scope of this disclosure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, embodiments which utilize a “closed-channel” scoop (see, e.g.,
some of which may be attached to, and/or incorporated within, a removable razor cartridge (see, e.g.,
some of which may be attached to, and/or incorporated within, a complete, integral, and/or disposable razor, containing a permanently attached handle (see, e.g.,
some of which may utilize contoured inner surfaces to reduce turbulence and promote laminar flow (see, e.g,
some of which may accept water flowing from a source above the scoop along an axis parallel to the flow axis (a longitudinal axis, and/or an axis typical of water flow through the blade channel) (see, e.g.,
some of which may accept water flowing along an axis that has an included angle with the blade channel flow axis of up to ninety degrees and is inclined toward the razor's handle (see, e.g.,
some of which may accept water flowing along an axis that has an included angle with the blade channel flow axis of up to ninety degrees and is inclined toward the longitudinal axis of the razor head (i.e. from the side of the razor head) (see, e.g.,
some of which may have angled and/or constricting inner scoop surfaces and/or walls (see, e.g.,
some of which may have inner scoop surfaces and/or walls approximately normal to an upper surface of the razor head (e.g. box-like scoops) (see, e.g.,
some of which may contain partitions that sub-divide the scoop (see, e.g.,
some of which may utilize rotatable, pivotable, and/or otherwise collapsible scoop walls (see, e.g.,,
some of which may utilize removable scoops, in which the scoops are attached to a cartridge by a connecting mechanism (e.g. clips) and/or are attached to razor handles rigidly, pivotably, and/or removably (see, e.g.,
some of which may incorporate, include, and/or affix, blades, serrated edges, and/or other useful accessories, to and/or within one or more scoop walls. (see, e.g.,
Embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, embodiments which utilize a single distal wall and/or an otherwise irregular and/or “open-channel” scoop (see, e.g.,
some of which may be attached to, and/or incorporated within, a removable razor cartridge (see, e.g.,
some of which may be attached to, and/or incorporated within, a complete, integral, and/or disposable razor, containing a permanently attached handle (see, e.g.,
some of which may use a single distal wall (see, e.g.,
some of which may use partitions that sub-divide the scoop (see, e.g.,
some of which may use rotatable, pivotable, and/or otherwise collapsible distal walls (see, e.g.,
some of which may use removable distal walls, in which the distal walls are attached to a cartridge by a connecting mechanism (clips, posts, etc.) and/or are attached to razor handles rigidly, pivotably, and/or removably; and
some of which may incorporate, include and/or affix, blades, serrated edges, and/or other useful accessories, to and/or within the distal wall.
The present disclosure is made with respect to the improvement of elements of the prior art that are believed to be “typical” and/or representative. However, this present disclosure applies with equal force, and extends its' scope to be inclusive of the application disclosed herein, to the improvement of related instances, variations, and embodiments of manual razors, their blades, blade assemblies, cartridges, etc.
This disclosure has application to, and is disclosed with respect to, manual razors and/or razor cartridges that possess any number of blades. Although the utility disclosed herein is especially great for razors and/or cartridges possessing two or more blades, it has application to, and provides a useful advantage for, users of single-blade razors.
This disclosure has application to, and is disclosed with respect to, both “solid” razors, i.e. those in which the blades and the handle are affixed within a common mechanical structure, and cartridge razors; that is, those in which the blade(s) are affixed to a removable blade assembly.
This disclosure includes elements related to “water capture” as well as “water channeling.” Embodiments of the present disclosure may accomplish either or both of these element through the use of a closed channel, e.g. a “channel”, or through the use of an open channel, e.g. free-standing barriers or walls that capture and/or alter the path of at least a portion of an incident stream of water. While an open channel may allow some water to escape, thus potentially lowering the efficiency of the channel in bringing water to a razor's blades and/or to increasing, by means of a Venturi effect, the speed of that water, it may also provide a useful compromise in terms of cost, packaging efficiency, and/or one or more other measures of practicality.
This disclosure encompasses, but is not limited to, embodiments in which the “water gathering” (i.e. scoop) element, and/or the “water channeling” element, are fabricated with, and/or employ, rigid structures, “foldable” rigid panels, moveable rigid structures, slideable rigid structures, flexible embodiments and/or embodiments incorporating flexible elements, as well as combinations thereof .
Embodiments incorporating rigid structures include, but are not limited to, those in which a scoop-like structure is a part of the same rigid structure to which the razor blades are affixed. Illustrative examples of embodiments that incorporate rigid structures include those illustrated in
Embodiments incorporating “foldable” rigid panels include, but are not limited to, those in which approximately flat, rigid panels are connected, by flexible means, to the same rigid structure to which the razor blades are affixed. These moveable rigid panels can then be moved from a relatively compact, folded, packed and/or storage configurations into a deployed, raised, and/or operational configuration. With respect to many, but not necessarily all, embodiments herein, the raising of the panels, and the conversion of the embodiment from its compact to its operational configuration, will be implemented, achieved, and/or realized by a user, or potential user, of the embodiment (e.g. after extracting the embodiment from its packaging and preparing it for use). Illustrative examples of embodiments that incorporate “foldable” rigid panels include those illustrated in
Embodiments incorporating moveable rigid structures include, but are not limited to, those in which rigid structural elements are moved into, and out of, operational orientations, typically, but not exclusively, by a user, or potential user, of the embodiment. Illustrative examples of embodiments that incorporate moveable rigid structures include those illustrated in
Embodiments incorporating flexible panels or membranes include, but are not limited to, those in which rigid structural elements are connected to, and/or interconnected with, foldable, flexible, stretchable, deformable, inflatable, semi-rigid, and/or malleable, elements. These elements might include, but are not limited to, panels, partitions, hinges, and channels. Embodiments incorporating flexible panels or membranes offer the advantage of simplified packaging, and the potential convenience of offering water-gathering and/or water-channeling elements that are “inflated” directly by the water directed into those structures by the user, i.e. they require no manual deployment steps by a user. Illustrative examples of embodiments that incorporate flexible panels or membranes include those in
This disclosure is also applicable to, inclusive, of, and is disclosed with respect to, razors and/or razor cartridges that include a “comb” adjacent to the blades. The comb facilitates the shaving of relatively long hair. These types of razors are often used in medical facilities to shave patients prior to surgical procedures.
This disclosure encompasses, but is not limited to, embodiments in which the “water gathering” (i.e. scoop) element, and/or the “water channeling” element, are permanently attached and/or affixed to the razor blade assembly and/or to the handle assembly. However, it also encompasses, but is not limited to, embodiments in which the scoop, and/or “water channeling” element, removably attaches to, and detaches from, (e.g. “clips on to”) the razor blade assembly, the handle assembly, and/or any other structural element or feature of a manual razor and/or a cartridge assembly thereof. Illustrative examples of embodiments that incorporate clip-on elements include those illustrated in
The dissolution and/or dislodging of debris from around and/or between razor blades within a manual razor can be facilitated through the addition of various chemical agents to the water used to “flush out” and thereby remove such debris. At least one embodiment incorporates within, coats, and/or affixes to, at least a portion of the “water gathering” and/or “water-channeling” structure(s) at least one such adjuvant debris-removing chemical agent. In at least one embodiment, the debris-removing chemical agent then dissolves, flows, “leaches,” and/or is pumped, into the water entering and/or flowing through the water channel prior to its encounter and/or collision with the blades therein.
Genero as discussed above discloses a razor (
Genero discloses a razor in which a circular orifice 510 and channel are incorporated within the upper part of the razor, adjacent to the razor head. The recommended method of operation is to removably connect the circular orifice to the exit aperture of a faucet, in much the same way as a nozzle is connected to the end of a garden hose. One might expect the connection of the circular orifice 510 of Genero to the end of a faucet from which water is flowing to create a pressurized flow of water through the channel connecting the orifice to the blade channel.
Another method of operation disclosed by Genero is the introduction of a free flow of water (see 720 in
Freely-flowing water entering the device of Genero collides with a wall 530 beneath the orifice and must flow laterally (and forward) (
Furthermore, the device of Genero directs water received through the circular orifice toward, and/or into, a central portion of the blade channel. The lateral extremities of the blade channel receive only that water which fails to flow through the centermost portion of the blades and blade channel. This means that debris lodged near the sides of the blades in Genero will encounter a flushing stream of even lower speed and/or volume than will the debris lodged near the center.
By contrast, razors of the present disclosure utilize a receiving orifice (see, e.g.,
In most embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the water (see, e.g., 2030 of
As mentioned above, a stream of free flowing water 720 entering the circular orifice 510 of Genero will encounter an obstacle (the bottom of the receiving chamber) and thereafter be directed (through an approximately ninety degree turn) to flow laterally in a forward direction to reach the blade channel. A portion of that water will then be redirected (through another approximately ninety degree turn) to flow laterally in a sideways direction so as to reach the lateral portions of the blade channel.
By contrast, a stream of free flowing water entering the scoop orifice of a razor of the present disclosure will, at most, be directed once through an angle typically no more than approximately forty-five degrees.
The multiple redirections in the path of the water flowing through Genero is likely not a serious problem when the device of Genero is connected to a faucet and an increase in water pressure drives the water through that device. However, such a large number of redirections of significant angular deviation will likely rob a stream of free flowing, water of its energy as well as introducing and/or maintaining a high degree of turbulence. Such turbulence would be expected to exacerbate, and further reduce, the speed of such a flow through the razor of Genera And, a flow of relatively low speed would not be expected to remove debris from between a razor's blade efficiently.
Genero tends to direct water into the blade channel so as to cause it to collide with the blades normal to their broad surfaces (
While Genero does not explicitly discuss or disclose the ratio of the cross-sectional area of his receiving orifice to that of his blade channel, his figures suggest that the cross-sectional area of his receiving orifice is approximately 70-80% of that of his blade channel (based on an analysis of
The incorporation of a receiving orifice with a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the blade channel, as well as the severe redirections of flow and resulting turbulence, and the direction of at least a portion of the flow directly into the sides of the blades, would all tend to promote a relatively low speed of water flowing through the blade channel of Genero, and between the blades therein. By contrast, the utilization of a scoop with a receiving orifice of cross-section equal to, if not significantly greater than, the cross-sectional area of the blade channel, the direction of flow parallel to, rather than normal to, the sides of the blades, and the avoidance of sharp redirections of flow, all tend to promote a relatively high-speed and laminar flow of water through the blade channel, and blades, of razors of the present disclosure.
A razor cartridge incorporating a scoop of the present disclosure is approximately, if not entirely, of no greater lateral extent than that of an equivalent unmodified cartridge. And it need not be of significantly greater height. Therefore, cartridges of the present disclosure may be designed and/or adapted so as to fit within packaging of similar dimensions and/or costs as that associated with unmodified cartridges. By contrast, although not disclosed by Genero, a cartridge modified to include a circular receiver or cup 500 of Genero would be much larger in width (i.e. the lateral dimension normal to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and/or the dimension in the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the handle). One might expect the packaging required to ship and/or sell cartridges modified with an aperture of the type disclosed by Genero, to be larger, more extensive, and more expensive, than that associated with unmodified cartridges.
The circular aperture 510 of Genero is disposed so as to allow a user to “press” the aperture against the outflow aperture of a faucet. Presumably for structural reasons, the handle 490 is angled down (e.g. rather than having a longitudinal axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the water that would flow out of the faucet). Referring to
By contrast, many, if not all, embodiments of the present disclosure, allow the razor to be held such that the handle is relatively horizontal (
Embodiments disclosed herein perform the useful function of better and more efficiently cleaning (rinsing) the blades, and the gaps between and around the blades, of a razor and/or a razor cartridge. By so doing, shaving-with a manual razor, which incorporates the novel water-capture and/or water-channeling features disclosed herein, is made easier, faster and more satisfying, thus providing a useful benefit for its users.
The descriptions, illustrations, claims, and/or other specifications, related to the invention disclosed and provided herein should not be interpreted, and are not intended, to denote, specify, and/or suggest, any limitation with respect to the details, variety, and/or modalities of its implementation. Neither are they intended to, and nor should they be interpreted as, being limiting, either explicitly or implicitly, with respect to the variety of alternative embodiments that are consistent with the inherent and/or fundamental functionalities, objectives, methods, and/or results, of the present disclosure, and/or the scope of its claims.
This application claims the filing date benefit of copending provisional application Ser. No. 62/301,680, filed Mar. 1, 2016, and whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62301680 | Mar 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15830308 | Dec 2017 | US |
| Child | 16427231 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15445879 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Child | 15830308 | US |
