Patent Application
20140259677
1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to shaving razors. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a shaving razor having integrally formed blade guards ahead of the cutting edge of each blade.
2. Background
Various shaving razors in numerous forms have existed for many years. Recent trends in shaving razors include an increasing number of closely spaced blades with a very shallow angle relative to the shaving plane. That is the blade forms a very small acute angle with the shaving plane. While the tight spacing of the blades has traditionally been deemed necessary to avoid nicks and cuts during saving, it also leads to a cartridge being clogged with shaving cream and detached stubble reducing the effectiveness of the razor cartridge as well as its useful life.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that different references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Cartridge 100 also includes a molded body 102 that retains the blades 104 such that their cutting edge resides in the shaving plane. Body 102 may be monolithically injection molded from a suitable thermoplastic. Body 102 defines a plurality of blade channels 108-1, 108-2, and 108-3 (generically blade channel 108) in which blades 104-1, 104-2, and 104-3 reside respectively. The blades 104 may be adhered within the respective blade channel 108. Such adhesion may be affected by an adhesive or, for example, heat welding. Integrally formed as part of the body 102 are a plurality of blade guards 106-1, 106-2, and 106-3 (generically blade guard 106) each forward of the cutting edge of blades 104-1, 104-2, and 104-3 respectively. These blade guards are elevated above; that is, the shaving plane passes through the blade guards. The leading surface of blade guards 106-2 and 106-3 form a blade-supporting surface for blades 104-1 and 104-2. The supporting surface for trailing blade 104-3 is provided by back panel 110, which also forms the trailing edge of the cartridge. The blade guards 106 reduce the risk of nicks and cuts while permitting greater blade separation such that shaving refuse passes more easily through the cartridge and out of voids 116 on the backside thereof. The greater blade separation reduces the pulling an tugging on individual hairs as the separation make it unlikely that more than one blade will engage any particular hair.
Cartridge 100 also includes a pair of metallic retention members 112 which ensure that the blades cannot be deformed to extend above the level of the blade guards. Retention members 112 prevent the blades 104 from leaving the blade channels 108 even if the adhesion in the channels fails. This provides further insurance against nicks and cuts resulting from possible deformation of one or more of the blades 104 during use.
Generally, the distances D1-D3 can be selected to provide different closeness's of shave for different market segments. As D decreases the shave closeness increases. However, a larger D is more desirable for sensitive skin. Generally, the distance D will be selected in the range of 0.00-0.10 mm. For normal skin a D of approximately 0.00 mm is selected. For sensitive skin a D of 0.03 is selected. For very sensitive skin a D greater than 0.06 mm will be selected. For extremely sensitive skin a D of approximately 0.10 is selected. In an example embodiment for regular skin with differing Ds: D1 may be 0.02 mm, D2 may be 0.01 mm and D3 may be 0.00 mm. A similar pattern can be applied to other skin types.
In the foregoing specification, the embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
