This invention relates generally to razor cartridges and, more particularly, to guards disposed on razor cartridges.
Conventional wet shaving systems include a handle and a razor cartridge. Typically, razor cartridges have several skin-engaging elements mounted on a frame, the skin-engaging elements including at least one razor blade, a guard, and a cap. In some embodiments, the razor cartridge and the handle are formed as a single, unitary piece. The razor cartridge and handle in these “disposable razor units” are used together until the razor blades are dulled. Once worn, the entire disposable razor unit is discarded and a new disposable razor unit is used in place of the discarded one. In other embodiments, the razor cartridge is removably attached to a reusable handle. In these applications, the razor cartridge is attached to the handle and used until the blades are dulled. The user then selectively replaces the worn razor cartridge with a new one on the same handle for continued shaving.
In a typical razor cartridge, the skin-engaging elements are positioned on the frame such that the guard is forward of the blades and the cap is aft of the blades. The terms “forward” and “aft,” as used herein, define the relative position between features of the razor cartridge. A skin-engaging element “forward” of the blades is positioned such that the surface to be shaved encounters that feature prior to encountering the blades during normal shaving operation. Conversely, a skin-engaging element “aft” of the blades is positioned such that the surface to be shaved encounters that feature only after encountering the blades during normal shaving.
During a use of a typical razor cartridge, some surfaces to be shaved are often too fleshy or fatty, which results in excess skin flow over the razor blades. When the skin flow over the blades exceeds the capabilities of the razor, the skin is nicked or cut. One way to avoid this type of overflow condition is to pull the skin in front of the razor blades taut during the shaving operation using the fingers of the free hand. However, pulling the skin taut with the fingers is not always possible or desirable, as the skin surface is typically coated with shaving aid.
It would be desirable to provide a shaving implement having a guard with a surface formed of flexible skin-engaging members to pre-stretch the skin prior to being shaved by the razor blade.
It would also be desirable to provide an array of skin-engaging members on the guard which act to trap and evenly redistribute water and shaving aid (e.g., shaving cream) forward of the blades.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a guard for a razor cartridge. The guard has a skin-engaging surface and a plurality of arcuate channels formed therein that, when the guard is incorporated into a shaving implement and used to shave, pre-stretch the skin in directions forward of razor blades of the cartridge and outward towards the edges of the cartridge.
In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a razor cartridge having a plurality of skin-engaging elements mounted on a frame having two ends. The skin-engaging elements include at least one blade having a sharpened cutting edge; a cap positioned aft of the at least one blade; and a guard positioned forward of the at least one blade, the guard having a skin-engaging surface and a plurality of arcuate channels that pre-stretch the skin and distribute water and/or shaving aid material along the cutting edge of the blade.
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a wet shaving system having a handle and a razor cartridge mounted thereon, the razor cartridge having a plurality of skin-engaging elements mounted on a frame. The skin-engaging elements include at least one blade having a sharpened cutting edge; a cap positioned aft of the at least one blade; and a guard positioned forward of the at least one blade, the guard having a skin-engaging surface and a plurality of arcuate channels that pre-stretch the skin being shaved and redistribute water and/or shaving aid material.
One advantage of the present invention is that the arcuate channels facilitate the close cutting of the hairs to be shaved. Because the arcuate shape is convex in the direction in which the guard of the present invention is stroked, the skin is stretched in the direction of the shaving stroke and outward towards the ends of the frame. By stretching the skin in this manner, the skin is pulled taught, thereby allowing the skin to be flattened and the hairs to be more erectly positioned in preparation for being cut.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the arcuate channels trap water and shaving aid on the skin surface during the shaving operation. By doing so, a leveling effect is realized with regard to the skin surface. Accordingly, a thin, uniform film of water and/or shaving aid is left on the skin surface for the razor blades to slide over, which thereby provides a smooth shave.
Another advantage is that the arcuate shape of the channels allows the trapped water and/or shaving aid to be distributed along the lengths thereof. As a shaving stroke is executed, the forward movement of the stroke allows the water and/or shaving aid to be forced back through the channels in the directions of the points at which the channels terminate. Shaving debris (e.g., cut whiskers and the like) may also be directed through the channels and away from the cutting edges of the razor blades.
Referring to
Referring now to
The guard 18 extends at least part way across the length L of the cartridge 12 and includes a skin-engaging surface 28 and one or more channels 30 that extend lengthwise on an upper surface of the skin-engaging surface. The channels 30 are preferably arcuate in shape such that the midpoints of the channels substantially correspond to the midpoints of the razor blades 22. The ends of the channels 30 extend back towards the sides or end walls 24 of the frame 16 to stretch the skin by a desired amount in the directions indicated by arrows 32 (
As can be best seen in
In embodiments in which two or more channels 30 are employed, each channel is also separated from adjacent channels by a distance “D,” which, as with the width w and depth d, may be the same or may vary.
The guard 18 is manufactured from any suitable flexible material. Suitable flexible materials that may be used include, but are not limited to, elastomeric materials such as natural or synthetic rubbers and the like, foams, thermoplastic materials of appropriate flexibility, thermoset materials, and combinations of the foregoing materials.
In alternative embodiments, a guard of a razor cartridge may include two or more sets of arcuately-shaped channels. Referring now to
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/616,342 filed on Oct. 5, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60616342 | Oct 2004 | US |