Claims
- 1. A shaving implement comprising:
a handle having a shaving head defining an interior area; an actuator coupled to said shaving head for movement between a neutral position, and a cartridge ejecting position; a cartridge retainer coupled to and having a portion projecting outwardly from said shaving head, said outwardly projecting portion defining at least one cartridge engaging surface adapted to slidably engage a complimentarily shaped slot extending longitudinally of a rear surface defined by a razor cartridge; retaining means for releasably coupling said cartridge retainer to said razor cartridge so that said razor cartridge is movable between a non-rotated and a rotated position; and biasing means for urging said razor cartridge toward said non-rotated position in response to an externally applied force.
- 2. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes a plunger coupled to and having a portion extending outwardly from said shaving head, said plunger being movable between an extended position when said razor cartridge is in said non-rotated position and a retracted position when said razor cartridge is in said rotated position.
- 3. A shaving implement as defined by claim 2 wherein said biasing means further includes a spring interposed between said plunger and said shaving head for normally urging said plunger toward said extended position in response to an externally applied force.
- 4. A shaving implement as defined by claim 3 wherein said actuator is pivotally coupled to said handle and said spring is interposed between said plunger and said actuator for normally urging said plunger toward said extended position and said actuator toward said neutral position.
- 5. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein: at least a portion of said cartridge retainer is supported in said interior area for angular movement of said cartridge retainer in opposite directions from a neutral or central position, said cartridge retainer being normally biased to said central position; and
second biasing means for urging said cartridge retainer toward said central position in response to an externally applied force.
- 6. A shaving implement as defined by claim 6 wherein said second biasing means includes:
a cam block positioned within said interior area and, slidably coupled to said shaving head, said cam block defining an abutment surface that engages a corresponding surface defined by said cartridge retainer, said cam block being movable between a first position corresponding to said neutral position of said cartridge retainer, and a second position corresponding to a rotated position of said cartridge retainer; and a spring positioned in said interior area and engaging said cam block for urging said cam block toward said first position in response to an externally applied force.
- 7. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein said retaining means is defined at least in part by a portion of said cartridge engaging surface, said portion being releasably and snappingly engagable with said slot defined by said razor cartridge.
- 8. A shaving implement as defined by claim 7 further comprising:
a pusher slidably coupled to said actuator and located at least in part in said interior area for movement between a retracted position corresponding to said neutral position of said actuator, and an extended position corresponding to said cartridge ejecting position of said actuator, said pusher being normally biased toward said retracted position; and wherein said pusher, when in said extended position, engages and exerts force against said razor cartridge thereby causing said razor cartridge to disengage from said cartridge retainer.
- 9. A shaving implement as defined by claim 8 wherein:
said actuator is a button pivotally coupled to said handle and includes a manually manipulable outer portion and an inner portion extending into said interior area; said inner portion defining a slot adapted to slidably engage a protuberance extending from said pusher so that movement of said actuator from said neutral to said cartridge ejecting position causes said protuberance to progressively move within said slot, thereby producing a corresponding movement of said pusher from said retracted position to said extended position.
- 10. A shaving implement as defined by claim 8 wherein:
said pusher engages said razor cartridge adjacent a leading edge thereof.
- 11. A shaving implement comprising:
a handle defining a shaving head having an interior area; an actuator pivotally coupled to said shaving head for movement between a neutral position, and a cartridge ejecting position; a cartridge retainer supported in part in said interior area for angular movement side-to-side in generally opposite directions from a neutral or central position, a portion of said cartridge retainer projecting outwardly from said shaving head and defining at least one cartridge engaging surface adapted to slidably and snappingly engage a complimentarily shaped slot extending longitudinally of a rear surface defined by a razor cartridge said razor cartridge being angularly movable relative to said cartridge engaging surface between a rotated and a non-rotated position; a cam block positioned within said interior area and slidably coupled to said shaving head, said cam block defining an abutment surface that engages a corresponding surface defined by said cartridge retainer, for urging said cartridge retainer toward said central position in response to an externally applied force; a first spring interposed between and engaging said cam block and said actuator for normally urging said abutment surface into engagement with said cartridge retainer; a plunger slidably coupled to said shaving head adjacent said cam block for movement between an extended position when said razor cartridge is in said neutral position and a retracted position when said razor cartridge is in said rotated position; a second spring interposed between and engaging said actuator and said plunger for normally urging said plunger toward said extended position and said actuator toward said neutral position; a pusher slidably and at least partially positioned in said interior area adjacent at least one of said cam block and said plunger, said pusher being coupled to said actuator for movement between an extended position when said actuator is in said cartridge ejecting position and a retracted position when said actuator is in said neutral position; and wherein said pusher defines an end that abuts said razor cartridge when said pusher is in said extended position, thereby causing said razor cartridge to disengage from said razor handle.
- 12. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein said handle includes damping means for absorbing energy due to impact forces exerted against said shaving implement.
- 13. A shaving implement as defined by claim 12 wherein:
said handle includes an elongated hand-gripping portion defining an interior cavity; said damping means includes at least one weight slidably positioned within said cavity; and at least one resilient member positioned in said interior cavity between said weight and said handle to allow said weight to oscillate in response to said impact forces.
- 14. A shaving implement as defined by claim 13 wherein:
said resilient member includes a pair of generally opposed springs positioned in said cavity, each interposed between and engaging said weight and said handle.
- 15. A shaving implement as defined by claim 5 wherein said second biasing means is a torsion spring positioned in said interior area and in biasing communication with said cartridge retainer.
- 16. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said actuator is slidably coupled to said shaving head and defines an extension projecting into said interior area; said biasing means includes a plunger slidably positioned in said interior area for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger being normally biased toward said extended position; a pusher slidably coupled to said shaving head for movement between a first position when said actuator is in said neutral position and a second position when said actuator is in said cartridge ejecting position, said pusher defining an abutment surface adapted to engage a mating surface defined by said extension; and wherein movement of said pusher toward said second position causes said abutment surface to contact said razor cartridge, with further movement toward said second position causing said cartridge to disengage from said handle.
- 17. A shaving implement as defined by claim 16 wherein:
at least a portion of said cartridge retainer is supported in said interior area for angular movement in opposite directions from a neutral or central position said cartridge retainer being normally biased toward said central position; and second biasing means for urging said cartridge retainer toward said central position in response to an externally applied force.
- 18. A shaving implement as defined by claim 17 wherein said second biasing means is a torsion spring positioned in said interior area and in biasing communication with said cartridge retainer.
- 19. A shaving implement as defined by claim 16 wherein said shaving head defines a pair of guides between which said pusher is positioned.
- 20. A shaving implement comprising:
a handle defining a shaving head having an interior area; an actuator slidably coupled to said shaving head and defining an extension projecting into said interior area; a cartridge retainer, at least a portion of which is supported in said interior area for angular movement side-to-side from a neutral or central position, a portion of said cartridge retainer projecting outwardly from said shaving head and defining at least one generally cylindrical cartridge engaging surface adapted to slidably engage a complimentarily shaped slot extending longitudinally of a rear surface defined by a razor cartridge; retaining means for releasably coupling said cartridge retainer to said razor cartridge; said razor cartridge being angularly movable between a non-rotated and a rotated position; a plunger slidably positioned in and having a portion extending outwardly from said shaving head for engaging said razor cartridge said plunger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position; an pusher slidably coupled to said shaving head for movement between a first position when said actuator is in said neutral position and a second position when said actuator is in said cartridge ejecting position, said pusher defining an abutment surface adapted to engage a mating abutment surface defined by said extension; first biasing means interposed between said pusher and said plunger for urging said plunger toward said extended position and thereby said razor cartridge toward said non-rotated position; second biasing means for urging said cartridge retainer toward said central position in response to an externally applied force; and whereby movement of said actuator to said cartridge ejecting position causes said abutment surface defined by said extension to engage said abutment surface defined by said pusher, thereby causing said pusher to bear against and disengage said razor cartridge from said cartridge retainer.
- 21. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said actuator is a button having a manually manipulable outer portion and an interior portion located within said interior area and defining a protuberance adapted to slidably engage a slot defined by said shaving head; said cartridge retainer is supported in said interior area for angular movement side-to-side in generally opposite directions from a neutral or central position; said biasing means includes a plunger slidably mounted in said interior area and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger being normally biased towards said extended position; said shaving implement further comprising an ejector slidably coupled to said having head for movement between a neutral position corresponding to said neutral position of said actuator, and an ejecting position wherein said ejector pushes said razor cartridge off of said handle, said ejector defining a first abutment surface adapted to engage a mating second abutment surface defined by said actuator; and wherein said slot defines, an inclined portion to allow retrograde movement of said actuator from said neutral position to a position wherein said first and second abutment surfaces are engaged, and a rectilinear portion to allow movement of said actuator and said ejector to said cartridge ejecting position.
- 22. A shaving implement as defined by claim 21 further comprising second biasing means for urging said cartridge retainer toward said central position in response to an externally applied force.
- 23. A shaving implement as defined by claim 22 wherein said second biasing means includes a torsion spring located within said interior area and in biasing communication with said cartridge retainer.
- 24. A shaving implement as defined by claim 21 wherein said biasing means further includes a spring interposed between said plunger and said actuator.
- 25. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said actuator includes an interior portion located within said interior area; said biasing means includes a plunger slidably positioned in and having a portion extending outwardly from said interior area said plunger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, with said plunger being normally biased towards said extended position; and said actuator being movable from said neutral position toward and at least partially into said interior area and then rectilinearly to engage said plunger, so that further manipulation of said actuator causes said plunger to move past said extended position thereby causing said razor cartridge to disengage from said handle.
- 26. A shaving implement as defined by claim 25 wherein said cartridge retainer is at least partially positioned in said interior area for angular movement side-to-side in generally opposite directions from a neutral or central position.
- 27. A shaving implement as defined by claim 26 further comprising second biasing means for urging said cartridge retainer toward said neutral position in response to an externally applied force.
- 28. A shaving implement as defined by claim 27 wherein said second biasing means is a torsion spring positioned in said interior area and in biasing communication with said cartridge retainer.
- 29. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said handle includes a hand-gripping portion and said shaving head defines a housing coupled to said hand gripping portion; said biasing means includes a plunger slidably positioned in said housing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger being normally biased towards said extended position and in engagement with a razor cartridge mounted to said handle; and said retaining means includes a shaped pin projecting outwardly from said cartridge engaging surface and adapted to be received in a complimentarily shaped recess defined by said razor cartridge, said pin being coupled to said actuator so that movement thereof from said neutral to said cartridge ejecting position causes said pin to move from an extended to a retracted position, said pin being normally biased toward said extended position.
- 30. A shaving implement as defined by claim 29 wherein:
said at least one cartridge engaging surface includes a pair of approximately coaxial cartridge engaging surfaces each defining an end; said retaining means includes a pair of generally opposed shaped pins, one extending from said end of each of said cartridge engaging surfaces, each shaped pin being adapted to be received in a complimentarily shaped recess defined by said razor cartridge; and wherein each of said shaped pins is coupled to said actuator so that movement thereof from said neutral to said cartridge ejecting position causes said pin to move from an extended to a retracted position, said pins being normally biased toward said extended position.
- 31. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said handle includes a hand-gripping portion and said shaving head defines a housing coupled to said hand gripping portion; said housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section coupled to said first housing section; said cartridge retainer forming part of said second housing section; said biasing means includes a plunger coupled to said second housing section for movement relative thereto between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger being normally biased toward said extended position; said actuator being coupled to said second housing section for movement therewith.
- 32. A shaving implement as defined by claim 31 wherein said housing is angularly movable side-to-side in generally opposite direction.
- 33. A shaving implement as defined by claim 31 further comprising absorption means for dissipating energy generated from impact forces directed against said shaving head.
- 34. A shaving implement as defined by claim 33 wherein said absorption means includes:
said second housing being slidably coupled to said shaving implement for movement between an operating position and a damping position said second housing section being normally biased toward said operating position.
- 35. A shaving implement comprising:
a handle having a hand gripping portion and a housing coupled to an end of said hand gripping portion; said housing being defined by first and second housing sections coupled to one another; said housing defining a pair of generally cylindrical cartridge engaging surfaces spaced apart from, and approximately coaxial with one another, each cartridge engaging surface being adapted to slidably engage a complimentarily shaped slot extending longitudinally of a rear surface defined by a razor cartridge; said razor cartridge being movable between a non-rotated and a rotated position; a plunger slidably coupled to said second housing section and in engagement with said razor cartridge, said plunger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position; first biasing means for urging said plunger toward said extended position, and thereby said razor cartridge toward said non-rotated position in response to an externally applied force; a pair of pins, one extending from an end of each cartridge engaging surface, each pin being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said pins being adapted to slidably engage complimentarily shaped recesses defined by said razor cartridge; an actuator coupled to said second housing section and to each of said pins, said actuator being movable between a neutral position corresponding to said extended position of said pins and a cartridge ejecting position corresponding to said retracted position of said pins.
- 36. A shaving implement as defined by claim 35 wherein said housing is coupled to said handle for angular movement side-to-side in approximately opposite directions from a central position.
- 37. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said shaving head includes a main housing coupled thereto, said cartridge retainer being incorporated into said main housing so that said cartridge engaging surface is defined by an outer portion of said main housing; said retaining means include a pair of generally opposed shaped pins projecting outwardly from said cartridge engaging surface, each pin being, movable between an extended and a retracted position and receivable within a complimentarily shaped recess defined by said razor cartridge; and wherein said actuator is coupled to said main housing and said pins so that movement of said actuator from said neutral to said cartridge ejecting position causes said pins to move from said extended to said retracted position.
- 38. A shaving implement as defined by claim 37 wherein said main housing is angularly movable side-to-side in approximately opposite directions from a central position.
- 39. A shaving implement as defined by claim 38 wherein said main housing is normally biased toward said central position.
- 40. A shaving implement as defined by claim 38 wherein:
said main housing defines an opening on a rear surface thereof, said opening being in communication with said interior area; a pair of retainers each defining one of said shaped pins is positioned in said interior area via said opening, each of said retainers defining a slot; a pusher block is slidably positioned in said housing via said opening and defines a pair of protuberances depending therefrom, each slidably received in one of said slots defined by said retainers; said pusher block being movable between a first and second position so that movement from said first to said second position causes said protuberances to progressively engage said slots thereby causing said pins to move from said extended to said retracted position; said biasing means includes a plunger slidably positioned in said main housing and having an end engageable with a razor cartridge coupled to said shaving implement; a resilient clip positioned in said interior area and having a portion that abuts said pusher block for exerting pressure thereagainst to maintain the position of components located in said main housing; a cap positioned in said opening, sand bearing against said resilient clip; and wherein said biasing means further includes a spring positioned between said plunger and said cap for urging said plunger toward said extended position.
- 41. A shaving implement as defined by claim 37 wherein said main housing is unitary and form from a single piece of material.
- 42. A shaving implement as defined by claim 37 further comprising;
an impact housing coupled to said handle and adapted to slidably receive said main housing; a damper slidably coupled to said impact housing and engageable with said main housing so that upon impact said main housing will slide relative to said impact housing and engage said damper; and biasing means interposed between said damper and said impact housing for absorbing at least a portion of any forces exerted thereagainst by said damper resulting from an impact.
- 43. A shaving implement as defined by claim 42 wherein said biasing means includes a spring.
- 44. A shaving implement as defined by claim 43 wherein:
said spring is a coil spring and said biasing means further includes; a resilient member coupled to said damper and engaging said impact housing.
- 45. A shaving implement as defined by claim 42 wherein said main housing defines a projection extending therefrom and slidably receivable in a slot defined by said impact housing; and wherein
said damper is engageable with said projection.
- 46. A shaving implement as defined by claim 42 wherein said main housing defines a projection extending therefrom and slidably receivable in a slot defined by said impact housing;
said projection being in biasing communication with a torsion spring positioned in said impact housig; said main housing being angularly movable side-to-side relative t said handle from a central position and normally biased by said torsion spring toward said central position; and wherein said damper is engageable with said torsion spring.
- 47. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein: said shaving head includes a main housing coupled thereto and defining said interior area, said main housing further defining an opening in communication with said interior area;
said cartridge retainer includes a pair of retainers each at least partially positioned in said interior area via said opening; said retaining means including an arm defined by each retainer, each arm having a pin portion at an end thereof, each pin portion being receivable in a complimentarily shaped recess defined by a razor cartridge; a pusher block positioned in said main housing via said opening, said pusher being coupled to each of said retainers so that movement of said pusher from a first to a second position causes each retainer and thereby said pins to move from an extended position to a retracted position; a resilient clip positioned in said interior area and abutting said pusher block so that said clip exerts pressure against said pusher block thereby retaining said pusher block in registration with one another; and a cap coupled to said housing and engaging said resilient clip.
- 48. A shaving implement as defined by claim 47 wherein said biasing means includes:
a plunger slidably positioned in said main housing and defining an end engageable with a razor cartridge for normally biasing said razor cartridge toward a non-rotated position.
- 49. A shaving implement as defined by claim 1 wherein:
said shaving head defines a housing that includes a notch defined in-part by a pair of generally opposed side surfaces; said razor cartridge includes an extension projecting therefrom; and said extension is at least partially positioned in said notch when said razor cartridge is coupled to said cartridge retainer so that said side surfaces limit lateral movement of said razor cartridge.
- 50. A shaving implement as defined by claim 49 wherein said shaving head defines a housing having a projection extending outwardly therefrom, said notch being positioned in said projection.
- 51. A shaving implement comprising:
a handle; a shaving head coupled to said handle and including a housing, defining an interior area; a pair of retainers, a portion of each being located within said interior area and coupled to said housing for movement between a cartridge engaging and a cartridge ejecting position, and a portion of each retainer projecting outwardly from said housing; a notch defined by said housing for receiving at least a portion of an extension projecting outwardly from a razor cartridge when said razor cartridge is releasably coupled to said retainers; said notch is defined in part a pair of generally opposed side walls, said side walls; and wherein excessive lateral movement of said razor cartridge relative to said shaving head will be prevented by said extension contacting said side walls.
- 52. A shaving implement as defined by claim 51 wherein said housing includes a projection extending outwardly therefrom, said notch being positioned in said projection.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in Provisional Patent Application No. 60/449,931 filed on Feb. 25, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60449931 |
Feb 2003 |
US |