The field of art disclosed herein pertains to manual shaving razors and more particularly to shaving razors with replaceable blades.
The original double edge safety razor development such as in U.S. Pat. No. 775,134 issued Nov. 15, 1904, afforded a method of achieving a close shave without the very real danger of serious injury that had previously attended the use of straight razors. Although the double edge safety razor has eliminated the possibility of serious injury, the very knowledge of this fact on the part of the user has tended to increase the number of minor abrasions and “nicks” occasioned by its use since one tends to shave with less care and precision than would be the case were serious injury possible. Additionally, such precision needed with a safety razor to avoid such abrasion and “nicks” requires a substantial learning curve that most users are not willing to take on especially given the current availability of modern razors with multiple blades and pivoting heads that can easily provide quick and “nick-proof” shave.
Such modern razors do indeed provide a virtually “nick-proof” shave thanks to their pivoting head and disposable cartridge design that has permanent fixed angled blades exposed within a gap at the base of the cartridge head as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,293 issued Sep. 29, 1998. However, such modern shavers in comparison to double edge safety razors do not provide the low ongoing cost, irritation free, or baby butt smooth shave that a single expose bladed can provide such as with a straight razor or double edge safety razor. In addition, with each modern razor, a user has only one choice for an expensive non-recyclable blade cartridge to use, which is only provided by the manufacturer of the razor. However, with a single or edge safety razor a user has hundreds of choices of low cost recyclable razor blade manufacturers to choose from in order to customize which blade is best suited for their skin and hair follicles. Such a high volume double edge razor blade was first conceived by Gillette in U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,262 issued Aug. 29, 1933, and was thereafter standardized across the industry to use with all double edge safety razor manufacturers.
In one aspect of the present innovation, a shaving device includes a plane body having a slot defined in a contacting surface and including a blade resting surface shaped to receive a half safety shaving blade and that opens to the slot to present a cutting edge of the shaving blade, the blade resting surface being distally angled at a shaving angle to the contacting surface and obliquely angled away from the handle. A blade door is pivotally attached to the plane body to form a retaining head having blade gripping surface that corresponds to the blade resting surface. A handle is proximally attached to the retaining head. A locking mechanism can engageably hold the blade door in a closed position that tensions the shaving blade between the blade resting surface and the blade gripping surface.
In one aspect of the present innovation, a shaving device includes a plane body having a slot defined in a contacting surface and having a blade resting surface shaped to receive a shaving blade and that opens to the slot to present a cutting edge of the shaving blade. The blade resting surface is distally angled at a shaving angle to the contacting surface and obliquely angled away from the handle. A handle is pivotally attached to the retaining head proximal to the cutting edge to move within a pivotal range to the plane body. A spring mechanism biases the plane body toward a minimum pivot angle.
These and other features are explained more fully in the embodiments illustrated below. It should be understood that in general the features of one embodiment also may be used in combination with features of another embodiment and that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present innovation relates generally to safety razors used for the removal of hair on ones face and body manually using ones hands. In particular this involves a new concept in safety razor construction particularly involving single and double edge razor blades but not limited to only such razor blades. In the embodiments shown, the blades are double-edged blades, though the present invention applies to single-edged blades as well. This innovation involves a conventional handle and a clamping, retaining head connected to the handle that flexes and adapts independently to the users face and the forces placed upon the handle. In one embodiment, the razor of the present invention involves a conventional handle and a clamping, retaining head pivotally connected to the handle that flexes and adapts independently to the users face and the forces placed upon the handle. Such retaining head is provided with means for clamping an independent and removable razor blade therein with the blade positioned to extend through an opening in the base portion of the retaining head at a fixed angle relative to the users skin. In one embodiment, the razor of the present invention comprises a customizable handle. In another embodiment, in each alternative the user can swap out different handle materials and handle designs.
A manual razor according to the present disclosure allows consumers to have the advantages of an old fashioned single and single or edge safety razor without the safety dangers associated therewith, as well as the advantages of a modern razor without the expense, nonexistent blade choice, poor cutting quality, and irritation filled hassles to deal with. The manual razor of the present inventions comprises a handle portion, and a clamping retaining head portion. In one embodiment, the razor of the present invention comprises a handle portion, a pivot portion, and a clamping retaining head portion.
The top portion of the handle is attached to the retaining head via the pivot portion to allow the head of the manual razor to flex and maintain its position and angle in relation to being applied to the users skin irrespective of the pressure applied to the handle portion. The clamping retaining head portion has a blade compartment for holding commonly available, cheap, and recyclable razor blades at a constant fixed angle relative to the users' skin when in use. Unlike prior art, such a head in the present concept only exposes one side of the single or edge razor blade to the users skin at a time, thus allowing the preservation of the other side for when the current side becomes dull after repeated uses. Additionally, similar to a modern razor and unique to old fashioned safety razors and prior art, the current concept of the retaining head allows the consumer to not have to figure out which angle is the correct angle to hold the razor at since the razor blade is simply held at a fixed angle and exposed through an opening in the base portion of the retaining head. In one embodiment, the razor of the present invention comprises a retaining head adapted to use a variety of blade types. In another embodiment, in each alternative the retaining head is adapted to use one or more blade types selected form the group consisting of double edge safety razor blades, shavette razor blades and artist club razor blades.
The clamping retaining head portion can provide a tensioning system to prevent the razor blade from moving while in use and provide the proper fixed angle sought. Such a safety razor allows consumers lacking professional dexterity to put a razor blade against the skin at a constant fixed ideal angle via a flat bottom and pivoting neck for movement transverse to the path of movement that is insensitive not only to variations in the application of the handle pressure but also to other skin aberrations which tend to increase blade pressure. The pivoting neck permits a constant blade pressure to be exerted on the skin irrespective of the pressure, which is exerted on the handle to a certain degree. There are numerous alternatives to affix the disposable blade to the retaining head, and this patent application is not meant to limit itself to anyone design.
The blade compartment of the retaining head defines a cavity for holding the blade in a fixed position using tension when in use. However, such a cavity can consist of several alternatives to create the tension to hold the single or edge razor blade still that may include a flat or curving wall that the user uses to slide around a protruding element and lock the blade using tension from the arch, a screw to screw in the blade on a flat or curved surface and lock the blade, or various other alternatives not yet considered that will securely hold the blade so there is no movement when in use. In one embodiment, such a cavity can consist of several alternatives to create the tension to hold the single or edge razor blade still that may include a flat or curving wall that the user uses to slide around a protruding element and lock the blade using tension from the arch, a screw to screw in the blade on a flat surface and lock the blade, or various other alternatives not yet considered that will securely hold the blade so there is no movement when in use. Other various alternatives that can be used for fastening consists of: 1) plastic clamshell closure fastening mechanism with push to open or pull to open 2) watch like click to close and push to open fastening mechanism 3) ratchet like fastening mechanism 4) magnet based fastening mechanism 5) spring based fastening mechanism and 6) a latch fastening mechanism that can be made of plastic, metal or other suitable materials.
However, in each alternative there will always be the use of a single razor blade exposed to the users skin at a preset fixed angle, said fixed angle being between approximately 5 degrees and 35 degrees. In another embodiment, in each alternative the fixed angle is between approximately 15 degrees and 32 degrees. In another embodiment, in each alternative the fixed angle is between approximately 23 degrees and 27 degrees. In another embodiment, in each alternative the fixed angle is between approximately 22 degrees and 30 degrees. Additionally, the distance in the longitudinal gap 122 between the bottom wall portions is between 0.1 and 5 millimeters wide. In another embodiment, in each alternative the gap between the bottom wall portions is between 0.2 and 2.5 millimeters wide. In another embodiment, in each alternative the gap between the bottom wall portions is between 0.25 and 1.75 millimeters wide.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of making a shaving device. The method includes forming a retaining head having a slot defined in a contacting surface; providing a blade holding saddle that has a blade resting surface shaped to receive a shaving blade and that opens to the slot to present a cutting edge of the shaving blade, the blade holding saddle being distally angled at a shaving angle to the contacting surface and obliquely angled away from the handle; proximally attaching a handle to the retaining head; attaching a blade door to the retaining head to define a blade cavity and having blade gripping surface that corresponds to the blade resting surface of the blade holding saddle; and providing a locking mechanism to engageably hold the blade door in a closed position that tensions the shaving blade between the blade resting surface and the blade gripping surface.
Turning to the drawings,
A locking mechanism 130 is provided to engageably hold the blade door 108 in a closed position that clamps the replaceable shaving blade 120 in tension (
With particular reference to
In one aspect, the cutting edge 124 is presented at a fixed angle to a beard presented to the contacting surface 106 to slice rather than chop hair follicles. A proximal portion 140 of the contacting surface 106 to the slot 122 serves as a safety bar. For example, the angle can be 5° to 35°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 15° and 32°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 23° and 27°. Alternatively, the blade holding saddle 116 can be moveably coupled to the rest of the retaining head 104. An angle adjusting mechanism can manually set the acute angle of the cutting edge 124.
In one aspect, the cutting edge 124 is presented at a moveable, user-adjustable angle to a beard presented to the contacting surface 106 to slice rather than chop hair follicles. A proximal portion 140 of the contacting surface 106 to the slot 122 serves as a safety bar. For example, the angle can be 5° to 35°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 15° and 32°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 23° and 27°. An angle adjusting mechanism can manually set the angle of the cutting edge 124.
In another aspect, the cutting edge 124 is presented at an offset angle to the contacting surface 106 wherein cutting edge 124 is offset at an angle independent of the shaving angle such that the right or left edge trails while presented to the contacting surface 106. For example, the offset angle can be 5° to 45°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the offset angle is between approximately 10° and 35°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the offset angle is between approximately 15° and 30°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 23° and 27°. In one embodiment, an offset angle adjusting mechanism can manually set the offset angle of the cutting edge 124.
In one embodiment, the method 1100 further includes presenting the cutting edge at an acute angle to a beard presented to the contacting surface to slice rather than chop hair follicles. A proximal portion of the contacting surface to the slot serves as a safety bar. For example, can be presented at the acute angle of 5° to 35° to the beard. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 15° and 32°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 22° and 30°. In another embodiment, in each alternative the angle is between approximately 23° and 27°. In an exemplary aspect, the blade holding saddle can be moveably coupled to the retaining head. The method 1100 further includes providing an angle adjusting mechanism to manually set the acute angle of the cutting edge.
In one embodiment, the slot is a longitudinal opening of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. In another embodiment, in each alternative the gap is between 0.2 and 2.5 millimeters wide. In another embodiment, in each alternative the gap is between 0.25 and 1.5 millimeters wide. In an exemplary aspect, the retaining head comprises one of a plurality of removable contacting surfaces each presenting a selected slot characteristic. The method 1100 further comprising providing a second one of the plurality of removable contacting surfaces that is user selectable.
In one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a screw retained in the blade door aligned to pass through the shaving blade and to manually engage the blade holding saddle.
In one embodiment, the blade door has a pair of lateral overlapping portions aligned with the blade holding saddle in the closed position, the locking mechanism comprising: a detent formed in each of the pair of lateral overlapping portions; and a pair of spring-loaded pins biased to extend outwardly into releasable engagement with a corresponding detent.
In one aspect, the blade resting surface is concave and the blade gripping surface is correspondingly convex.
In one embodiment, the contact surface comprises a planar surface. Alternatively, the contact surface is a convex surface.
In the above described flow chart of
In one or more embodiments, the cutting edge 1724 is presented with a blade exposure to the contacting surface 1706 of −0.001″ to 0.004″. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the cutting edge 1724 is presented with a blade exposure in the contacting surface 1706 of 0.000″ to 0.002″. In one or more embodiments, the cutting edge 1724 is presented with a blade gap relating to the distance with nothing in between the blade edge and a corresponding contacting surface 1706 of 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the cutting edge 1724 is presented with a blade gap in the contacting surface 1706 of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the cutting edge 1724 is presented with a blade gap in the contacting surface 1706 of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm.
An adjustable pivoting neck 1723 of a handle 1702 shares a pivotal mounting axis 1725 with the blade door 1708 to reduce parts and assembly steps (
In one or more embodiment, the metal portions of the shaving razor 1700 can be formed from metal injection molding. The base-mounted screw 1750 can be captive in the plane body 1704. Alternatively, the base-mounted screw 1750 can be used that is not captive. In one or more embodiments, a handle can be formed from a single injection molded portion having a bore defined therein.
All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated as incorporated by reference. It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein, will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “colorant agent” includes two or more such agents.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.
As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, the methods and compositions of the invention substantially reduce or eliminate the disadvantages and drawbacks associated with prior art methods and compositions.
It should be noted that, when employed in the present disclosure, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” and other derivatives from the root term “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps, or components, and are not intended to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention herein disclosed fulfill the objectives stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application is a continuation of the earlier filed continuation-in-part U.S. patent Ser. No. 14/832,298, filed Aug. 21, 2015, entitled “Shaving Razor”, which in turn claims the benefit of international (PCT) application PCT/US14/17988, filed Feb. 24, 2014, entitled “Shaving Razor”, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/768,357, filed Feb. 22, 2013, entitled “Female Adapter Double edge razor blade Safety Razor with floating/flexing head that adapts to changing forces and contours of face for shaving,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61768357 | Feb 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14832298 | Aug 2015 | US |
Child | 16003725 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/US14/17988 | Feb 2014 | US |
Child | 14832298 | US |