The present invention relates to shaving razors and more particularly to shaving razors having a light source that projects an image onto the skin indicating the location of a blade edge on the skin of a user enabling the user to properly align the blade edge on the skin during shaving.
In recent years shaving razors with numerous blades have been proposed in the literature and commercialized, e.g., in United States 2005/0039337 A1 published on Feb. 24, 2005, which generally describes a type of design that has been commercialized as the five bladed Fusion™ razor by The Gillette Company.
Increasing the number of blades on a shaving razor generally tends to increase the shaving efficiency of the razor and provide better distribution of compressive forces on the skin but can reduce the ability to trim, e.g., sideburns or near the nose. In order to improve the ability to trim an extra blade mounted on the rear of the razor cartridge has been provided. Such a design with an extra blade is described in United States 2005/0039337 A1 and commercialized in the Fusion™ razor by The Gillette Company.
While a trimming blade is very useful for trimming hair of the sideburn or near the nose, it is difficult to locate the exact location of the trimming blade as the trimming blade is hidden from view by the razor cartridge. When hidden it is difficult for the user to accurately position the trimming blade on the skin for precise trimming. The inability to accurately position the trimming blade can result in a less than accurate shave producing a less than satisfactory shaving experience.
It is therefore desirable to provide the shaving razor with a light source that projects an image onto the skin that indicates the location of the trimming blade on the skin of the user enabling the user to properly align the trimming blade on the skin during shaving.
In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving razor including a housing joined to a handle, one or more blades mounted in the housing, and a light source, each of the blades includes a blade edge, the light source projects a defined image indicating the location of one of the blade edges on the skin of a user enabling proper alignment of the blade edge during shaving. The defined image may be a line segment or a plurality of line segments.
The defined image may project from the housing or may project from the handle. The defined image may project continuously or intermittently. The defined image may be projected directly on the skin The defined image may be projected onto a reflective surface and then on the skin, i.e., projected indirectly on the skin.
The light source may be a high illumination element or multiple high illumination elements. The high illumination element may be an electrically activated component. The light source may be selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a laser, a halogen bulb, or a luminescent bulb. The light source may project multiple defined images indicating the location of multiple blade edges on the skin of the user.
The shaving razor may be a dry razor or a wet razor.
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Light source 60 is powered by a power source 80. Power source 80 may be any conventional power source such as a AA size battery or a AAA size battery. The power source 80 may be optimized to provide the necessary power for the light source selected. The handle 13 defines a power source compartment 58 that is adapted to receive a AAA battery. The power source compartment 58 may be sized differently so that it can receive a different sized battery and/or power source. The power source 80 is accessible by removing the third piece 16 from the first piece 14 and second piece 15 of handle 13.
The light source may be manually activated by any normal means including a button or switch or automatically activated upon retrieval from organizer or utilize sensors such as proximity sensors to activate the light source when in close proximity with the face. The user can then be given the option of letting the light source run automatically during the shave or taking manual control over the activation or deactivation of the light source. In the embodiment shown, the light source 60 is activated by a button 55 which activates a switch 56 to selectively open and close circuit 57 to provide power from power source 80 to light source 60. Button 55 is located on the second piece 15 of handle 13. The button 55 may be located in alternative locations.
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The defined image may be projected onto the skin as a single color, e.g., red, black, green, blue, etc. The defined image may be projected on the skin as a combination of two or more colors, e.g., red and green, red and blue, or red, yellow and green, etc.
The defined image may be projected onto the skin in a continuous manner or intermittently. If an intermittent projection is selected the duration of the projection cycle and the duration of the rest cycle can be selected as desired. The intermittent projection may be such that the projection cycle and the rest cycle are of the same duration or different durations with either the projection cycle or the rest cycle being longer in duration.
The light source may be a high illumination element or multiple high illumination elements. The light source may be a light emitting diode, a laser, a halogen bulb, or a luminescent bulb. The light source may also be multiple light emitting diodes, multiple lasers, multiple halogen bulbs or multiple luminescent bulbs.
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Handle 13 includes a light source 60. Light source 60 is activated by button 55 which activates switch 56 to selectively open and close circuit 57 to provide power from power source 80 to light source 60. Light source 60 projects a defined image 62 from handle 13, such as a line segment, onto the skin 70 of the user. The defined image 62 is to indicate the exact location at which blade edge 20 of blade 19 will contact the skin 70 of the user. This enables the user to properly align blade edge 20 on the skin for accurate shaving of the hair.
Preferably the power source 80 is a rechargeable power source. Power source 80 also provides power for first blade 17 and trimmer blade 19. The first blades 17 and trimmer 19 may be activated by the same switch that activates light source 60, independent switches or combinations thereof.
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The light source 60 and motor 97 are powered by power source 80. Light source 60 and motor 97 are activated by button 55 which activates switch 56 to selectively open and close circuit 57 to provide power from power source 80 to light source 60 and motor 97. An arm 98 extends from motor 97 to first moving blade 93 oscillating back and forth to oscillate first moving blade 93 in a back and forth motion.
The powered trimmer 92 can either be fixed to the housing portion 12a or project out from the housing portion 12a by any means including sliding, flipping or twisting into position for best use. The blade edges 94 and 96 of the trimmer 92 are of a toothed configuration. The light source can then be positioned in accordance with the position of the trimmer 92.
Generally, in order to focus the defined image emanating from the light source a lens or lenses may be used. A lens can be used to adjust the depth of field and depth of focus of the defined image on the user's skin to optimize performance. The lens may be part of the light source itself or a separate member.
The projection of the defined image onto the skin of the user may have other benefits than identify the location of a blade or blade. The projection of the defined image onto the user's skin may also provide some benefits in aiding the user to place the housing or cartridge against the user's skin at the proper angle.
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/486,642, filed on Jul. 14, 2006, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11486642 | Jul 2006 | US |
Child | 13179081 | US |