Patent Application
20070101574
The present invention relates to a shaving system in which more than one shaving action is performed during a shaving operation, to methods of shaving, and to blade unit sub-assemblies and cassettes for use in such apparatus and methods.
A shaving system having one stationary razor blade and one linearly reciprocating razor blade is known from Swiss patent CH199 850 (Metzler et al.). This arrangement has two double-edged sided razor blades (38, 39) of the “Gillette type” (see page 3, left column, line 21) and reciprocates one razor blade (39) while the other razor blade (38) of the two is stationary. The moving razor blade is actuated by pins 31 on a linearly reciprocating pusher 30, the pins 31 engaging in the short slots 40 of the moving blade 39, whereas the stationary blade 38 has longer clearance slots 41 so that the pins 31 move without moving the stationary blade 38 (page 3, left column, lines 4 to 18). The razor blades are positioned so that either the top razor blade moves and the bottom blade is stationary, or the bottom razor blade moves and the top blade is stationary (page 3, right column, lines 3 to 9). Guard (24, 25) is positioned in front of the forward blade.
Systems are known in which a rotating guard member is positioned in front of a sharp safety razor, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,154 (Johnson). A shaving system having a plurality of pairs of rotating sieve-like guard elements positioned in front of and feeding hairs to razor blades positioned behind the rotating guards is known from German patent DE 1 182 554 (Brand). The roller-guard and razor blade pairs are positioned around the semi-circular periphery of the shaver housing (
A shaving system having both a static guard and a rotating, profiled feeder positioned in front of a sharp razor blade is known from German patent application DE 25 03 175 (Hansom). This document shows two types of embodiments, the first that of
Shaving systems comprising multiple foil-type units are known, e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,289 (Wetzel et al.) which also discloses combinations of short hair cutters with a long hair cutter, or also U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,438 (Parsonage et al.) or U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,372 (Beck et al.).
Shaving systems comprising multiple razor-sharp blades are also known, e.g. from GB-A-1,460,732 which describes shaving cartridges comprising two parallel razor-sharp blades, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,907 (Apprille, Jr.) which discloses a shaving cartridge comprising three parallel razor-sharp blades.
It is also known to provide a long hair trimming unit comprising a pair of interacting blades at the upper side of the shaver alongside a foil-type reciprocating shaving unit, e.g. JP-A-2000-288267 (Hitachi Maxell).
It is further known to have non-cutting, hair-erecting scraper edges positioned adjacent or radially outward of the rotary cutter units on known rotary-type electric shavers such as sold by Philips Corporation. See WO 00/13859 (Barish), which discloses a rib-like, thin, blunt scraper member (232) surrounding each cutter (
Another device is known from DE-A-34 28 631 A1 (Ebner) which discloses an electric shaver having a single foil-type reciprocating shaving unit together with an auxiliary blade element (4) disposed laterally of the main shaving unit in a recess of the shaving head and which, subsequent to completing the electric shaving operation, can be pivoted from a rest position (
Combinations of hair manipulators and cutting members are also known, e.g. from WO-A-01/07212 and WO-A-01/07213 (Pragt).
Other types of shaving system are also known. For example, GB-A-1,444,960 (de Raemy) discloses a dry shaver having a cylindrically arcuate cutting surface defined by a plurality of cutting edges and means for rotationally reciprocating the cutter head about its longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the reciprocating cutter head is positioned beneath a cylindrically curved outer cutting foil. Further arrangements of this type are disclosed in GB-A-1,469,556 (Ascoli) and in GB-A-1,533,679 (Buchholz).
Another rotary appliance for removing hair is disclosed in WO-A-98/07551 (Garenfeld et al.), which comprises a rotary clamping device for clamping hair and subsequently extracting it at least partially from the skin, whereupon the hair is severed adjacent the skin by a separate shaver or hair trimmer arrangement (13, 29), consisting of a static shaver blade (33) adjacent the skin and a shearing blade (31) which reciprocate in shearing relationship . The appliance can be selectively set to a mode in which the oscillating shearing trimmer (13, 29) is decoupled from the drive, so that the appliance functions like a conventional epilator.
It has also been proposed in various published documents to provide in a shaving system a blade structure comprising a plate defining a plurality of apertures having annular sharpened shaving edges on the plate or formed in separate discs mounted to the plate. Systems of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,983 (Simms et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,329 (Chylinski et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,026, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,068, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,360 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,992.
It has also been proposed to have a twin-blade assembly comprising two blade members secured for replacement, as a unit, in a plastics razor head of the wet shaving type, in order to have the ecological advantage of discarding the dulled blades and re-using the cartridge frame components, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,153 (Simms).
As is well-known, the dry shaving system has advantages which are not shared by the wet shaving system, and vice versa. For example, the dry shaving system is exceptionally convenient for the user, does not require the application of liquid to the face and is comfortable. The wet shaving system, on the other hand, normally requires the application of a lubricant, such as soap, and for some users tends to produce more discomfort than the dry shaving system. It does however on the whole produce a closer shave, for most users, than a dry shaving system.
In spite of these known advantages and disadvantages, it has never previously been proposed to provide a hybrid shaving system combining the advantages of the dry shaving and the wet shaving systems without the attendant disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shaving apparatus comprising a drivable shaving unit having a skin-engaging cutter for performing a first shaving action on a user's skin; a motor adapted to drive said shaving unit to perform said first shaving action; and a razor blade having a guarded sharp cutting edge positioned for hair-cutting shaving engagement with the user's skin, whereby said blade performs a second shaving action during use of said shaving unit to perform said first shaving action, the drivable shaving unit being devoid of an exposed sharpened razor blade edge and comprising two cooperating cutter elements which cooperate to cut hair. The razor-sharp cutting edge is of the type commonly referred to as a “wet” shaving blade, whereas the drivable shaving unit is of the type referred to as a “dry” shaver, whether of the “short hair cutting unit” or “long hair cutting unit” construction.
It has been observed that non-humid conditions, such as prevailing in a dry winter climate, favor a conventional dry shaver, but that higher temperature and humidity leads to more hydration and more missed hairs. Thus, as hydration increases, that favors using instead a conventional “wet” shaving sharp blade. However, the arrangement of the present invention permits, even under disadvantageous temperature/humidity conditions, the efficiency of the overall system to approximate that of a non-humid day.
It is particularly preferred for the blade to be floatably mounted (i.e., spring mounted or biased on a resilient support). Moreover, it may be preferable to provide a second drivable shaving unit coupled to said motor and having a skin engaging cutter for performing a third shaving action on the user's skin, the blade being mounted between the first and second shaving units. In this construction, the first of the shaving units may be constructed as a short hair cutting unit and the second shaving unit may be constructed as a long hair cutting unit. In such a construction, the blade is expediently mounted on the long hair cutting unit. Alternatively, both the first and second shaving units may be of the same type, for example both short hair cutting units.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, a third drivable shaving unit may be coupled to the motor and constructed as a short hair cutter to perform a fourth shaving action, the second shaving unit being disposed between the first and third shaving units. In this construction, a second guarded razor-sharp blade may also be positioned for shaving engagement with the user's skin, so that the second blade can perform a fifth shaving action during use of the drivable shaving units to perform their own shaving actions. The blades may preferably be mounted on respective opposite sides of the long hair cutter unit.
The, or each, blade may be guarded by a portion of the adjacent shaving unit, e.g. the side region of a foil-type cutter. However, for improved safety and comfort, the or each blade may be mounted on a respective guard member. The guard member may be constructed as a bar of plastic or metal generally parallel to the extent of the sharp blade, as is known from the “wet” shaving art. Alternatively, the guard member may be provided by a plurality of fingers extending forwardly of the blade edge. For additional security, a guard wire may be provided along the distal ends of the fingers.
In one variant, the or each shaving unit may comprise an inner cutter mounted for hair shearing engagement with the skin engaging outer cutter thereof and coupled to the motor to be driven thereby. The or each inner cutter may be mounted for linear reciprocation. In this case, the or each razor-sharp blade preferably has a straight edge mounted parallel to the direction of linear reciprocation.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided shaving apparatus comprising a drivable shaving unit having an outer cutter for contact with the user's skin and an inner cutter mounted in hair shearing engagement with the outer cutter to provide a first shaving action; a motor adapted to drive said inner cutter to perform said first shaving action; and a razor-sharp blade having a cutting edge positioned for hair-cutting shaving engagement with said user's skin, whereby said blade performs a second shaving action during use of said drivable shaving unit to perform said first shaving action. The blade is preferably floatably mounted.
In one embodiment, a second drivable shaving unit is coupled to the motor and has an outer cutter for contact with a user's skin and an inner cutter mounted in hair shearing engagement with the outer cutter to provide a third shaving action, the blade being mounted between the first and second shaving units. In this embodiment, the first of the shaving units is preferably constructed as a short hair cutting unit and the second shaving unit is preferably constructed as a long hair cutting unit; alternatively, the first and second shaving units could be constructed to be the same. The blade may be mounted on the long hair cutting unit.
In another embodiment, there is further provided a third drivable shaving unit coupled to the motor and constructed as a short hair cutter to perform a fourth shaving action, the second shaving unit being disposed between the first and third shaving units.
In this further embodiment, a second guarded razor-sharp blade may be positioned for engagement with the user's skin whereby the second blade can perform a fifth shaving action during use of the drivable shaving units to perform their respective shaving actions.
In a further modification, the blades are mounted on respective opposite sides of the long hair cutter unit. In the illustrated embodiments, the first and second razor-sharp blades face in opposite directions so that naturally the second and fifth shaving actions will not occur simultaneously.
For improved comfort and safety, the or each blade may be mounted on a guard member providing a plurality of fingers extending forwardly of the blade edge. For extra security, a guard wire may be mounted along the distal ends of the fingers.
Preferably the or each inner cutter is mounted for linear reciprocation.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided shaving apparatus comprisin: a shaver unit having a drivable skin-engaging cutter for performing a first shaving action on a user's skin; a motor adapted to drive the cutter to perform said first shaving action; and a guarded razor blade having a sharpened cutting edge positioned for hair-cutting engagement with the user's skin, whereby said blade performs a second shaving action during use of said shaving unit to perform said first shaving action, and the drivable skin-engaging cutter being mounted about an axis to be driven for pivotal motion, and the guard surface being disposed between the drivable skin-engaging cutter and the razor blade sharpened edge.
The blade is preferably floatably mounted and may expediently be mounted on the cutting unit.
In one embodiment, a second shaving unit is coupled to the motor and has a drivable skin-engaging cutter for performing a third shaving action on the user's skin, the blade being mounted between the first and second shaving units. In a further variation, a third drivable shaving unit is coupled to the motor and disposed between the first and third shaving units to perform a fourth shaving action during use of the apparatus.
In a further variation, a second guarded razor-sharp blade is positioned to perform a fifth shaving action similar to the second shaving action during use of the shaving unit.
Preferably, the blades are mounted on respective opposite sides of the third shaving unit.
For improved comfort and safety, the or each blade may be mounted on a guard member providing a plurality of fingers extending forwardly of the blade edge. For further security, a guard wire may be mounted along the distal ends of the fingers.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of shaving comprising the steps of engaging the skin with the cutter of a drivable shaving unit; driving the shaving unit to perform a first, hair-shearing shaving action; and performing a second, hair-cutting shaving action with a razor blade having a sharpened cutting edge during said hair-shearing first shaving action, where the drivable shaving unit is devoid of an outwardly protruding sharpened razor edge and is comprised of two cooperating cutting elements which cooperate to cut hair.
The drivable shaving unit may comprise an outer cutter for contact with the user's skin and an inner cutter mounted in hair shearing engagement with the outer cutter in which case the motor will drive the inner cutter to perform the first shaving action.
In another embodiment, the shaving unit will comprise a drivable skin-engaging cutter for performing the first shaving action on the user's skin, in which case the motor will drive the cutter to perform said first shaving action.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a blade unit sub-assembly that carries the razor-sharp blade edge or edges and that is mountable into a frame of a powered shaving head. This provides a replacement part so that the razor-sharp edges can be exchanged if they become dulled. In some embodiments the sub-assembly has twin blade supports and twin sharp blade edges that face in opposite directions and can be mounted between dry-type shaving units, and in preferred embodiments is mounted for biased displacement. In another embodiment the sub-assembly carries a spring-biased blade, and is preferably attached to an external surface of the shaving head.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same can be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.
a shows region A of
In the various Figures, corresponding components are provided with corresponding reference numerals.
During operation of the shaving apparatus, the user shaves in the conventional manner by drawing the dry shaving unit 3 across the skin surface. During this operation, hairs are also engaged by the razor-sharp edge of the blade 11 so that a dual or hybrid shaving action results, the first action being of the dry shave type and the second action of the wet shave type, being performed together. The blade unit 4 can perform either or both of two functions; firstly it performs a second cut on hairs already cut by the dry shaving unit 3 so that an even closer shave is produced; secondly it also acts to capture and cut any longer hairs which may be missed by the foil-type cutter. The user receives this benefit without having to wet or lather the beard or skin, or to make multiple passes, or to hold the appliance at different orientations, or to selectively engage different ones from among the “dry” and “wet” types of hair-removing units. However, a conditioning step may be included if desired; conditioning can include hydrating, lubricating or any other means of preparing the skin and/or hair to be shaved, and may or may not include the use of water. Lathering helps hydrate the hairs, and may also include agents such as soaps, gels, oils or emollients to reduce friction with the skin.
The dry shaving unit can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,289 (Wetzel), in particular having an outer apertured shaving foil and a reciprocating undercutter, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The shaving unit could also be constructed as is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,995 (Yamashita et al.) having one or more rotary cutters of the type marketed under the name Hitachi, which is likewise incorporated by reference. As a consequence of the close proximity between the foil-type cutter unit 3 and the blade unit 4, the blade 11 is guarded, at least to some extent, by a portion of the surface of the foil 5 which thus assumes the function of what is commonly referred to—in the parlance of wet shaving—as the guard surface. An imaginary plane P can be constructed tangential to the blade 11 and guard surface of foil 5 which generally lies along the skin surface being shaved by the both units. The dimensions and geometry are chosen so that this arrangement is sufficiently safe.
However, in order to provide further safety and comfort, various techniques may be adopted.
In the embodiment of
The embodiment of
In this embodiment, two separate blade units 4a and 4b are provided on opposite sides of the long hair cutting unit 3c. As illustrated, each blade unit is provided with safety skis and a guard wire and thus corresponds substantially to the construction shown in
In the embodiment of
In either of the embodiments shown in
In any of the above-escribed embodiments, a lubricant or other conditioner dispenser or lubricant strip may be provided to reduce friction between the razor-sharp blade or blades and the user's skin, and consequently improve shaving comfort. A suitable strip can be mounted rearward of the sharp blade and includes polyethylene oxide (“polyox”).
As for the blade or blades, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 10 to 23 an essentially standard razor blade may be employed such as those marketed by Gillette under the trade designations Sensor and Sensor Excel or as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,907 (Apprille, Jr.), which is incorporated by reference, or those used in the Gillette product marketed under the trade designation Mach3.
The sharpness of such blades is conventionally defined by the tip radius in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Measured in a conventional way, the tip radius, may typically be less than 0.5 microns, which would be a relatively blunt blade, and may lie in the range 0.5 microns to 50 nm (nanometers)(i.e., 0.05 microns), which would be relatively sharp. In the embodiments of the present invention, the blade sharpness may lie anywhere between these extremes, depending on the cutting effect desired, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. It can even be advantageous to have a tip radius smaller than 0.05 microns, in some circumstances.
It has been observed that conventional Sensor, Sensor Excel or Mach3 blades give a short lifetime before becoming dulled when used dry in the embodiments disclosed herein. Thus it is preferred to use a blade that has a similar geometry to such blades but is thicker in the tip region than such standard “wet” blades, for example having the geometry shown in TABLE 1 below.
A particularly preferred blade is a Cr/Pt coated stainless steel blade with the tip profile defined by TABLE 1 below:
In any of the above-described embodiments, the sub-assembly comprising the frame or housing which supports both the razor-sharp blade or blades (and where applicable its or their blade mounting supports) together with at least an outer cutter of one of the dry-type shaving units (such as an outer foil, as shown in
The foregoing specification describes numerous embodiments and variations showing the wide range of possible constructions embodying the present invention. Further variants and embodiments will readily occur to those skilled in the art on the basis of the foregoing disclosure. All such embodiments and variants are to be considered as within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02022316.0 | Oct 2002 | EP | regional |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US03/31676 | Oct 2003 | US |
| Child | 11101325 | Apr 2005 | US |
