Patent Application
20100218390
This invention relates to a wet shaving razor cover that protects the shaving cartridge and more particularly protects the pivot mechanism from damage during transport and/or storage.
Over the years, consumers have become more mobile in their daily lives. This becomes even more apparent as the goods that are commonly used by consumers are tailored for improved mobility and easy travel by manufacturers that recognize this behavior change. One consumer area that has followed this trend is wet shaving razors in that a number of razors are intended for a relatively limited number of uses (referred to as “disposable”) while others are in the form of systems that comprise a longer term use handle that is joined to a removably disposable cartridge. With respect to both types of razor products, it is becoming more commonplace for such razors to incorporate a pivot mechanism allowing the cartridge to pivot with respect to the handle. As manufacturers strive to present consumers with a pivoting mechanism, which provides an improved shave, it is clear that there is a need for a protective razor cover that is suitable for such razors during transport and/or storage. In particular, there is a need for a protective razor cover that is suitable for 1) storing the razor in a manner that protects a consumer from unintended contact with the cutting edges of the blades during transport and/or storage, 2) protecting the cutting edges of the blades from dulling by unintended contact during such transport and/or storage, and 3) protecting the pivoting mechanism from damage during transport and/or storage.
In accordance with the present invention a protective cover for a razor cartridge is provided. The razor cartridge is joined to a handle and is pivotal about a pivot axis with respect to the handle. The cover comprises a front wall, a back wall opposed to the front wall, a side wall extending from the front wall to the back wall, a first end and an opposed second end. The second end has an opening. The back wall has an opening, a first pivot inhibiting member extending away from the back wall and a second pivot inhibiting member extending away from the back wall. Preferably, the first and second pivot inhibiting members are positioned opposite one another on either side of the opening in the back wall. The cover is slidable over the cartridge through the opening in the second end to cover the cartridge such that the handle extends through the opening in the back wall and the first and second pivot inhibiting members engage the handle to inhibit the cartridge from pivoting about the pivot axis with respect to the handle.
The first and second pivot inhibiting members may extend towards the front wall. The first and second pivot inhibiting members may extend away from the front wall.
The front wall may comprise a plurality of guides to minimize movement of the cover with respect to the cartridge. The back wall may comprise a plurality of guides to minimize movement of the cover with respect to the cartridge.
The first pivot inhibiting member may be positioned adjacent the opening in the back wall. The second pivot inhibiting member may be adjacent the opening in the back wall.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment shown in
The front wall 12 comprises a plurality of guides 36 to minimize movement of the cover 10 with respect to the cartridge 74. The back wall 14 comprises a plurality of guides 38 to minimize movement of said cover with respect to said cartridge.
Referring to
The first pivot inhibiting member 132 and the second pivot inhibiting member 134 extend toward the front wall 112. The first pivot inhibiting member 132 is positioned adjacent opening 130 in back wall 114. Similarly, the second pivot inhibiting member 134 is positioned adjacent opening 130 in back wall 114 opposite to the first pivot inhibiting member 132.
The front wall 112 comprises a plurality of guides 136 to minimize movement of the cover 110 with respect to the cartridge 74. The back wall 114 comprises a plurality of guides 138 to minimize movement of said cover with respect to said cartridge.
The cover of the present invention is preferably molded as a single integral structure.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”
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 divisional of Application No. 12/006,959, filed on Jan. 8, 2008, pending.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12006959 | Jan 2008 | US |
| Child | 12777356 | US |
