AU649665B2 - Safety razors and blade units therefor - Google Patents

Safety razors and blade units therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
AU649665B2
AU649665B2 AU76532/91A AU7653291A AU649665B2 AU 649665 B2 AU649665 B2 AU 649665B2 AU 76532/91 A AU76532/91 A AU 76532/91A AU 7653291 A AU7653291 A AU 7653291A AU 649665 B2 AU649665 B2 AU 649665B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
blade
razor head
support
edge
frame
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU76532/91A
Other versions
AU7653291A (en
Inventor
Kevin James Wain
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gillette Co LLC
Original Assignee
Gillette Co LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gillette Co LLC filed Critical Gillette Co LLC
Publication of AU7653291A publication Critical patent/AU7653291A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU649665B2 publication Critical patent/AU649665B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26BHAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/08Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor involving changeable blades
    • B26B21/14Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle
    • B26B21/22Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously
    • B26B21/222Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit
    • B26B21/227Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit with blades being resiliently mounted in the changeable unit
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26BHAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/02Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor involving unchangeable blades

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Dry Shavers And Clippers (AREA)
  • Gloves (AREA)
  • Crushing And Pulverization Processes (AREA)
  • Knives (AREA)
  • Sawing (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A safety razor head comprises a head frame (101) carrying a cap member (104) and two blade units (105) all mounted in slots in end walls (103) of the frame (101) so as to be movable vertically, i.e. towards and away from the base (102) of the frame. The movable elements are urged upwardly by springs (106). The blade units (105) comprise metal pressing (108) of inverted L-shaped cross-section. Blade members (107) are attached to the top limbs (109) and guard portions (111, 112) are spaced forwardly of the blade edges (107A). The pressing (108) has projecting ears (114) at opposite ends by which each unit is mounted in the frame (101) for limited pivotal movement about an axis parallel with and close to the blade edge (107A).

Description

OPI DATE 21/10/91 AnJP DATE 21/11/91 APPLN. ID 76532 91
PCT
PCT NUMBER PCT/US91/01926 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 5 (11) International Publication Number: WO 91/14546 B26B 21/02 Al (43) International Publication Date: 3 October 1991 (03.10.91) (21) International Application Number: PCT/US91/01926 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), BR, CA, CH (European patent), DE (Eu (22) International Filing Date: 22 March 1991 (22.03.91) ropean patent), DK (European patent), ES (European patent), Fik (European patent), GB (European patent), GR (European patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, Priority data: LU (European patent), NL (European patent), SE (Eu- 9006782.8 27 March 1990 (27.03.90) GB ropean patent), SU, US.
(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): THE GIL- Published LETTE COMPANY [US/US]; Prudential Tower Build- With international search report.
ing, Boston, MA 02199 (US).
(72) Inventor; and f Inventor/Applicant (for US only) WAIN, Kevin, James [GB/GB]; 5 Dartington Avenue, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire (GB).
(74) Agents: GALLOWAY, Peter, D. et al.; Ladas Parry, 26 West 61 Street, New York, NY 10023 (US).
(54)Title: SAFETY RAZORS AND BLADE UNITS THEREFOR (57) Abstract A safety razor head comprises a head frame (101) carrying a cap member (104) and two blade units (105) all mounted in slots in end walls (103) of the 105 107 11 frame (101) so as to be movable vertically, i.e. towards and away from the base (102) of the frame. The 07A movable elements are urged upwardly by springs (106). The blade units (105) comprise metal pressing 1 (108) of inverted L-shaped cross-section. Blade members (107) are attached to the top limbs (109) and '106 guard portions (111, 112) are spaced forwardly of the blade edges (107A). The pressing (108) has projecting ears (114) at opposite ends by which each unit is 123 A 18 mounted in the frame (101) for limited pivotal move- 103 ment about Si z axis parallel with and close to the blade edge '!07A).
106 101 "0 122 c i 1 -1- SAFETY RAZORS AND BLADE UNITS THEREFOR This invention relates to safety razors and to blade units for incorporation in safety razors.
The invention aims at the provision of a safety razor having a high degree of "conformance", that is to say the ability to permit or constrain the skin-engaging elements of the razor to maintain optimum contact with the varying contours of the skin during a shaving operation.
There is disclosed herein a razor head having a frame, a blade unit rotatably supported in said frame, said blade unit comprising a blade having a sharpened cutting edge and a blade support comprising a platform to which the blade is attached with its edge projecting forwardly of the platform, a guard portion integral with said blade support and spaced forwardly of the blade edge, wherein mounting means is provided on the support by which the integral guard and blade are mounted in use in said razor head for rotation together about an axis parallel with and close to the blade edge, and wherein said blade unit is also mounted for translational movement relative to the frame under forces encountered during shaving, against the action of a resilient restoring force, in directions transverse to a notional plane containing the blade edge and a skin engaging surface of the guard portion.
There is further disclosed herein a blade unit comprising a blade having a sharpened cutting edge, a guard spaced a predetermined distance forwardly of said cutting edge and substantially parallel thereto, means for integrally connecting said blade edge and said guard together to maintain said spaced apart relationship, and mounting means on said blade unit for mounting said unit in a razor head and for permitting rotation of said blade edge and said guard together about an axis parallel with and close to said blade edge so that the geometric relationship between said blade edge and said guard may be maintained with respect to one another as said blade unit moves over the face of the user.
Preferably, the (or each) unit is also mounted for movement relative to the frame under forces encountered during shaving, against the action of a resilient restoring force, S in directions transverse INLIBrrlOO103:gco WO 91/14546 PCT/US91/01926 2 substantially perpendicular) to a notional plane containing the blade edge and a skin engaging surface of the guard portion.
A blade unit and safety razor head frame in accordance with the invention and some modifications thereof, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an end portion of the head frame and of a blade unit, respectively; Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken at the sectioning line in Figure 1, showing the blade units and a cap member in the normal positions of rest; Fig. 4 corresponds with Fig. 3, and shows the parts in different relative positions; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-section illustrating different positions of the cap and blade units in use; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified razor head frame and blade units; and Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the head frame of Fig. 6, corresponding with Fig. The razor head shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a metal or moulded plastics head frame 1 having an elongate base 2 and upstanding end walls 3 at opposite ends thereof. Only one end of the frame is shown in these Figs. the opposite end being a mirror image.
The head frame supports a cap member 4, two blade units 5 and three pairs of cantilever wire springs 6, whose inner ends (not shown) are secured to the medial portion of the elongate base.
Each blade unit 5 consists of a narrow blade 7, having a sharpened cutting edge 7A, and a blade support S formed as an L-shaped metal stamping to proviae a platform 9 and a guard portion providing a curved skin engaging guard surface 11 and a depending leg 12. The support has a slot 13 over most of its yk WO 91/14546 PCT/US91/01926 3 length to form a space between the platform 9 and the guard portion and the blade 7 is securely attached to the platform with its edge 7A projecting forwardly into that space, forwardly of the platform.
At its ends, the support 8 is formed with upwardly offset, projecting ears 14 which are abuttingly engaged from below by upstanding end portions 6A of the wire springs 6.
The cap member 4 consists of a channel shaped support 16 in which a cap moulding 17 is secured.
The cap member and blade units are captured at their ends in recesses formed in the end walls 3 of the head frame. More specifically, the ears 14 of the blade supports engage in narrow vertical slots 18 which also receive the vertical end portions 6A of the respective wire springs. Alongside each slot 18 is a shallower, wider recess 19 whose forward face 21 acts as a stop for the adjacent end of the respective leg 12.
Thus, each blade unit is guided for vertical movement in the head frame by engagement of its ears 14 in the slots 18. The springs 6 are pre-stressed so that in the normal, rest position, the blade units are held by the springs in their outermost positions, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring ends 6A are guided and coinstrained for vertical movement in their respective slots 18 and are pointed at their upper ends, where they engage the ears 14 so as to provide fulcrums, permitting rotational movement of the units about axes parallel with and close to the cutting-edges of the respective blades. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, this rotational movement is limited by engagement of the ends of the legs 12 with the rear faces of slots 18 and the forward faces 21 of recesses 19, respectively. The cap member 4, which is set behind the blade units in the shaving direction, is constrained and guided for vertical movement only, parallel with the corresponding movement of the blade units. The cap member is also urged to its outermost WO 91/14546 PCr/US91/01926 4 position by its respective wire springs 6, as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 shows the moving parts in their innermost positions, in which their springs 6 are "bottomed" against the base 2 of the frame.
In use of the razor, the cap and blade units are able to conform closely to the differing contours of the skin areas being shaved by virtue of their being able to move, independently of each other and against the resilient restoring forces of their springs, according to the forces which they experience. This independence of motion is known in itself but, significantly, the blade units are also able to pivot freely in order to permit each unit to maintain close contact with the skin at both its cutting edge 7A and its skin engaging guard surface 11, thus preserving its optimum attitude in spite of variations in the contours of the skin surface. This is due to the fact that the pivotal axis of each unit is parallel with and just ahead of the sharpened edge of the blade.
In Fig. 5, the variations in skin contours are exaggerated to illustrate the way in which the moving parts of the razor accommodate undulations in the skin surface and in particular how the attitudes of the blade units are adjusted automatically to maintain the desired contact with the skin.
The translational movement of the units is described above as being "vertical". This, of course, assumes a specific attitude of the razor head. The sense of the requisite movement, regardless of the attitude of the razor, is transverse to a notional plane containing the blade edge and the skin engaging surface of the guard portion.
Because of the self-guarding nature of the blade units, it will generally be unnecessary to provide a separated guard member, but if one is provided, it can be mounted for translational movemcnt, with a spring WO 91/14546 PCT/US91/01926 5 suspension, in the same manner as the cap member.
The razor could of course have a single blade unit or three or more if desired, but two units are presently regarded as optimal.
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of blade unit and head frame which are generally similar to the above described embodiment but with some structural modifications, principally as described below. Parts of the modified embodiment are given reference numerals increased by 100 compared with the numerals used for corresponding parts in the first embodiment.
The blade units 105 are virtually identical with those first described, save that the ears 114 are in the same plane as the guard portion rather than being upwardly offset. As a result the pivotal axis of the unit is set lower than in the first embodiment.
The moulded head frame 101 is of a different construction, being provided in known manner with depending legs 22 by which the frame is adapted for releasable mounting on the upper end of a razor handle with limited freedom to pivot, relative to the handle, about a longitudinal axis, The upper surface of the base 102 is formed with an upstanding pip 102A destined to provide an integral rivet for securing a metallic spring member comprising a rectangular medial portion 106A having integral spring fingers 106 extending longitudinally away, and also upwardly from the plane of the portion 106A.
The rear wall of the frame 101 is formed with a channel to receive the cap moulding 117 in a fixed position.
In the end walls 103 of the frame, the slots 118 and recesses 119 are completely open from above and separate clips 123 are provided for retaining the blade units by their ears 114, to the frame.
The function and operation of the blade units is as described above.

Claims (11)

1. A razor head having a frame, a blade unit rotatably supported in said frame, said blade unit comprising a blade having a sharpened cutting edge and a blade support comprising a platform to which the blade is attached with its edge projecting forwardly of the platform, a guard portion integral with said blade support and spaced forwardly of the blade edge, wherein mounting means is provided on the support by which the integral guard and blade are mounted in use in said razor head for rotation together about an axis parallel with and close to the blade edge, and wherein said blade unit is also mounted for translational movement relative to the frame under forces encountered during shaving, against the action of a resilient restoring force, in directions transverse to a notional plane containing the blade edge and a skin engaging surface of the guard portion.
2. A razor head according to claim 1, wherein said blade support is of generally L- shaped cross-section, having one leg constituting said platform and a second, depending leg spaced forwardly of the blade edge, said guard surface being formed by a transitional portion at the angle of the support.
3. A razor head according to claim 1, wherein said blade support is of generally L- shaped cross-section, having one leg constituting the platform and a second, depending leg spaced from the blade edge for limited rotation about said axis.
4. A razor head according to claim 2 or claim S, wherein the support is formed at opposite ends with a pair of projections, extending beyond the respective ends of said platform and which constitute said mounting means.
A razor head according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said blade support is formed as a unitary metal stamping.
6. A razor head according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means of the blade unit are located and retained in recessed portions in opposite end walls of the frame.
7. A razor head according to claim 6, wherein opposite ends of the blade support are engaged by respective springs, said ends being displaceable relative to each other in said transverse directions. 30
8. A razor head according to claim 7, wherein said frame is formed as a unitary moulding having an elongate base with upstanding walls at opposite ends thereof, the inner faces of said walls being formed with slots in which the mounting means of the blade support are received, spring members are attached to the elongate base and bear upwardly at their ends on said mounting means, the inner faces of said walls also being formed with forward and rear abutment faces for engagement by portions of the support to limit rotation of said support.
9. A blade unit for use in a razor head according to claim 1, comprising a blade having a sharpened cutting edge, a guard spaced a predetermined distance forwardly of said cutting edge and substantially parallel thereto, means for integrally connecting said blade edge and said guard together to maintain said spaced apart relationship, and mounting *4 -7- means on said blade unit for mounting said unit in a razor head and for permitting rotation of said blade edge and said guard together about an axis parallel with and close to said blade edge so that the geometric relationship between said blade edge and said guard may be maintained with respect to one another as said blade unit moves over the face of the user.
A razor head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to or Figs. 6 and 7.
11. A blade unit for use in a razor head, the blade unit being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 or Figs. 6 and 7. Dated 21 March, 1994 THE GILLETE COMPANY Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON S. C. N:ALIBTTI00103:cg L-~L LIL
AU76532/91A 1990-03-27 1991-03-22 Safety razors and blade units therefor Ceased AU649665B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9006782 1990-03-27
GB909006782A GB9006782D0 (en) 1990-03-27 1990-03-27 Safety razors and blade units therefor
PCT/US1991/001926 WO1991014546A1 (en) 1990-03-27 1991-03-22 Safety razors and blade units therefor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU7653291A AU7653291A (en) 1991-10-21
AU649665B2 true AU649665B2 (en) 1994-06-02

Family

ID=10673307

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU76532/91A Ceased AU649665B2 (en) 1990-03-27 1991-03-22 Safety razors and blade units therefor

Country Status (19)

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EP (1) EP0522071B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3085974B2 (en)
KR (1) KR0174756B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1035163C (en)
AT (1) ATE143624T1 (en)
AU (1) AU649665B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9106269A (en)
CA (1) CA2076534C (en)
CZ (1) CZ283054B6 (en)
DE (1) DE69122500T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0522071T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2092564T3 (en)
GB (1) GB9006782D0 (en)
GR (1) GR3021275T3 (en)
PL (1) PL166706B1 (en)
RU (1) RU2091211C1 (en)
TR (1) TR27611A (en)
UA (1) UA25899C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1991014546A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993001917A1 (en) * 1991-07-18 1993-02-04 Warner-Lambert Company Razor head with variable shaving geometry
US5341571A (en) * 1993-04-16 1994-08-30 American Safety Razor Company Movable blade shaving cartridge or the like
GB9505917D0 (en) * 1995-03-23 1995-05-10 Gillette Co Safety razors
US5689883A (en) * 1995-05-08 1997-11-25 Warner-Lambert Company Shaving implement
AU2129597A (en) 1996-03-27 1997-10-17 Warner-Lambert Company Shaving system with uniform shaving forces
US6009624A (en) * 1997-09-30 2000-01-04 The Gillette Company Razor cartridge with movable blades
JP4977374B2 (en) 2006-02-14 2012-07-18 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター razor
JP4950506B2 (en) 2006-02-14 2012-06-13 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター razor
JP4950507B2 (en) 2006-02-14 2012-06-13 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター razor
US8008812B2 (en) 2006-07-14 2011-08-30 Aurora Office Equipment Co., Ltd. Paper shredder control system responsive to touch-sensitive element
CN201239643Y (en) 2008-08-06 2009-05-20 上海震旦办公设备有限公司 Full automatic paper crusher without selecting paper
KR20110057193A (en) * 2008-09-29 2011-05-31 더 질레트 컴퍼니 Razor cartridges with perforated blade assemblies
EP2376261B1 (en) * 2008-12-19 2020-04-15 BIC Violex S.A. Razor cartridge and mechanical razor comprising such a cartridge
CN101543800A (en) 2009-05-07 2009-09-30 上海震旦办公设备有限公司 Paper jamming prevention protective device of paper shredder
EP2454056B1 (en) * 2009-07-15 2014-03-19 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Razor blade technology
EP3072646B1 (en) * 2015-03-25 2020-06-17 The Gillette Company LLC Shaving razor cartridge
CN106098254B (en) * 2016-07-14 2017-08-29 广州市明创线缆有限公司 A kind of manual wringing equipment of cable and its application method
CN109514230B (en) * 2018-12-29 2023-06-20 温州美葆科技技术有限公司 Full-automatic assembly equipment for manual shaver and control method thereof

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4443940A (en) * 1979-05-25 1984-04-24 The Gillette Company Safety razor head

Family Cites Families (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4337575A (en) * 1980-08-07 1982-07-06 The Gillette Company Razor blade assembly
GB2131337B (en) * 1982-12-07 1985-10-30 Gillette Co Safety razors
US4586255A (en) * 1984-10-15 1986-05-06 The Gillette Company Razor blade assembly
US4709477A (en) * 1986-09-02 1987-12-01 Warner-Lambert Company Blade assembly featuring variable span
US4932122A (en) * 1987-12-21 1990-06-12 The Gillette Company Safety razor blade assembly

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4443940A (en) * 1979-05-25 1984-04-24 The Gillette Company Safety razor head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7653291A (en) 1991-10-21
JP3085974B2 (en) 2000-09-11
KR930700267A (en) 1993-03-13
CZ283054B6 (en) 1997-12-17
CA2076534C (en) 1998-10-06
CN1035163C (en) 1997-06-18
JPH05505746A (en) 1993-08-26
DE69122500D1 (en) 1996-11-07
KR0174756B1 (en) 1999-02-18
ATE143624T1 (en) 1996-10-15
EP0522071B1 (en) 1996-10-02
PL166706B1 (en) 1995-06-30
GB9006782D0 (en) 1990-05-23
CA2076534A1 (en) 1991-09-28
EP0522071A4 (en) 1993-05-19
RU2091211C1 (en) 1997-09-27
CN1057807A (en) 1992-01-15
GR3021275T3 (en) 1997-01-31
DK0522071T3 (en) 1997-02-17
ES2092564T3 (en) 1996-12-01
UA25899C2 (en) 1999-02-26
EP0522071A1 (en) 1993-01-13
CS9100834A2 (en) 1991-11-12
WO1991014546A1 (en) 1991-10-03
TR27611A (en) 1995-06-13
BR9106269A (en) 1993-04-13
DE69122500T2 (en) 1997-04-03

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