AU710211B3 - Restoring apparatus - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to restoring apparatus.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to restoring apparatus for restoring razors, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application.

Most shavers include a head portion which is adapted to hold at least one cutting blade and a handle dependent from said head portion. For example, the configuration of the head portion may allow the user to replace damaged blades with fresh blades.

Alternatively the head portion may be constructed from a moulded plastics material which is adapted to hold one or more blades in an operative cutting attitude. The head portion may be releasably connected to the handle and designed to be thrown away after use and replaced by a fresh head portion.

Typically the cutting blades include a thin cutting edge which is easily deformed as a consequence of repeated use.

In particular it has been observed that the interaction between the cutting edge and a person's whiskers has a tendency to warp the cutting edge.

It is also noted that the residue of cut whiskers and soap which tends to collect between the cutting blade and an adjacent blade or the surrounding walls of the head portion, if allowed to build up, will render the cutting blade(s) inoperative. Typically the residue is removed by flushing 2 the head portion under running water or by waving it around when immersed in water. However, often such actions are futile as the whiskers may be trapped behind a warped edge of the cutting blade and wherein the disposable razor may be rendered inoperative after a single shave.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a restoring apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a restoring apparatus for restoring razors which include a head portion in which is housed at least one razor blade and a handle dependent from the head portion, the razor blade having a cutting edge which extends along much of the length of the head portion, said restoring apparatus including: a receptacle capable of holding a liquid, and a rubbing surface against which the cutting edge may be rubbed characterized in that said receptacle may be filled with a liquid such that said rubbing surface extends at least partially below the surface of the liquid.

The receptacle may be any suitable shape. For example the receptacle may be a regular or an irregular shaped bowl.

Alternatively, the receptacle may include a base wall and one or more upstanding side walls.

The receptacle may be constructed from any suitable material. For example the receptacle may be constructed from wood, metal, glass, ceramic, porcelain or plastics materials.

In one embodiment the rubbing surface may comprise an internal surface of a side wall or base wall of the receptacle. Alternatively, the rubbing surface may comprise a surface of a razor supporting member which is either mounted on or rests upon the receptacle.

The rubbing surface may be a hard surface which will not be deformed by contact with the cutting edge of a razor blade such as metal, glass and some plastics materials. However, in other embodiments the rubbing surface may be constructed from a resilient deformable material such as some natural and synthetic rubber materials as well as some plastics materials.

The rubbing surface may be substantially flat. However in other embodiments the rubbing surface may be curved or have an angular transverse cross-section.

The rubbing surface may include one or more surface irregularities such as a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally or transversely across the rubbing surface or a plurality of apertures formed therein.

The rubbing surface may be inclined and wherein the angle of inclination may be such that it allows a user to hold the handle comfortably while ensuring that the.cutting edge bears against said rubbing surface.

In order to counter extreme forces applied to the cutting edge by the user pressing said edge too hard against the rubbing surface, the razor support member may be mounted in a resiliently biased manner.

Furthermore, the rubbing surface may include guide means such as a pair of opposing flanges, which serve to direct the razor generally downward below the surface of the liquid.

In another aspect of this invention relates to a method of restoring razors which include a head portion in which is housed at least one razor blade and a handle dependent from the head portion, the razor blade having a cutting edge which extends along much of the length of the head portion, said method including: providing restoring apparatus of the type hereinbefore described; at least partially filling the receptacle with a suitable liquid such that the lower portion of the rubbing surface is immersed in said liquid; holding the razor such that the cutting edge bears against an upper portion of the rubbing surface, and rubbing the cutting edge across the rubbing surface in a downward direction such that the head portion is immersed in the liquid.

In some instances it may be necessary to rub the cutting edge against the rubbing surface several times in order to remove whiskers and other material which may be trapped between the razor blade and an adjacent razor blade or a wall of the head portion.

Prior to and/or after rubbing the cutting edge against the rubbing surface, some users may prefer to use the head portion to stir the liquid. This may assist in removing whiskers and such like trapped within the head portion.

The liquid referred to may include water and wherein a disinfectant may be added to the water if so desired.

In another aspect this invention relates to an improved razor including: a head portion having a cavity formed therein which is open at one end; a blade extending across said cavity, said blade having a cutting edge which extends along much of the length of said blade and which points in the direction of the opening, and at least one inlet port formed in said head portion and communicating with said cavity through which liquids may enter said cavity.

The head portion of the razor may also include one or more baffles or channels located intermediate the inlet port and the cutting blade, the baffle(s) and/or channel(s) being arranged so as to direct water flowing into the cavity via the inlet port across the cutting blade. In one embodiment the baffle(s) and/or channel(s) may include a wall or walls of the cavity.

The head portion may be made from any suitable material.

6 For example, the head portion may be manufactured from a plastics material.

The cavity may be any suitable shape. For example, the cavity may be substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the opening may also be substantially rectangular.

The cutting blade may be contained in a plane which is parallel to the major axis of the cavity and may be supported at its ends by opposing side walls of the cavity.

In some embodiments the razor may include more than one blade. For example the razor may include two, three or more blades.

The inlet port or ports may be formed in a wall or walls of the cavity. For example, the razor may include a plurality of inlet ports formed in a rear wall of the razor immediately behind the cutting blade. Alternatively, the inlet port or ports may be formed in a side wall or walls of the razor. Water entering the cavity through said port(s) may be employed to flush whiskers and such like impinged between the blade(s) and the walls of the cavity from behind.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a restoring apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a razor constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of the razor illustrated in figure 2; FIG. 4a is a schematic view of the razor and the restoring apparatus; FIG. 4b is a schematic view of the razor and the restoring apparatus; FIG. 5a is a schematic view of a warped cutting blade and a rubbing surface; FIG. 5b is a schematic view of a restored cutting blade and a rubbing surface, and FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the razor illustrated in figure 2.

Figure 1 illustrates a restoring apparatus 10 which may be used to restore various razors including disposable razors of the type which include a head portion in which is housed at least one razor blade and a detachable handle dependent from the head portion. The restoring apparatus includes a rectangularly shaped, open topped, receptacle 11 manufactured from a plastics material. .The receptacle 11 includes a base wall 12, opposing side walls 13 and opposing end walls 14.

The restoring apparatus 10 also includes a razor supporting assembly 15 consisting of an inclined wall 16 manufactured from a plastics material. The wall 16 is removably mounted in opposing channels formed in the side walls 13. The razor supporting assembly 15 also includes a 8 sheet of a hard rubber material 17 which is secured to a surface of the wall 16 using a suitable adhesive.

The restoring apparatus 10 also includes a second inclined wall 18. The wall 18, like wall 16, is removably mounted in opposing channels formed in the side walls 13. In some embodiments, there may be provided additional channels 13a formed in the side walls 13 thereby enabling users to selectively vary the distance separating parallel walls 16 and 18 by locating the wall 18 in an appropriate pair of channels. The walls 16 and 18 divide the receptacle 11 into three chambers, namely a forward chamber 20, a central chamber 21 and a rearward chamber 22.

The receptacle 11 may also include holding means, not shown, for holding at least one razor. For example, the holding means may include a rack adapted to engage a stem or handle of a razor.

Figures 2 and 3 in particular illustrate an improved disposable razor 30 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The razor 30 includes a rectangularly shaped head portion 31 which is releasably attached to a handle 32.

The head portion 31 includes a front wall 33, a rear wall 34, a top wall 35, a bottom wall 36 and opposing end walls 37. The front wall 33 includes a rectangularly shaped opening which communicates with an internal cavity formed in the head portion.

The head portion 31 also includes two cutting blades each having a thin, sharpened, edge portion 41. The end portions of each of the cutting blades 40 are supported by a respective end wall 37 such that the cutting blades extend longitudinally across the aforementioned opening.

The end walls 37 are each provided with an inlet port 42 which is located behind the cutting blades 40 and which communicates with a plurality of arcuate baffles 43 which aid in directing liquids which may pass through said ports 42 over said cutting blades.

The restoring apparatus 10 hereinbefore described may be used when shaving for restoring warped cutting blades of razors.

For example, hot or cold water may be deposited in the receptacle 11 such that all three chambers 20, 21 and 22 are partially filled with water and a significant portion of the surface of the rubber material 17, hereinafter referred to as the rubbing surface, lies beneath the surface of the water as shown in figures 4a and 4b. For example the water level may lie only icm below the upper edges of the side walls 13. In addition, a disinfectant may be added to the water contained in the central chamber 21 if so desired.

The user, having applied soap to his face, may chose to use the razor 30 to cut his whiskers by drawing the front wall 33 of the head portion 31 across his face while holding the handle 32 in his hand.

After having made several passes across his face, it is likely that the region between the two cutting blades 40 will be clogged with a mixture of soap and whiskers. The aforementioned conglomerate, if allowed to build up will adversely effect the performance of the razor 30. To remove the conglomerate, the user may rub the front wall 33 against the rubbing surface 17 in a generally downward direction as indicated by figures 4a and 4b. Preferably the edges of the cutting blade bear against the rubbing surface and wherein the downward motion will aid in straightening the edges which have a tendency to curl back upon themselves, as illustrated in figure 5. This will also assist in the removal of whiskers and such like trapped behind the curled back edges of the cutting blades.

Furthermore, it is believed that the downward movement of the immersed head portion 31 may create a temporary vacuum in the cavity which is relieved by the influx of water passing through the ports 42. The water in turn is directed by the baffles across the surfaces of the cutting blades and wherein generally the force applied by the water is sufficient to flush from behind the whiskers through the opening in the front wall of the head portion. However, depending upon the size of the conglomerate, several passes over the rubbing surface may be required.

The head portion 31, prior to and/or after having been cleared of the conglomerate may be whisked about in the water 11 contained in the forward chamber so as to wash any loose whiskers therefrom. It is believed that whisking the head portion through the water causes water to flow through the ports and out the opening thereby flushing the blades from behind.

By using the restoration apparatus 10, it is possible to prolong the life expectancy of the razor and wherein the same razor may be used when shaving many times. It is also believed that by using the restoring apparatus, the user is less likely to cut themselves when shaving and/or suffer from shaving rash and wherein shaving will be more enjoyable as the cutting edge will not be warped.

It will be appreciated that the restoring apparatus is not limited to the razor 30 described herein and wherein it is suitable for use in conjunction with other razors, including disposable razors, acknowledged as prior art.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein defined in the claims.

Claims (3)

1. A restoring apparatus for restoring razors which include a head portion in which is housed at least one razor blade and a handle dependent from the head portion, the razor blade having a cutting edge which extends along much of the length of the head portion, said restoring apparatus including: a receptacle capable of holding a liquid, and a resiliently deformable rubbing surface against which the cutting edge may be rubbed, said rubbing surface being substantially flat and upwardly and rearwardly inclined and wherein use said receptacle may be filled with a liquid such that said rubbing surface extends at least partially below the surface of the liquid.

2. A razor restoring apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said rubbing surface is constructed from a rubber material.

3. A razor restoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said rubbing surface is a surface of a side wall of said receptacle. DATED THIS SEVENTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1998. DEMETRIOUS HATZIRODOS DR CHRIS MICHEALIDES by PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS /T ~C HAI