Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B21/00—Razors 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
  • B26B21/08—Razors 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
  • B26B21/14—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle
  • B26B21/38—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle with provision for reciprocating the blade by means other than rollers

Definitions

• the invention relates to wet shaving implements, and is directed more particularly to a razor assembly which, as a whole, is subject to vibratory movement. Which has disposed therein a blade assembly which is pivotally movable on a handle assembly during a shaving operation, the blade assembly having individual blade assembly components therein which are independently movable during the shaving operation.
• shaving efficiency of such a safety razor assembly may be improved if the blade assembly is adapted to pivot on the razor handle during a shaving operation, permitting the blade assembly to more closely follow the contours of a
• U.S. Patent No. 3,935,639, issued February 3, 1976, in the name of John C. Terry, et al, and U.S. Patent No. 3,938,247, issued February 17, 1976, in the name of Nelson C. Carbonell, et al, are illustrative of razor handles adapted to accept the blade assembly of the *070 patent in such manner as to permit pivotal movement of the blade assembly during a shaving operation.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,950,849, issued April 20, 1976, in the name of Roger L. Perry illustrates a modified blade assembly adapted for pivotal movement.
• Koehler there are disclosed razors having handle portions in each of which is mounted an electric motor, a shaft rotatable by the motor, and a weight eccentrically mounted on the free end of the shaft, ⁇ rotation of the shaft operating to cause vibration of the razor, and particularly the head portion thereof, to impart a slicing motion to blade means.
• a feature of the present invention is the provision of a safety razor assembly comprising a blade assembly and a handle assembly, means for pivotally interconnecting the blade and handle assemblies such that the blade assembly may move pivotally on the handle assembly during a shaving operation, the blade assembly having two blades therein, each of said blades being mounted for movement independently of each other and of the remainder of the blade assembly during a shaving operation, and the handle assembly having mounted therein means for causing vibration of the entire razor assembly and ocillatory movement of the blade assembly to effect a slicing motion of the two blades.
• Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a housing portion of one form of blade assembly illustrative of an embodi- ment of the invention
• Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;
• Fig. 3 is a-top plan view of one form of blade assembly illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;
• Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the blade assembly, taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 6 is a top plan view of another form of blade assembly illustrative of an alternative embodiment of the invention having a shaving aid incorporated therein;
• Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of one form of handle assembly illustrative of an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 8 is a front elevational view thereof;
• Fig. 9 is a back elevational view thereof;
• Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the blade assembly attached to the handle assembly, taken generally along the length-wise centerline of the blade assembly with parts broken away for greater clarity; and Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the razor handle assembly, shown attached to the blade assembly, which is shown in elevation.
• Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the razor handle assembly, shown attached to the blade assembly, which is shown in elevation.
• DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the illustrative razor blade assembly includes a body member 2 having first and second end portions 4, 6.interconnected by front and back wall portions 8, 10. Frame portions 12 extend width-wise of the body member, interconnecting the front and back walls 8, 10.
• the back wall portion 10 of the body member 2 has an upper portion 14 which engages skin being shaved behind the cutting means of the assembly, thereby fulfilling the functions and occupying the position of the "cap” portion of conventional razor blade assemblies.
• Such portion 14 shall, for that reason, be referred to hereinafter as the "cap portion” .
• Each of the end portions 4, 6 is provided with opposed slots 16 disposed transversely to the frame portions 12.
• One of the frame portions 12 near the first end portion 4 is provided with a spring finger 18 extending therefrom generally parallel to the front and back walls 8, 10.
• the finger 18 is provided with an upturned end portion 20 having an upper surface 22.
• a spring finger 18' of similar configuration is provided with a spring finger 18' of similar configuration, with upturned end portions 20' having upper surfaces 22'.
• the fingers 18, 18' extend in opposite directions, the finger18 extending toward the first end portion 4 of the body member 2 and the finger 18' extending toward the second end portion 6 of the body member.
• the fingers 18 and 18' are aligned with each other and with a pair of the slots 16.
• the first end portion 4 is provided with spring fingers 17 extending therefrom inwardly and upwardly of the body member, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.
• Each of the fingers 17 is provided with an upturned end portion 19 having an upper surface 21.
• the second end portion 6 is provided with spring fingers 17' of similar configuration, with upturned end portions 19' having upper surfaces 21'.
• the fingers 17, 17* extend in generally opposite directions, the fingers 17 extend ⁇ ing from the first end portion 4 generally toward the second end portion 6, and the fingers 17' extending from the second end portion 6 generally toward the first end portion 4.
• the fingers 17, 17' are each aligned with a pair of the slots 16.
• the assembly includes a guard portion 24 (Figs. 3-6) having a slide member 26 at either end thereof.
• the slide members 26 are received in a pair of opposed slots 16 nearest the front wall portion 8.
• the bottom of the guard portion rests upon the surfaces 22, 22' of the spring fingers 18, 18'.
• the lower edges of the slide member 26 rest above the bottoms of their - slots 16, allowing the guard portion 24 to be moved further into the slots, against the bias of the spring fingers 18, 18' therebeneath.
• the spring fingers supporting the guard portion comprise a set of spring fingers, the object of which is to resiliently support the guard portion. In a shaving operation, the guard portion travels over the surface being shaved ahead of the cutting means.
• the assembly further includes blade means 28 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) comprising a blade base portion 30, a cutting edge portion 32 extending from the base " portion, and slide portions at either end of the base portion.
• the slide portions which may be merely extensions of the blade base portion 30, are received in a pair of the opposed slots 16.
• An underside 34 (Fig. 5) of the blade cutting edge portion 32 is engaged by the surfaces 21,
• a surface of the blade base portion 30 is engaged by the rearward surfaces 23, 23' (Figs. 1 and 5) of the finger end portions 19, 19' to urge the blade base portion rearwardly in its slots 16, as shown in Fig. 5.
• Lower edges of the slide portions are spaced from the bottoms of their slots to permit movement of the blades further into the slots 16 against the bias of the spring fingers 17,, 17' on which the blade base portion rests.
• the spring fingers supporting the blade base portion 30 comprise another set of spring fingers, the object of which is to resiliently support the blade means thereon and urge the blade means into a secure position within the slots 16.
• the blade means include a second blade 28' (Fig. 5) having a base portion 30', a cutting edge portion 32', and slide portions, all anchored similarly to the above-described first blade means.
• the slide portions of the second blade are received in a third pair of the opposed slots 16 nearest the cap portion 14 with the base portion 30' resting upon spring finger surfaces 21, 21'.
• the spring fingers supporting the second blade comprise still another set of spring fingers, which resiliently support the second ' blade and urge the second blade into a secure position in the slots 16. In a shaving operation, the second blade travels over the surface being shaved behind the first blade.
• the guard portion 24 and first and second blades 28, 28' are clamped in place by spring clamps 40 (Figs. 3-6) which are received in slots 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) in the end portions 4, 6.
• the clamps 40 engage the guard portion 24 and blades 28, 28' forcing them into slots 16 to a point where a slight stress is placed on the spring fingers.
• each rail On the underside of the body member 2 and the frame portions 12, are disposed two extensions 44, 46 having at their free ends, respectively, inwardly extend ⁇ ing opposed rails 48, 50, each rail having respective arcuate upper surfaces 52, 54 (Figs. 2 and 4) .
• the extensions comprise a pivot mounting means by which the blade assembly may be removably and pivotally attached to a razor handle. Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the blade assembly body member underside is additionally provided with cam means 56 adapted to receive a cam follower operative to urge the blade assembly to a given position.
• the shell bearings comprise a pivot mount- ing means adapted to cooperate with the above described blade assembly pivot mounting means to facilitate pivotal connection of the blade assembly to the razor handle assembly.
• the guard portion 24 and the blades 28, 28' move independently of each other against the bias of the spring fingers.
• the blade-supporting spring fingers keep he base portions of the blades in substantially their assigned planes by urging the blade bases rearwardly.
• the blade assembly pivots on the handle, following the contours °f tne surface being shaved.
• Fig. 6 there is disclosed an embodiment in which one of the guard portion 24 and back wall portion 10 (the latter is illustrated) is provided with a " shaving aid 200 of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,292,418, issued August 11, 1942 to H.E. Wetherbee; and 4,170,821 issued October 16, 1979 to Anthony R. Booth; as well as U.K. Patent 2,024,082, application published January 9, 1980 and patent published May 6, 1982, in the name of Harry Pentney, et al.
• the shaving aid 200 is preferably in the form of a body of material fixed to a skin-engaging surface, such as the cap portion 14 shown in Fig. 8 for illustrative purposes.
• the shaving aid material preferably comprises a molded, extruded, or otherwise formed mixture of a hydrophobic material and a water leachable hydrophilic polymeric material such that, during a shaving operation, water present on the area to be shaved leaches out the hydrophilic material which may serve as a lubricant.
• a hydrophobic material preferably comprises a molded, extruded, or otherwise formed mixture of a hydrophobic material and a water leachable hydrophilic polymeric material such that, during a shaving operation, water present on the area to be shaved leaches out the hydrophilic material which may serve as a lubricant.
• one or more of the guard and cap portions 24, 14 may be formed of the shaving aid mixture.
• wetting the surface to be shaved with water prior to shaving causes, during shaving, leaching out. of a portion of the water-soluble material which serves to lubricate the shaving surface and reduce friction between the cap and/or guard portions of the blade assembly and the shaving surface.
• comfortable and effective shaving can be obtained by simply wetting the shaving area prior to shaving.
• an illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a razor handle assembly 70 having a grip portion 72.
• One end of the grip portion 72 is provided with a recess 74 (Fig. 7) in which is disposed a molded plastic head portion 76 comprising two arms 78, 80 joined by a connecting portion 82, which may be secured together by pins 83, as illustrated in Fig. 10.
• the grip portion 72 is further provided with a cover member 86 including a pair of projections 88 (Fig. 10) which are disposed against the connecting ' portion 82 in a manner securely locking the head portion 76 to the grip portion 72.
• Each of the arms 78, 80 has disposed on its free end, respectively, a shell bearing 90, 92.
• a coil spring 102 In the handle recess 74, there is disposed a coil spring 102 and a plunger member 104, the spring biasing the plunger in the direction of a free end 106 of the plunger member 104.
• the free end 106 of the plunger member 104 is urged by the spring 102 into engagement with the blade assembly cam means 56.
• the plunger end 106 bears against the cam means 56 to urge the blade assembly to a given position, the position in which the plunger end 106 rests at an apex of the cam means 56.
• the arms 78, 80 extend beyond the sides of the handle and are accessible to an operator.
• the arms 78, 80 are biased outwardly by a leaf or wire spring 81 disposed in the head portion 76.
• the operator presses the arms 78, 80 inwardly, toward each other, against the bias of the spring 81, moving the shell bearings 90, 92 toward each other.
• the plunger member 104 is provided with oppositely extending arms 107, 108 (Fig. 10) , each having upstanding therefrom a detent 110, 112.
• Each of the shell bearings 90, 92 is provided with an open ⁇ ing 114, 116 adapted to receive, respectively, the detents 110, 112.
• the openings 114, 116 align with the detents 110, 112, respectively.
• the spring 102 urges the plunger member 104, and thereby the detents 110, 112 upwardly, as viewed in Fig.
• the shell bearings 90, 92 are then pressed against the blade assembly underside arcuate struts 95, 97, forcing the plunger member 104 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 10 and removing the detents 110, 112 from the openings 114, 116, the arms 78, 80 being thereby released.
• the arms spring outwardly in opposite directions away from each other, under the influence of the spring 81, the shell bearings 90, 92 entering the arcuate slots 98, 100.
• the spring biased plunger member 104 engages the cam means 56, seeking the apex of the cam means and thereby urging the blade assembly to a "neutral" position.
• the guard portion 24 and the blades 28, 28' move independently of each other against the bias of the spring fingers 18, 18'. Simultaneously, the blade assembly, as a whole, pivots on the handle, following the contours of the surface being shaved.
• the operator need only compress the arms 78, 80, removing the shell bearings 90, 92 from the arcuate slots 98, 100 and releasing the blade assembly.
• a battery 308 and an electric motor 310 Disposed in the handle assembly 70 is a battery 308 and an electric motor 310 (Fig. 11) .
• a rotatable shaft 312 Extending from the motor 310 in the direction of the head portion of the razor is a rotatable shaft 312 on the free end of which is disposed a weight 314.
• the weight 314 is mounted eccentrically on the shaft so that the center of gravity of the weight is removed from the axis of rotation of the weight.
• Illustrated in Fig. 11 is a flywheel type weight, mounted such that its center of gravity is removed from the axis of rotation of the shaft 312.
• a switch means 318 Also disposed in the handle member.
• the switch 318 is mounted for rotative motion and may be rotated by movement of an end piece 338, as by a thumb or finger of an operator.
• an operator rotates the switch 318. Electrical energy from the battery 308 is directed to the motor 310. Energization of the motor 310 causes rotation of the shaft 312 and thereby rotation of the * eccentrically mounted or unbalanced weight 314.
• the eccentricity of the weight mounting i.e., the dis- placement of the center of gravity of the weight from the axis of rotation of the weight, and the disposition of the weight proximate the head portion induces vibration of the head portion and therefore the blade. Such vibration imparts an oscillating slicing motion to the blades 28, 28' whereby to facilitate ease of cutting.
• the present invention is by no means limited to the particular con ⁇ struction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.
• the guard portion be immovable.
• the blade means may include a single blade, rather than the two blade arrangement described, the single blade being used in conjunction with either a movable or stationary guard portion.
• the blade means is shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 5, as a single piece of metal, bent to form the base and cutter portions, an alternative is to provide a bent support member with a thin blade connected thereto, as is known in the art.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Dry Shavers And Clippers (AREA)

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• 1986
  • 1986-06-17 EP EP19860904545 patent/EP0226633A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1986-06-17 WO PCT/US1986/001329 patent/WO1987000112A1/en unknown
  • 1986-06-17 JP JP50357586A patent/JPS62503149A/ja active Pending
  • 1986-12-09 GB GB8629395A patent/GB2198382B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1986-12-16 FR FR8617590A patent/FR2608087A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 1993
  • 1993-08-23 JP JP4571093U patent/JPH0626777U/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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