EP0463992B1 - Safety razor - Google Patents

Abstract

The razor according to the invention for flat and contour shaving enables, for example, a cosmetic or, if appropriate, a pharmaceutical preparation to be spread over the skin as a thin film for example shortly before shaving. It consists of an applicator part, a feeding part and a blade part, it being possible for the blade part and the applicator part together to form the razor head (1) and for the feeding part to form the handle (4) of the razor. The preparation is applied by means of a roller (3) or a corresponding spatula-shaped part, which takes along with it a thin film of the preparation when the razor is moved over the skin in the cutting direction and hence simultaneously in the application direction. If this is not the case, the preparation supply to the outside is cut off. The feeding apparatus consists of a preparation store (6) and a small pump (5) which is arranged in such a way that it can be easily actuated, during application, by the fingers guiding the razor and preparation is hence fed into the application device during shaving. The blade part comprises at least one blade which functionally interacts with the applicator part. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is in the field of personal care and relates to a shaving device for wet shaving (blade shaving) according to the preamble of the independent claims, with which hair on any part of the body (surface, rounding or contour shaving) using any preparation (for example problem shaving), that is applied by the device while shaving, can be cut off very close.

Before a blade shave, whether specific to women or men, a lubricant and softener (any problem shave) must be applied to the skin surface. The flat application of thin layers of such cosmetic (possibly pharmaceutical) preparations to the skin is usually carried out by hand or by spraying. A good dosage and a very regular distribution is difficult. It is unavoidable that part of the sometimes expensive preparation to be applied remains on the application hand. Furthermore, spray cans with which the application problem is also not solved are no longer desirable because of environmental pollution. In addition, with the known type of blade shaving, the hygiene problem always remains current.

For example, combined preparations for the treatment of body hair before shaving and freshly shaved skin after shaving are developed and continuously improved by the cosmetic industry. Such preparations are usually applied to the skin by hand in the form of a liquid, cream or foam before shaving. This means one step before shaving and a very desirable economical dosage is actually not possible. This is above all a disadvantage when using newer preparations which are so effective that even very small amounts, for example 150 to 250 mgr, can be sufficient for a shave. It is hardly possible to distribute such a small amount regularly by hand.

Devices that allow skin preparations to be automatically distributed to the skin during shaving have been developed at an early stage. However, these devices only relate to men's shaving. For example, in U.S. Patents 4,074,429, 4,381,293 and 4,562,644 have been proposed to attach a skin preparation in solid form to the razor head in such a way that it is pulled over the skin when shaving in front of the blade or blades, a thin film of the preparation being rubbed onto the skin. However, the solid preparation changes its shape due to consumption and therefore often has to be adjusted in its position in relation to the blade. Furthermore, as stated, the preparation must have a firm consistency for the shape retention.

It has also been proposed to apply liquid or foam-like preparations with parts made of sponge-like material attached to the razor head (US Pat. Nos. 3,895,437 and 4,314,404) or with corresponding rubber rollers (US Patents 2,677,883 and 2,861,338). Even with these devices, it is difficult to put a regular preparation film on the Bring skin. In these devices, a container part is filled with a liquid or foam-like preparation which is brought onto the skin with the application part. This means that no fresh fluid is supplied, but rather that the partially used fluid is used again in a kind of recycling. After shaving, the rest of the preparation is removed by rinsing together with the used preparation. The main purpose of these devices is to avoid a pre-shaving treatment. There are therefore no dosing / application devices and the hygiene problem remains unsolved.

From GB-A-488,143 a device for surface and / or contour shaving is known, in which a thin film of a preparation is applied to the skin directly under pressure from a fluid channel via a gap-shaped application opening in front of the cutting edge. With this solution, however, proper application and distribution of the fluid layer is not guaranteed.

All of these approaches lack the correct interplay between the shaving preparation, its delivery to the shaving device and the blade part. The mere addition of any part of the preparation during a shaving process is insufficient. Especially when such additional mechanisms are arranged on existing shavers. For the correct interaction, a completely new device with coordinated functional parts is required.

It is now the object of the invention to provide such a device with the aid of which a pumpable preparation can be applied as a thin, regular layer over a wide area and in a manner suitable for cutting. The supply of preparation for application should only be possible during the application or pumping process be. If not applied, all feed routes should be automatically interrupted and shielded. For hygienic reasons, it should be prevented that contaminants are brought into the preparation from outside. It should be easy for the user to precisely dose the preparation. The device is said to be suitable for shaving for women as well as for men. For women-specific shaving, areas with greater curvatures, i.e. rounding shaving (concave and convex), are required, while for men-specific shaving, areas with predominantly less pronounced curves are in the foreground. But the so-called "dimple problem" has always been an issue for men-specific shaving and it is not least due to the requirements of women-specific shaving that these problems of male shaving can also be solved.

The above object is achieved by the device according to the characterizing parts of the independent claims. The device according to the invention consists of an applicator part, a fluid supply part and a blade part. The following description and the associated figures first deal generally with the interaction of the applicator part and the blade part (Figure 1), then in detail with the applicator part (Figures 2 and 3), with the feed part (Figures 4 to 8) and finally with the integration of the blade part to a razor according to the invention (Figures 9 to 14), in which the three parts come together to work.

This combination results in a novel working interaction of the blade and the preparation or a functional interaction of fluid (the preparation), which is hygienically housed in a reservoir, which is fed to an applicator part by means of a feed part, which distributes the fluid in a metering manner at the cutting location on the hair and at the same time influencing the cutting position supports the blade part in its work. When the device is set down, the fluid supply is interrupted and brought into a washable or rinsable state, the preparation reservoir being shielded from the outside. The device can be used again in a hygienic condition without any additional manipulation. The blade part and applicator part are formally matched to one another; the feed part including the reservoir is functionally matched to the applicator part, so that the applicator part on the one hand doses to the blade part and the shield to the dining area. Despite its double function, this intermediate link can be designed in many ways, can be adapted to any blade shape and controls the pumped-in flow of the fluid from its reservoir.

The application opening is preferably slit-shaped. The elements delimiting the opening can be movable or rigid. If they are movable, the mobility can be used for application (for example, rollers) or for shrinking to cover the opening (for example, swivel axis of a roller) or for both. The elements delimiting the opening can be arranged in relation to the blade part (one or more cutting edges) in such a way that the cutting is mechanically supported, so that the geometry of the cutting edge (s) and opening limiting element (s) is of additional importance. The application opening is in turn connected via the feed part to the fluid reservoir, which is shielded by the feed channel and the delimiting elements, in order to meet the hygiene requirements. This also means that the feed section only works in one direction, namely the delivery direction. The urging fluid "cleans" the infiltrating parts of the supply channel (s), but is nevertheless economical due to the integrated dosage. Here too, a double benefit is noted due to the inevitable dispensing direction and the metering ability of the device.

Fluid supply to the blade part: (Figures 1.1 to 1.3)

Fig. 1.1

ein generelles Prinzipschema,

Fig. 1.2

dasselbe für eine Ausführungsform mit Applikationsrolle,

Fig. 1.3

ein schematisches, erfindungsgemässes Rasiergerät.

The following figures serve the general description of the fluid supply to a blade part, showing:

Fig. 1 . 1

a general principle,

Fig. 1.2

the same for an embodiment with an application roller,

Fig. 1.3

a schematic, shaving device according to the invention.

1.1 shows an abstracted schematic representation of the feeding, application and cutting function of a shaving device. An application angle is designated by α and a cutting angle is designated by β, the angle α being greater than the angle β for trouble-free shaving. The two angles relate to the skin surface H. Between the device parts defining the two angles to the skin, blades 2 and the outer fluid channel boundary 30.1, there is an applicator part (manipulation part) 30.2 influencing the cutting angle, which on the one hand delimits the application opening on the blade side and optionally the Fluid channel 10 is the closing part. A crossed double arrow shows the adjustment options. Pushed towards the skin surface, it causes a local pushing back of the skin surface H into the position H '. The scraping A, that is hair and abrasion of the preparation and skin, can be removed between the blade 2 and the manipulation part 30.2. In the fluid channel, the fluid is conveyed to the applicator part under a certain pump pressure (arrow p) and emerges at the application opening in the area of the skin surface. If the blade part is moved in the cutting direction, the applicator part distributes the preparation over the skin surface.

FIG. 1.2 shows an embodiment according to the invention, in which the fluid channel 10 of the applicator part can be closed or at least narrowed by a roller-shaped addition on the wall parts 30.1, 30.2. The applicator part 30.2 (manipulation part) influencing the cutting angle is, for example, a cylindrical roller 3 which on the one hand delimits the application opening on the blade side and partially covers the fluid channel by its position. The adjustment options are indicated by a double arrow if the roller 3 is mounted in a slot-shaped bearing. Depending on the position of the swiveling roller part, the channel is covered more or less. Depending on the roller diameter, the skin surface is influenced more or less, that is, locally pushed back into a position H '. If the roller-shaped manipulator part 30.2 is now brought into a rest position, in which the outlet opening of the fluid channel 10 is closed, for example by means of spring pressure, movement of the blade part in the cutting direction causes the latter to open, so that the fluid under pump pressure can emerge unhindered. At the same time, roller part 30.2 spreads it on the skin surface.

1.3 shows a schematic section through an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, which consists of the three parts, namely an applicator, a cutting device and a feed device from which the preparation is fed into the applicator. The applicator corresponds to the roller solution according to Figure 1.2. The cutting device is integrated in the applicator, that is to say the cutting device and applicator together form the shaving head 1. The main component of the applicator is an application roller 3 arranged parallel to the blades 2. The feeding device is accommodated in the handle 4 of the device and consists of a small pump 5 and a reservoir 6.

For shaving, the shaving head 1 is pulled over the skin with the aid of the handle 4 in such a way that the application roller 3 rolls over the skin immediately in front of the blades 2. The pump 5 is positioned in such a way that it lies between the thumb and forefinger and, depending on the embodiment, can be actuated by slightly alternating pressing and releasing. As a result, the preparation is pumped from the reservoir 6 into the applicator and distributed as a thin film on the application roller 3 and transferred from there to the skin. The dosage is easy. If the dosage is too short, the application roller runs dry, and if the dosage is too strong, it forms droplets.

Applicator part: (Figures 2a to 3b)

Fig. 2

(a und b) zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform eines Applikators gemäss Erfindung, bei dem ein separater Lagerteil besonders hervorgehoben ist;

Fig. 3

(a und b) zeigt Schnitte durch dieselbe Ausführungsform und durch eine weitere, in einen Rasierkopf integrierte Ausführungsform.

The following figures serve to describe the applicator part.

Fig. 2

(a and b) shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an applicator according to the invention, in which a separate bearing part is particularly emphasized;

Fig. 3

(a and b) shows sections through the same embodiment and through another embodiment integrated into a razor head.

The applicator consists of an application roll and a feed system. The application roll is rolled over the skin for the application, for example. It is, for example, rotatably and pivotably mounted so that it is swiveled out in one direction (application direction R) when unrolling, while it remains in its rest position when unrolling in the other direction and, if it is not rolling. Swiveling out makes it possible for a thin film of preparation to be carried outwards from the feed system on the roll surface. In the rest position, the application roller shields the feed system from the outside. In another embodiment, the application roller is fixed and the gap width remains constant. This embodiment is suitable for preparations that do not dry out too much and tend to form little film. In a further embodiment, the application roller can also only be pivoted, but not rotatably, so that it closes and opens the application opening, but acts for the application itself in approximately the same way as an application spatula, as will be described below.

2a shows an applicator from the side. It consists of the roller 3, a head piece 21 and two bearing parts 22 attached laterally from the head piece 21. The bearings 23 in the bearing parts 22 are either designed so that they not only rotate the roller 3 about its axis of rotation, but also pivot it out Allow axis of rotation or so that they only move about their axis of rotation. The first variant results in a variable application gap width and in the second variant a fixed application gap width. In FIG. 2b, which represents a separate bearing part 22, a bearing 23, which enables a variable application gap width, is also shown separately.

FIG. 3a shows a section through the head part 21 of the embodiment of the applicator shown in FIG. 2a. A bore 31, which serves to supply the preparation, connects the roller-bearing end of the head part 21 to its connection end. At the end of the roller, the bore opens into a channel 32, which runs parallel to roller 3 and is open towards roller 3. At the connection end, the bore is designed in accordance with the connection to the feed device. The head part is shaped into lips 33.1 and 33.2 on both sides of the channel 32.

In contrast to a fixed roller bearing, the bearings of the roller 3 in the bearing parts 22 (see FIG. 2) are designed in such a way that the roller can assume two extreme swivel positions: a "rest position" (shown in solid lines in the figure) and an "application position""(shown in dashed lines in the figure). When the roller 3 is in its rest position, both the column A between the lip 33.1 and the roller 3 and the column C between the lip 33.2 and the roller 3 are so narrow that no preparation can escape and the channel 32 and thus the feed system is shielded from the outside. When the roller 3 is moved from the rest position into the application position, the width of the column A does not change, while the column C widens until its width in the application position corresponds to the desired exit quantity for the preparation. The application position for a desired exit quantity can also remain fixed, so that the rest position corresponds to that of the application position. The shielding is then good or better, depending on the film formation, the drying is good or worse.

If, in the case of the embodiment with a variable application gap, the roller 3 is pulled over the skin in the application direction, it is rotated by the friction between the skin and the roller in the direction of the arrow R and thereby swung out into the application position and held in it. If the roller 3 is rotated in the direction opposite the arrows R, it is pivoted into the rest position and held in this position. If the roller 3 is in its application position, but is no longer rotated in the direction of application, which is the case immediately after application, it is withdrawn against the rest position by the surface tension of the preparation surface in the gap C. The physical properties of the preparation are therefore used to close gap C after application. The surface is under tension that tries to reduce the surface to a minimum. If the bearings 23 are designed in such a way that the bearing forces that have to be overcome for the roller 3 to pivot are smaller than the forces resulting from the surface tension, the roller is moved against the rest position as soon as it is not in the opposite direction by the application movement is pressed. If the applicator is left to its own devices after the gap C has been closed by the surface tension, a skin forms in the gap C by drying the preparation surface, which shields the rest of the preparation from the outside in the delivery system. This shielding is sufficient to prevent further drying of the preparation and to protect the preparation against oxidants and bacteria, for example. When reapplied, the skin covering gap C is immediately torn and does not interfere with the application in any way.

Experiments have shown that the physical properties of a large number of commercially available skin preparations for shaving meet the requirements set by the shielding mechanism described, i.e. are suitable for use in the applicator according to the invention, whether with a variable or with a fixed application gap.

Because the gap A between the lip 33.1 and the roller 3 is very small in any pivot position (open / closed or for, correspondingly open) of the roller 3, the channel 32 on the side of the lip 33.1 is always closed to the outside. In the rest position and in the application position of the roller 3, no preparation can get out in this direction, in the application position no contamination that carries the roller from the skin can pass the lip 33.1 into the channel 32. In the embodiment with a fixed gap, this is only weakened.

For additional protection and closure of the applicator, it can also have a lid which is placed on the applicator after the application has ended and which is shaped in such a way that it presses the roller 3 against the two lips 33.1 and 33.2 or simply covers the application gap. Likewise, instead of a protective cap, additional mechanical pressing means, for example springs, can be provided in order to press the application roller 3 against the sealing lip. This may be necessary if, for example, such a shaving device is exposed to strong pressure fluctuations in travel versions and an additional closing force is desired on the device.

3b shows a section through the embodiment of the applicator according to the invention with a variable gap. It shows the same parts as the applicator shown in FIG. 3a, but a blade carrier 34 with blades 2 is placed on its head part 21 by means of, for example, a sliding and snap fastening. The roller 3 is advantageously as long as the width of the blade or blades 2. The blade carrier 34 is placed on the head part 21 in such a way that the roller runs parallel to the blades and when the shaving head is guided over the skin in the shaving direction (same as the application direction) is rotated in the direction of arrow R and is thereby pivoted into the application position.

The application device with application roller 3, head part 21 and bearing parts 22 can also be integrated in an interchangeable blade carrier which can be placed or exchanged as a whole on a razor head. This solution has hygienic advantages because the application roller that comes into contact with the skin is periodically renewed with the blades. The supply part arranged on the blade carrier is connected to the supply part arranged on the razor by suitable measures.

Feeding device: (Figures 4a to 8)

Fig. 4

(a bis d) zeigt einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Speisevorrichtung (4a) und Ausführungsformen der Membrane (4b/c/d) der für diese Ausführung verwendeten Membranventile.

Fig. 5

(a bis c) zeigt die Kleinpumpe mit anderen Ausführungsformen von Ventilen,

Fig. 6, 7a und b, 8

zeigen weitere beispielhafte Ausführungsformen der Kleinpumpe und ihrer Verbindungen zu Reservoir und Applikator.

The feed device according to the invention, with which the applicator is fed with preparation, is described with reference to the following figures.

Fig. 4

(a to d) shows a schematic longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of the feed device (4a) according to the invention and embodiments of the membrane (4b / c / d) of the membrane valves used for this embodiment.

Fig. 5

(a to c) shows the small pump with other embodiments of valves,

6, 7a and b, 8

show further exemplary embodiments of the small pump and its connections to the reservoir and applicator.

FIG. 4a shows a schematic longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of the feeding device according to the invention. In principle, this consists of a small pump 5 and a reservoir 6, both of which together, for example, simultaneously form the handle 4 of the application device, or are accommodated in a corresponding handle. The reservoir 6, as shown, is accommodated in the end 4.1 of the handle (reservoir part of the handle) facing away from the applicator, where a sufficient volume does not have a disruptive effect. The small pump 5 is advantageously arranged in such a way that it can be actuated during application, that is to say its actuating members are located in the region of the fingers holding the handle during application, that is to say at the end of the handle facing the applicator, and forms the pump part 4.2 of the handle . The handle 4 is connected to the connecting part 4.3 with the supply system of the applicator. The main components of the small pump are an elastic hollow bellows 41, the internal volume of which can be reduced, a one-way valve 42, which functions as an outlet valve for the reservoir 6, and a second one-way valve 43, which functions as an inlet valve in the applicator.

If the bellows 41 is compressed, an excess pressure is created in its interior, which opens the inlet valve 43. As a result, the preparation or air flows into the applicator until the pressure is equalized and the inlet valve 43 closes again. If the bellows is now released, causing it to return to its original shape, a negative pressure is created in its interior, as a result of which the outlet valve 42 opens and product is conveyed out of the reservoir until the pressure is balanced again and the outlet valve 42 closes. By alternately compressing and releasing the bellows 41, so much preparation can be pumped into the applicator that the feed bore 31 and the channel 32 (FIG. 3) are filled and the preparation carried out from the roller 3 is constantly replaced.

The reservoir is provided with an appropriate pressure compensation means so that pressure equalization is possible when the preparation is pressed out of the reservoir. This can be, for example, a piston 48 movable in the reservoir 6 or a pressure compensation valve.

Since the small pump also serves as a handle, but the bellows does not have enough stability for this function, an inner pump body 44 is attached inside the bellows 41, which in this exemplary embodiment has the shape of a tube, fixed to the reservoir part 4.1 of the handle and is connected to the connecting part 4.3 and is provided with openings 45 for pressure equalization. Because the inner pump body is angled, it forms an ergonomic handle together with the other parts of the feed device. The bellows 41 is placed over the inner pump body 44 and clamped in place with elastically deformable means 46, for example clamping rings.

In the embodiment shown, the two one-way valves 42 and 43 are, for example, diaphragm valves. A resilient membrane 47.1 keeps the outlet of the reservoir closed in the force-free state and a corresponding membrane 47.2 keeps the entrance to the applicator closed. The two membranes are arranged in such a way that the membrane 47.2 is deformed in the event of overpressure within the bellows, but the membrane 47.1 in the event of underpressure. The membranes are designed in such a way that they allow the preparation to pass through when deformed. Figures 4b to d show examples of membranes suitable for use. 4b and c represent hollow spherical membranes which comprise openings D lying outside the area of the opening to be closed, FIG. 4d a rectangular membrane which, because it does not span the entire inner cross section of the handle, allows passage for the preparation.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the small pump. The pump itself is designed in the same way as the pump in FIG. 4, but includes other one-way valves 42 and 43. As shown in FIG. 5a, these one-way valves can be ball or piston valves. A ball 51 or a piston 52 are pressed by a spring 53 in a direction opposite to the pressure force generated by the bellows 41 against the opening to be closed. The spring 53 is designed such that the compressive force that can be generated with the bellows 41 is greater than the spring force. The piston 52 must allow passage for the preparation. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, on its cylindrical surface with grooves 55, which can be seen in the detailed drawing 5b.

In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the inner pump body 44, which is advantageously made of metal, is a separate part, while the reservoir part 4.1 of the handle and the connecting part 4.3 to the applicator with elastically deformable clamp connections on the Ends K are provided. In order to produce the feed device, the bellows 41 is placed over the pump body 44 and then the reservoir part 4.1 of the handle and the connecting part 4.3 are put on. The bellows 41 also performs its function as a pump part and also acts as a sealant between the different parts of the feed device.

The type of one-way valves used is not tied to a special version of the small pump. This is illustrated by FIG. 5c, which represents the same embodiment variant as FIG. 5a, but is provided with diaphragm valves. In the same way, design variants are like shown in Figure 4, but provided with ball or piston valves, conceivable.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show further embodiments for the small pump and its connections to the reservoir part 4.1 of the handle and the connection part 4.3 to the applicator.

The variant shown in FIG. 6 contains an inner pump body which has the shape of a block with corresponding bores which contain the one-way valves 42 and 43. The pump body 61 is provided with grooves 62.1 / 2 and with stops 63.1 / 2 such that the correspondingly shaped bellows 41 can be slipped over it during assembly and the thickened bellows ends 64.1 / 2 come to rest in the grooves 62.1 / 2 while the parts 4.1 and 4.3, which in turn are provided with elastically deformable connection points K, are pushed over the stops 63.1 / 2.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment variant of the small pump and its connections to reservoir part 4.1 and connection part 4.3. In this case too, reservoir part 4.1 and connection part 4.3 have elastically deformable connection points K, in that, as shown in FIG. 7b, they are equipped with a longitudinal slot L. The pump body 44 is plug-shaped at its two ends in such a way that reservoir part 4.1 and connecting part 4.3 can be simply plugged on. The sealing function is also carried out here by the correspondingly shaped bellows ends of the bellows 41 put over the pump body 44.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the small pump which is advantageous due to its simplicity. Reservoir part 4. 1, pump body 44 and connecting part 4.3 of the Handle 4 are held together by the tubular bellows 41, for example glued or welded. The membranes 47.1 and 47.2 are between reservoir part 4.1 and pump body 44. mounted between connector 4.3 and pump body 44. The elastic, tubular bellows 41 connects the individual parts of the handle, seals all connection points and serves as a pump operating element.

Shaver: (Figures 9 to 14)

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt durch ein Rasiergerät mit auslenkbarer Applikationsrolle,

Fig.10

ein Detail einer Ausführungsform mit starrer Applikationsrolle,

Fig.11

ein Detail einer Ausführungsform mit auslenkbarer Schneidvorrichtung und starr damit verbundener Applikationsrolle,

Fig.12

(a und b) eine Ausführung mit verschiebbarer äusserer Lippe,

Fig.13

eine Ausführungsformen mit Kamm an der äusseren Lippe.

Fig.14

(a, b und c) Ausführungsformen mit zylindrischer, konvexer und konkaver Applikationsrolle und entsprechend gestalteten Klingen.

The following figures represent exemplary embodiments of shaving devices according to the invention.

Fig. 9

a section through a razor with deflectable application roller,

Fig. 10

a detail of an embodiment with a rigid application roll,

Fig. 11

1 shows a detail of an embodiment with a deflectable cutting device and an application roller rigidly connected thereto,

Fig. 12

(a and b) a version with a displaceable outer lip,

Fig. 13

an embodiment with a comb on the outer lip.

Fig. 14

(a, b and c) embodiments with cylindrical, convex and concave application roller and correspondingly shaped blades.

9 shows, as an exemplary embodiment, a complete shaving device consisting of a feeding device, applicator and cutting device, which is placed on the applicator in the form of a blade holder with blades.

A small pump 5 and reservoir 6 form the handle. The headpiece 21 of the applicator is connected directly to the small pump 5 and is designed in such a way that a blade carrier 34 can be attached to it. The applicator corresponds to the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 3b. The small pump 5 consists of a cylindrical pump body 44, the diameter of which is larger at its two ends than in its central part, and a tubular bellows 41, which is placed over the central part of the pump body 44. The reservoir 6 is firmly connected to the pump body 44. The applicator comprises a connection part which overlaps the pump body and is fastened to the pump body, for example, with the aid of fastening screws 92. The two one-way valves 42 and 43 are integrated in the pump body 44. The outlet valve 42 from the reservoir consists of an axial bore 93, which extends from the end face of the reservoir to the part with a reduced diameter and opens into at least one radial opening 94 there. The exit of the opening 94 is closed by an O-ring 95. The inlet valve 43 to the applicator consists of a radial opening 96 in the part with a reduced diameter of the pump body, which opens into an axial bore 97. The axial bore 97 is closed on the applicator-side end by the head part 21 of the applicator and by the O-ring 100. At least one radial opening 98 opens into the axial bore 97 against the end face of the pump body, the outlet of which is closed off with an O-ring 99 at the slightly reduced outer diameter of the pump body 44 at this point. The feed channel 31 of the applicator opens directly into the annular channel 101 resulting from the reduction in diameter. Vacuum in the space between bellows 41 and pump body 44 presses the O-ring 95 away from the opening 94, overpressure the O-ring 99 from the opening 98.

The reservoir 6 of this embodiment of the feed device forms the reservoir part 4.1 of the handle. It carries an axially movable piston 48 in its interior and on its end facing away from the small pump, an end piece 104 with a ventilation opening 105. When the small pump is used to pump product out of the reservoir, the piston 48 moves against the small pump until the pressure is equalized .

The embodiment of the feed device according to FIG. 9 typically allows half a drop of preparation (approx. 25 microliters) to be dosed per pump movement. If, for example, 4 drops of preparation are required for a shave, this means that the pump must be operated every 15 to 20 seconds. In this case, a reservoir volume of 10 cm³ that can be easily integrated in one hand is sufficient for approx. 50 shaves.

In connection with the other figures, further exemplary embodiments of the applicator are now shown, always with the embodiment of the shaving device as shown in FIG. 9, that is to say with a cutting device attached to the applicator. Corresponding embodiments are of course also conceivable for cutting devices integrated in the applicator, for example, and also combined with any other feeding devices.

The application roller can be structured on the surface (not a figure), which ensures some advantages, such as better abrasion resistance on the skin and better fluid transport, but also has disadvantages, such as drying of the fluid in the recesses of the structure and also a " Return transport "of used fluid in the area of the fluid supply channel.

For a simpler embodiment, the application roller can also not be pivoted, that is to say it can only be rotatably or rigidly connected to the lips 33.1 and 33.2, as shown in FIG. 10 . As a result, it functions in the manner according to the invention as a means for distributing the fluid on the skin, for pushing back the skin locally immediately before the cutting edges pass over it, and for partially but not changeably covering the feed channel 31.

Instead of a pivotable application roller, a displaceably or resiliently mounted blade carrier 34 with an integrated, rotatably mounted or rigid application roller 3 can also be used, as shown in FIG . Here the advantage can be seen in the constant distance between the application roller 3 and the blade or blades 2. If the blades are spring-loaded, there is also the advantage of constant pressure on the skin, which reduces the risk of cuts. In the unloaded state the feed channel 31 is closed by the spring force, which would correspond to the embodiment with the variable feed gap.

The variant shown in FIGS. 12 a and b has a manually displaceable outer lip 36.3, with the aid of which the fluid supply can be opened, closed and regulated manually. Although the outlet opening is not self-regulating, the opening torque can be determined independently of the pump pressure.

In all embodiments, the lower part of the application head can be designed as a comb, so that the hair is offered to the blade in a nicely aligned manner due to a combing effect. A corresponding exemplary embodiment with a comb 35 which is attached to the outer lip 33.2 is shown in FIG. 13

Depending on the use, the shaving head can be designed accordingly for shaving more or less flat or more rounded surfaces by using appropriately shaped application rollers or application spatulas and application openings and blades designed according to the function of the roller shape. FIGS. 14a to c show examples in which the course of the cutting blades essentially follows the course of the application roller (whereby such shapes can also be transferred to the application spatula). Deviations from this shape can also make sense, but the shape of the application roll should be functionally related to the blade shape. The options outlined here only represent suggestions for further development and therefore only one application roller 3 and blades 2 are shown here in their relative arrangement. FIG. 14a shows a typical arrangement with a cylindrical application roller 3a for shaving skin surfaces that can be deformed from the application roller into a flat surface, FIG. 14b shows an arrangement with a convex application roller 3b for shaving concave surfaces such as depressions, for example in the armpits, which are no longer accessible with the linear blade, 14c shows an arrangement with a concave application roller 3c for shaving convex surfaces such as elevations, for example on the larynx, in which the linear blade would entail an increased risk of injury. According to the embodiments already shown (and In accordance with the basic illustration in FIGS. 1 to 1.3), the application gap is also formally assigned to the application roll, the functional relationship between the supply of the fluid and its distribution also remaining the same here. Embodiments designed in this way can work on more rounded shaving surfaces.

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving with simultaneous application of a thin film of a shaving-specific preparation, comprising a cutting or blade part, an applicator part and a feed part all functionally matching, comprising means for passing a fluid dischargeable under pressure from the feed part into a fluid channel (10) in the applicator part and whereas the applicator part has a slot-like application opening with boundary means (30.1 and 30.2), characterised in that the boundary means (30.1 and 30.2) on the one hand comprise an application roll (3) positioned against the cutting edges (2) and essentially parallel thereto on a rigid inner lip (33.1) and on the other hand comprise a rigid outer lip (33.2) remote from the cutting edges and also essentially parallel thereto, by means of which the fluid is distributed over the skin on moving the apparatus in the cutting direction.
2. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator part for applying and distributing a fluid and the cutting part with blades (2) form a shaver or razor head (1), which can be engaged on the feed part and connects the fluid channel (10) of the feed part to the application opening in the applicator part.
3. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 1, characterized in that the application roll (3) is mounted in rotary or pivotable manner.
4. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 3, characterized in that the application roll (3) is placed in rotary and pivotable manner on the inner lip (33.1).
5. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pivot pin of the application roll (3) is positioned in such a way and parallel to the slot (A) between the roll (3) and the lip (33.1) that the slot (A) has a minimum width in each pivoting position of the roll (3).
6. Applicator according to one of the claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the width of the slot (C) resulting from the pivoting of the roll (3) from the inoperative position into the application position between the lip (33.2) and the roll (3) corresponds to the preparation outlet quantity desired for application.
7. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 2, characterized in that the application roll (3) is placed in rotary or non-rotary manner on the blade holder (34) and that the blade holder (34) is applied with the aid of resilient means to the razor head.
8. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the application roll (3 or 3') has a cylindrical, convex or concave application surface.
9. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a combing means (37) is fitted to the outer boundary means (30.1) parallel to the blades (2).
10. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the feed part comprises a preparation reservoir (6) and a miniature pump (5) and that together the preparation reservoir (6) and miniature pump (5) form the apparatus handle (4).
11. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 10, characterized in that the miniature pump (5) comprises an elastic bellows (41) and two one-way valves (42, 43).
12. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 11, characterized in that diaphragm, ball or piston-type valves are used as one-way valves in the feed part.
13. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 11, characterized in that the one-way valves of the feed part are formed by opening systems (93/94 or 96/97/98) in the cylindrical pump body (44), whose outlets at the cylinder surface are preferably sealed by O-rings (95 or 99).
14. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the reservoir part (4.1), pump body (44) and connection part (4.3) form a fixed, assembled part and that the bellows (41) is placed round the pump body (44) and fixed by elastic fastening means (46).
15. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to claim 14, characterized in that the elastic fastening means (46) are clamping rings.
16. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the reservoir part (4.1), pump body (44) and connection part (4.3) comprise elastically deformable connection points (K) with the aid of which they are joined together and that the bellows (41) is so constructed that it seals said connection points.
17. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the reservoir part (4.1), pump body (44) and connection part (43) are held together and sealed against one another by the bellows (41) and that the diaphragm valves (42 or 43) comprise resilient diaphragms located between the reservoir part (4.1) and pump body (44) or between the pump body (44) and the connection part (4.3).
18. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the preparation reservoir (6) in the feed part comprises a hollow cylinder and a piston (48) movable in the latter.
19. Apparatus for flat or contour shaving according to one of the claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the preparation reservoir (6) in the feed part comprises a deformable hollow body.

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