EP0554365B1 - Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor - Google Patents

Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0554365B1
EP0554365B1 EP91920213A EP91920213A EP0554365B1 EP 0554365 B1 EP0554365 B1 EP 0554365B1 EP 91920213 A EP91920213 A EP 91920213A EP 91920213 A EP91920213 A EP 91920213A EP 0554365 B1 EP0554365 B1 EP 0554365B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strip
spacer
blades
flexible
blade unit
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91920213A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0554365A1 (en
EP0554365A4 (en
Inventor
Brian Oldroyd
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 EP0554365A1 publication Critical patent/EP0554365A1/en
Publication of EP0554365A4 publication Critical patent/EP0554365A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0554365B1 publication Critical patent/EP0554365B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B26B21/40—Details or accessories
    • B26B21/4012—Housing details, e.g. for cartridges
    • B26B21/4018—Guard elements
    • 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
    • B26B21/40—Details or accessories
    • 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
    • B26B21/40—Details or accessories
    • B26B21/4012—Housing details, e.g. for cartridges

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with spacers for flexible razor blade units comprising two blades in tandem, with flexible razor blade units comprising such spacers, and with safety razors comprising such blade units.
  • Tandem razor blade units which are flexible, in response to forces encountered during normal use, about an axis or axes parallel with the plane of the blades and extending substantially perpendicularly to the cutting edges of the blades have been described in a number of patent specifications, for example, British Specifications 1589591 and 2119690.
  • the flexibility of such a blade unit can be assured by the design of the moulded plastics housing in which the blades and spacer are mounted, by the use of blades which are thinner than conventional, and by the design and material of the blade spacer.
  • the spacers which are conventionally used in non-flexible blade units are formed of 0.51 mm (0.02 inch) thick aluminum; the use of such a spacer in a blade unit which was, in other respects, flexible would stiffen it to such an extent that it would not flex in shaving and it has accordingly been recognised that in a flexible blade unit, the spacer should be made of a flexible, preferably plastics, material.
  • a spacer for a flexible razor blade unit comprising two blades in tandem, which comprises a flexible plastics strip having a length and width appropriate to the blades with which it is to be used, the major surfaces of the strip being formed with transverse ribs, the ribs on one side of the strip being offset with respect to those on the other side and the thickness of the strip and two ribs being greater than the desired separation of the blades.
  • a flexible tandem razor blade unit which comprises a flexible moulded plastics housing providing a guard portion and a cap portion and in which tandem blades and a spacer according to the invention therebetween, are clamped under compression.
  • the guard portion and the cap portion preferably have a comb-like form, the teeth of the two comb-like portions being interconnected by a web which is sufficiently thin as to be flexible.
  • a safety razor comprising a flexible tandem blade unit according to the invention, a handle, and connecting means connecting the blade unit to the handle which means permit flexing of the blade unit.
  • the spacer according to the invention is preferably formed of polyethylene.
  • polyethylene has the advantage of a very low coefficient of friction against steel so that the blades can move easily against the spacer as the blade unit is flexed. It is preferred that the height of the ribs should be such that the thickness of the strip and two ribs should be greater than the desire separation of the blades by less than the height of a rib.
  • a flexible tandem razor blade unit 10 comprises a flexible moulded plastics housing 11 providing a guard portion 12 and a cap portion 13 and in which tandem blades 14 and a spacer 15 therefor, are clamped under compression.
  • the spacer 15 is a flexible plastics strip 16 of moulded polyethylene having a length and width appropriate to the blades with which it is to be used, for example, a length L of 37.50 mm and a width W of 2.04 mm.
  • Both sides of the strip are provided with integrally moulded transverse ribs 17, the ribs on one side being offset with respect to those on the other side (see Figure 2).
  • One long edge of the strip 16 is provided with spaced teeth 18 lying in the plane of the strip.
  • the ribs 17 are separated from each other by a distance P of 2.5 mm, the thickness T 1 of the strip 16 is 0.30 mm and thickness T 2 of the strip and two ribs is 0.51 mm, so that the height of each rib is 0.105 mm.
  • the spacer is used with blades 14 having a thickness of 0.0813 mm so that the uncompressed thickness of the assembly is 0.51 mm + 2 x 0.0813 mm, that is 0.6726 mm.
  • this assembly When mounted in the housing 11 this assembly is compressed to the form shown in Figure 3 and has a thickness T 3 of 0.64 mm, that is there is interference of about 0.033 mm to give blade clamping.
  • the blades 14 and the spacer 15 are retained in the correct position in the unit 10 by protrusions (not shown) in the housing 11 and protrusions 19 on the spacer which engage in slots 20 in the blades. Slots are used so as to allow relative movement of the blades and spacer during flexing.
  • the offset rib arrangement in the spacer according to the invention provides good compressibility and thus facilitates assembly of the blade units and improves blade clamping. This arrangement is also such that friction between the spacer and the blades during flexing is minimized by the fact that the area of contact is substantially only the surfaces of the ribs 17.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Dry Shavers And Clippers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

In or for use in a razor blade unit having two parallel blades (14) and an interposed spacer (15), a flexible spacer having spaced transverse ribs with the ribs on one side offset from the ribs on the other side.

Description

  • This invention is concerned with spacers for flexible razor blade units comprising two blades in tandem, with flexible razor blade units comprising such spacers, and with safety razors comprising such blade units.
  • Tandem razor blade units which are flexible, in response to forces encountered during normal use, about an axis or axes parallel with the plane of the blades and extending substantially perpendicularly to the cutting edges of the blades have been described in a number of patent specifications, for example, British Specifications 1589591 and 2119690.
  • The flexibility of such a blade unit can be assured by the design of the moulded plastics housing in which the blades and spacer are mounted, by the use of blades which are thinner than conventional, and by the design and material of the blade spacer. The spacers which are conventionally used in non-flexible blade units are formed of 0.51 mm (0.02 inch) thick aluminum; the use of such a spacer in a blade unit which was, in other respects, flexible would stiffen it to such an extent that it would not flex in shaving and it has accordingly been recognised that in a flexible blade unit, the spacer should be made of a flexible, preferably plastics, material.
  • We have now developed spacers which provide tandem razor blade units with improved flexibility.
  • According to the present invention, there is provided a spacer for a flexible razor blade unit comprising two blades in tandem, which comprises a flexible plastics strip having a length and width appropriate to the blades with which it is to be used, the major surfaces of the strip being formed with transverse ribs, the ribs on one side of the strip being offset with respect to those on the other side and the thickness of the strip and two ribs being greater than the desired separation of the blades.
  • According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a flexible tandem razor blade unit, which comprises a flexible moulded plastics housing providing a guard portion and a cap portion and in which tandem blades and a spacer according to the invention therebetween, are clamped under compression.
  • In such a unit, the guard portion and the cap portion preferably have a comb-like form, the teeth of the two comb-like portions being interconnected by a web which is sufficiently thin as to be flexible.
  • According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety razor comprising a flexible tandem blade unit according to the invention, a handle, and connecting means connecting the blade unit to the handle which means permit flexing of the blade unit.
  • The spacer according to the invention is preferably formed of polyethylene. In addition to its cheapness and good moulding properties, polyethylene has the advantage of a very low coefficient of friction against steel so that the blades can move easily against the spacer as the blade unit is flexed. It is preferred that the height of the ribs should be such that the thickness of the strip and two ribs should be greater than the desire separation of the blades by less than the height of a rib.
  • For the better understanding of the invention, a currently preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible tandem razor blade unit which also show the blades and spacer thereof prior to assembly in the unit,
    • Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the spacer shown in Figure 1, and
    • Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the blades and spacer shown in Figure 1 as clamped in the unit.
  • Referring to the drawings, a flexible tandem razor blade unit 10 comprises a flexible moulded plastics housing 11 providing a guard portion 12 and a cap portion 13 and in which tandem blades 14 and a spacer 15 therefor, are clamped under compression. The spacer 15 is a flexible plastics strip 16 of moulded polyethylene having a length and width appropriate to the blades with which it is to be used, for example, a length L of 37.50 mm and a width W of 2.04 mm. Both sides of the strip are provided with integrally moulded transverse ribs 17, the ribs on one side being offset with respect to those on the other side (see Figure 2). One long edge of the strip 16 is provided with spaced teeth 18 lying in the plane of the strip.
  • In a particular embodiment the ribs 17 are separated from each other by a distance P of 2.5 mm, the thickness T1 of the strip 16 is 0.30 mm and thickness T2 of the strip and two ribs is 0.51 mm, so that the height of each rib is 0.105 mm.
  • In this embodiment, the spacer is used with blades 14 having a thickness of 0.0813 mm so that the uncompressed thickness of the assembly is 0.51 mm + 2 x 0.0813 mm, that is 0.6726 mm. When mounted in the housing 11 this assembly is compressed to the form shown in Figure 3 and has a thickness T3 of 0.64 mm, that is there is interference of about 0.033 mm to give blade clamping.
  • The blades 14 and the spacer 15 are retained in the correct position in the unit 10 by protrusions (not shown) in the housing 11 and protrusions 19 on the spacer which engage in slots 20 in the blades. Slots are used so as to allow relative movement of the blades and spacer during flexing.
  • The offset rib arrangement in the spacer according to the invention provides good compressibility and thus facilitates assembly of the blade units and improves blade clamping. This arrangement is also such that friction between the spacer and the blades during flexing is minimized by the fact that the area of contact is substantially only the surfaces of the ribs 17.
  • When the blade unit shown in the drawing is connected to a handle by means permitting flexing of the blade unit, it is found that the latter has excellent flexibility.

Claims (7)

  1. A spacer (15) for a flexible razor blade unit (10) comprising two blades (14) in tandem, which comprises a flexible plastics strip (16) having a length and width appropriate to the blades (14) with which it is to be used, the major surfaces of the strip (16) being formed with transverse ribs (17), the ribs (17) on one side of the strip (16) being offset with respect to those on the other side and the thickness of the strip (16) and two ribs being greater than the desired separation of the blades (14).
  2. A spacer (15) according to claim 1, in which the thickness of the strip (16) and two ribs (17) is greater than the desired separation of the blades (14) by less than the height of a rib (17).
  3. A spacer (15) according to claim 1 or 2, in which one long edge of the strip (16) is formed with spaced teeth (18) lying in the plane of the strip (16).
  4. A spacer (15) according to any of claims 1 to 3, which is formed of polyethylene.
  5. A flexible tandem razor blade unit (10) which comprises a moulded plastics housing (11) providing a guard portion (12) and a cap portion (13) and in which tandem blades (14) and a spacer (15) according to any of claims 1 to 4 therebetween, are clamped under compression.
  6. A flexible tandem razor blade unit (10) according to claim 5, in which the guard portion (12) and the cap portion (13) have a comb-like form, the teeth of the two comb-like portions being interconnected by a web which is sufficiently thin as to be flexible.
  7. A safety razor comprising a flexible tandem razor blade unit (10) according to claim 5 or 6, a handle, and a connecting means connecting the blade unit (10) to the handle which means permit flexing of the blade unit (10).
EP91920213A 1990-10-22 1991-10-11 Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor Expired - Lifetime EP0554365B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909022936A GB9022936D0 (en) 1990-10-22 1990-10-22 Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor
GB9022936 1990-10-22
PCT/US1991/007598 WO1992006828A1 (en) 1990-10-22 1991-10-11 Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0554365A1 EP0554365A1 (en) 1993-08-11
EP0554365A4 EP0554365A4 (en) 1993-11-10
EP0554365B1 true EP0554365B1 (en) 1996-07-17

Family

ID=10684144

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91920213A Expired - Lifetime EP0554365B1 (en) 1990-10-22 1991-10-11 Razor blade units and blade spacers therefor

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0554365B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3112939B2 (en)
AU (1) AU661284B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9107005A (en)
CA (1) CA2091571C (en)
DE (1) DE69120959T2 (en)
GB (1) GB9022936D0 (en)
MX (1) MX9101687A (en)
WO (1) WO1992006828A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0655027B1 (en) * 1992-08-13 1998-04-29 Warner-Lambert Company Shaving aid with increased flexibility
US5276967A (en) * 1993-04-29 1994-01-11 Warner-Lambert Company Flexible razor unit employing corrugated spacer
US5412872A (en) * 1993-08-04 1995-05-09 Warner-Lambert Company Razor head with expandable spacer
JP3455143B2 (en) * 1999-08-30 2003-10-14 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター Safety razor
GB0615113D0 (en) 2006-07-28 2006-09-06 Gillette Co Wet razor with conforming blade support
US20080196251A1 (en) * 2007-02-15 2008-08-21 The Gillette Company Support structure for a flexible razor blade assembly
DE102014226125A1 (en) * 2014-12-16 2016-06-16 Robert Bosch Gmbh Carrier and tensile structure
EP4186660A1 (en) * 2021-11-29 2023-05-31 BIC Violex Single Member S.A. Blade with skin and hair control element

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3890704A (en) * 1974-01-14 1975-06-24 Warner Lambert Co Razor blade cartridge
US4069580A (en) * 1976-08-18 1978-01-24 Warner-Lambert Company Safety razor with flexible blade cartridge
US4443939A (en) * 1982-04-30 1984-04-24 Warner-Lambert Company Flexible razor blade cartridge
US4641429A (en) * 1984-12-24 1987-02-10 Abatemarco Michael R Razor blade cartridge unit with dual blades
US4854043A (en) * 1987-10-30 1989-08-08 Warner-Lambert Company Flexible razor head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0554365A1 (en) 1993-08-11
JP3112939B2 (en) 2000-11-27
MX9101687A (en) 1992-06-05
CA2091571A1 (en) 1992-04-23
JPH06502334A (en) 1994-03-17
DE69120959D1 (en) 1996-08-22
WO1992006828A1 (en) 1992-04-30
DE69120959T2 (en) 1997-02-13
BR9107005A (en) 1993-08-24
GB9022936D0 (en) 1990-12-05
CA2091571C (en) 1998-12-15
AU661284B2 (en) 1995-07-20
AU8957291A (en) 1992-05-20
EP0554365A4 (en) 1993-11-10

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