EP2428338A1

EP2428338A1 - Razor with improved functionality

Info

Publication number: EP2428338A1
Application number: EP10425296A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Livio Francesco Eugenio Cavagna
Original assignee: Sipex Cavagna SpA
Current assignee: Sipex Cavagna SpA
Priority date: 2010-09-14
Filing date: 2010-09-14
Publication date: 2012-03-14

Abstract

A razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) with improved functionality, comprising a main body (2) whose shape is elongated in a preferred direction and provided with a first end portion (2a) that can be gripped by a user (3) and a second end portion (2b) that has at least one slit (4) provided with at least one cutting edge (5) adapted for shaving during the gliding of the main body (2) over the skin of the person to be shaved (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a razor with improved functionality. A wide range of manual or electric razors and depilators, having different geometries and shapes and different functionalities depending on the type of razor or depilator being considered, is currently commercially available for shaving and for male and female grooming.
As regards male shaving and grooming, the razor of the traditional type, known as straight razor, is a cutting instrument constituted by a handle that can be gripped by the user and supports a bar which has a blade at one of its ends.
Moreover, these razors of the traditional type can be of the folding type, i.e., where the bar that supports the blade can be folded back into the handle, so as to be able to store the razor safely when it is not being used, and/or of the type with an interchangeable blade that can be fixed to the bar of the razor and acts as a blade thereof, so as to allow replacement of only the blade when its cutting edge loses effectiveness.
These razors of the traditional type are not devoid of drawbacks, which include the fact of requiring very high manual skills in order to be used correctly, avoiding injury of the person being shaved.
As a consequence of this drawback, such straight razors are disappearing from the market dedicated directly to the consumer and are becoming increasingly a niche tool dedicated to professionals, such as for example barbers and/or hairdressers in general, who use it daily in their work, since in any case it is a tool of very high precision.
For the provision of cutting tools for male shaving that are dedicated also to users whose manual skills cannot be compared to those of a professional, safety razors are known which are constituted by a handle that terminates in a transverse blade supporting portion such as to keep the blade or blades, depending on whether they are of the single or of the multiple cutting edge type, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle or protruding by a few tenths of a millimeter from the transverse blade supporting portion.
Such known types of razor, which are the ones currently most widespread commercially, allow safe shaving since the shape of the transverse blade supporting portion with which they are provided prevents the blade from causing deep cuts to the person being shaved even if the razor is used by unskilled hands.
However, even such known types of razor are not devoid of drawbacks, which include the fact that since the blade is mounted on supports that have a substantially rectangular shape, shaving of areas of the face that are particularly difficult to reach, such as for example the upper part of the lip below the nostrils, is not easy and of good quality.
Another drawback of known types of safety razors consists in that they require continuous cleaning of the blades during shaving, since the cut hair that is deposited between one blade and the next prevents such blades from being able to perform a precise and adequately deep cut flush with the skin.
A further drawback of known types of safety razor consists in that once the hair is cut it is either deposited between one blade and the next, causing the drawback cited above, or falls by gravity, being deposited on the objects that are present below the razor during shaving.
Another drawback of known types of safety razor consists in that they are particularly bulky due to their T-shaped configuration and at the same time fragile, requiring adapted rigid and rather capacious cases, for allowing the user to store and/or transport the razor without it being damaged during transport if it is stored in luggage or the like.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a razor with improved functionality that solves and overcomes, respectively, the drawbacks and limitations of the background art.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a razor that allows high-precision shaving even in points that are difficult to reach with razors of the known type, working with maximum safety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a razor that has little space occupation, such as to allow accommodation of the same for example in travel cases or the like, even small ones.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a razor that has such a geometric shape as to make it ergonomically simple to handle and at the same time structurally strong.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a razor that is economically competitive with respect to those of the background art.
This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a razor with improved functionality, characterized in that it comprises a main body whose shape is elongated in a preferred direction and provided with a first end portion that can be gripped by a user and a second end portion that has at least one slit provided with at least one cutting edge adapted for shaving during the gliding of said main body over the skin of the person to be shaved.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of five preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a razor with improved functionality, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a razor with improved functionality according to the invention, while in use;
Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the razor shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the razor shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the razor shown in Figure 3, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a first variation of the razor shown in Figure 3, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a second variation of the razor shown in Figure 3, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third variation of the razor shown in Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the razor shown in Figure 7, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a razor with improved functionality according to the invention;
Figure 10 is a sectional view of the razor shown in Figure 9, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of a first variation of the razor shown in Figure 9, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a razor with improved functionality according to the invention;
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the razor shown in Figure 12, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 14 is a sectional view of first variation of the razor shown in Figure 12, taken along a plane that lies transversely thereto;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a razor with improved functionality according to the invention;
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a razor with improved functionality according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, the razor with improved functionality, generally designated in the five proposed embodiments by the reference numerals 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e, according to the invention, comprises a main body 2 whose shape is elongated along a preferred direction and has a first end portion 2a that can be gripped by a user 3.
Adjacent to the first end portion 2a, the main body 2, which in the figures has a cylindrical shape with a circular base but in other embodiments, which are not shown but are in any case within the scope of the inventive concept, can assume different shapes and comprises a second end portion 2b, which has at least a slit 4 provided with at least a cutting edge 5 adapted to shave a person to be shaved, who in Figures 1 and 2 is the same as the user 3, during the gliding of the main body 2 in contact with the skin of the person to be shaved 3.
Advantageously, the razors 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e are constituted by hollow main bodies 2, which define internally a cavity 6 adapted to collect the hairs 7 cut by the cutting edge 5 during the shaving of the person to be shaved 3, as shown in Figure 2.
With reference to Figures 1 to 8, in the first embodiment 1a of the razor the slit 4 is formed by a rectilinear slot that runs substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 8 of the main body 2 for a length that can vary according to design choices and is for example in the order of five centimeters.
The cutting edge 5 is defined by at least one longitudinal edge of said rectilinear slot.
More specifically, the main body 2 can have a front opening 19 that is provided at the second end portion 2b and through which the hairs 7 can be discharged during or after shaving.
Moreover, the slit 4 can be of the type with an open profile since it is connected to a front opening 19.
The arrangement of the slit 4 on the end of the main body 2, as will become better apparent hereinafter, allows the cutting edge 5 to also reach points that are generally difficult to shave. Notwithstanding, in a possible variation of the razor according to the invention, a portion for closing the front opening 19 can be provided and the slit 4 can be of the type with a closed profile.
Advantageously, in order to allow shaving in both directions of gliding of the razor 1a on the skin of the user 3 with respect to the longitudinal axis 8, two mutually opposite cutting edges 5 are provided, each defined by one of the two longitudinal edges of the rectilinear slot that defines the slit 4.
In greater detail, as shown in Figure 4, each longitudinal edge that defines the cutting edges 5 is defined on an outer surface 9 of the main body 2.
Alternatively, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in two possible variations of the razor 1a the cutting edges 5 can be defined on an inner surface 10 of the main body 2 or on a portion of the part that laterally delimits the rectilinear slot that defines the slit 4 and is comprised between the outer surface 9 and the inner surface 10.
In a third variation of the razor 1 a, not shown, it is possible to provide a plurality of pairs of mutually opposite cutting edges 5, each of which is defined by one of the two longitudinal edges, of the rectilinear slot that defines the slit 4, defined on at least one of the outer surface 9, the inner surface 10 and a portion of the part that laterally delimits the rectilinear slot and is comprised between the outer surface 9 and the inner surface 10.
With reference to Figures 7 and 8, in a fourth variation of the razor 1a, in order to increase the number of cutting edges 5 and therefore extend the useful life of the razor 1a, a plurality of slits 4 are provided, each provided with cutting edges 5 as described previously.
The slits 4 can be distributed radially around the longitudinal axis 8 of the main body 2 according to a distribution which can be uniform or not depending on design choices. For example, Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a razor 1a that has two diametrically opposite slits 4.
With reference to Figures 9 to 14, the second and third embodiments 1b and 1c of the razor according to the invention differ from the first embodiment in that the cutting edges 5 are provided directly by the edges of the slit 4 and in that they comprise at least one blade supporting element 11 that is inserted detachably in the main body 2 at the second end portion 2b through the front opening 19.
The blade supporting element 11 is provided, for each slit 4, with at least a blade 12 that runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 and is accommodated in the rectilinear slot of the slit 4 in order to form the cutting edge 5.
More precisely, in the second embodiment the blades 12 and the blade supporting element 11 are provided by a plate 13, which is bent into a C-shape and inserted in the internal cavity 6 of the main body 2, and in the third embodiment the blade supporting element 11 is provided by a block 14 which is accommodated inside the main body 2 with the blades 12 fixed and supported thereby.
With reference to Figures 11 and 14, the blade supporting elements 11 are provided, for each provided slit 4, with at least one pair of blades 12 that run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 and are accommodated in the respective rectilinear slot of the slit 4 to define two cutting edges 5, which are mutually opposite in pairs, each defined at one of the longitudinal sides of said rectilinear slot.
The duplication of blades 12 is such as to provide a multiple-edge instrument, to ensure optimum shaving.
Likewise, the number of blades 12 can be increased further with a blade supporting element 11 provided, for each one of the provided slits 4, with a plurality of pairs of blades 12 that run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 and are accommodated in the rectilinear slot of the respective slit 4 to form a plurality of pairs of cutting edges 5 which are mutually opposite in pairs and are each defined at one of the longitudinal sides of said rectilinear slot.
With reference to the fourth and fifth embodiments, respectively, 1d and 1e of the razor according to the invention, the razor can be provided with motor means 15, which vibrate in the fourth embodiment or rotate in the fifth embodiment and are functionally connected to the blade supporting element 11 respectively to vibrate and rotate each blade 12.
Conveniently, the motor means 15 can be powered by batteries 16 accommodated inside the main body 2, the latter being optionally provided with a watertight closure 17 which can be opened for replacement at least of the batteries 16.
Moreover, for preventing the skin of the person to be shaved 3 from coming into contact with each one of the cutting edges 5 of all five of the proposed embodiments, at least a protective grille 18 can be provided which is associated externally with the main body 2 at each one of the provided slits 4, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.
Operation of the razor with improved functionality according to the fourth proposed embodiments 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e is clear and evident from what has been described above.
In particular, the geometry of the main body 2 makes the razors 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e ergonomically suitable to be gripped easily and the position of the cutting edges 5 at the end of said main body 2 is such as to allow them to reach points that are difficult to shave with conventional razors.
More specifically, the razors 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e can be used by gliding over the skin of the person to be shaved 3 transversely to the longitudinal axis 8 of the main body 2 and/or by rolling with respect to it so as to allow shaving even in sharp-cornered regions.
For example, thanks to the geometric shape of the main body 2 it is possible to shave with absolute precision and ease even the upper part of the lip proximate to the nostrils.
In practice it has been found that the razor with improved functionality according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it makes it possible to shave very precisely with ease and complete safety.
Another advantage of the razor according to the present invention consists in that it has such a geometric shape as to make it ergonomically simple to handle and at the same time structurally strong.
A further advantage of the razor according to the present invention resides in that it can collect the cut hairs in an adapted container to be emptied after shaving, so as to not soil the objects that are located below the razor during shaving and most of all without altering the quality of the shave.
Another advantage of the razor according to the present invention resides in that it has reduced space occupations with respect to the background art and can be provided at economically advantageous costs with respect to the background art.
The razor with improved functionality thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all which are within the scope of the appended claims.
For example, in a possible variation of the razor according to the present invention each slit that defines the cutting edges can run along the entire longitudinal extension of the main body, with the same cutting edges defined at the second end portion of the main body, so as to protect the user who grips the razor against accidental cuts.
In another possible variation of the razor according to the invention, one or more lateral openings can be provided which are arranged substantially on the opposite side with respect to each slit and are adapted to evacuate the shaving residues, such as cut hairs and shaving foam.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) with improved functionality, characterized in that it comprises a main body (2) whose shape is elongated in a preferred direction and provided with a first end portion (2a) that can be gripped by a user (3) and a second end portion (2b) that has at least one slit (4) provided with at least one cutting edge (5) adapted for shaving during the gliding of said main body (2) over the skin of the person to be shaved (3).
The razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to claim 1, characterized in that said main body (2) is hollow and forms an internal cavity (6) adapted to collect the hairs (7) cut by said at least one cutting edge (5) during the shaving of said person to be shaved (3).
The razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of slits (4), each provided with said at least one cutting edge (5) and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis (8) of said main body (2).
The razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said slits (4) is defined by a rectilinear slot that runs substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (8).
The razor (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one cutting edge (5) is defined by at least one longitudinal edge of said rectilinear slot of said at least one slit (4).
The razor (1a) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises two mutually opposite cutting edges (5), each defined by one of the two longitudinal edges of said rectilinear slot of said at least one slit (4).
The razor (1a) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of mutually opposite cutting edges (5), each defined by one of the two longitudinal edges of said rectilinear slot of said at least one slit (4).
The razor (1a) according to claim 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that each one of said longitudinal edges of said rectilinear slot of said at least one slit (4) is defined on at least one of the outer surface (9) of said main body (2), the inner surface (10) of said main body (2) and a portion of the part that laterally delimits said rectilinear slot and is comprised between said outer surface (9) and said inner surface (10).
The razor (1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one blade supporting element (11), which is inserted detachably in said main body (2) at said second end portion (2b) and is provided, for each one of said slits (4), with at least one blade (12) that runs substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (8) and is accommodated in said rectilinear slot of said slit (4) in order to form said at least one cutting edge (5).
The razor (1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to claim 9, characterized in that said at least one blade supporting element (11) is provided, for each one of said slits (4), with at least one pair of blades (12) that run substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (8) and are accommodated in said rectilinear slot of said slit (4) in order to form at least two cutting edges (5) which are mutually opposite in pairs and are each defined at one of the longitudinal sides of said rectilinear slot of said slit (4).
The razor (1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) according to one or more of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that said at least one blade supporting element (11) is provided, for each one of said slits (4), with a plurality of pairs of blades (12) that run substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (8) and are accommodated in said rectilinear slot of said slit (4) in order to define a plurality of pairs of cutting edges (5) which are mutually opposite in pairs, each defined at one of the longitudinal sides of said rectilinear slot of said slit (4).
The razor (1d, 1e) according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises vibrating motor means (15), which are functionally connected to said at least one blade supporting element (11) for the vibration of each one of said blades (12), said motor means (15) being powered by batteries (16) which are accommodated within said main body (2) and said main body (2) being provided with a watertight closure (17) that can be opened to replace at least said batteries (16).
The razor (1d, 1e) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one protective grille (18) which is associated externally with said main body (2) at each one of said slits (4) and is adapted to prevent the skin of the person to be shaved (3) from coming into contact with each one of said cutting edges (5).