EP3838520A1

EP3838520A1 - Shaving cartridge having movable blade set and shaving device provided with the same

Info

Publication number: EP3838520A1
Application number: EP19217812.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vasileios Kourakos; Georgios Georgakis; James Reynolds; Panagiotis KOPELAS
Original assignee: BIC Violex SA
Current assignee: BIC Violex Single Member SA
Priority date: 2019-12-19
Filing date: 2019-12-19
Publication date: 2021-06-23

Abstract

A shaving cartridge (10) comprising a housing (12) extending in longitudinal and transverse directions (A1, A2), a movable blade set (14A) comprising a plurality of blades (20), the movable blade set (14A) being configured to move along the transverse direction (A2) with regard to the housing (12), and a driver (16) for moving the movable blade set (14A), the driver (16) comprising at least one driving wheel or the like (28) configured to contact skin and to be rotated when moving the shaving cartridge (10) on the skin along the longitudinal direction (A1), and a mechanical transmission (30) configured to transmit a motion from the at least one driving wheel (28) to the movable blade set (14A).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a shaving cartridge having movable blades and to a shaving device provided with such a shaving cartridge.
In the frame of the present disclosure, "movable blade" should be understood as "blade movable with regard to a fixed part of the shaving device, during shaving".

BACKGROUND

Traditional razors having moving blades may be not fully pleasant to use and may lead to hair pulling, irritations or the like. Therefore a need exists to provide an improved shaving device having movable blades.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to a shaving cartridge comprising a housing extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the longitudinal direction being the direction along which the shaving cartridge is configured to shave, a movable blade set comprising a plurality of blades, the movable blade set being configured to move along (only) the transverse direction with regard to the housing, and a driver for moving the movable blade set with regard to the housing in the transverse direction, the driver comprising at least one driving wheel or the like configured to contact skin and to be rotated when moving the shaving cartridge on the skin along the longitudinal direction, and a mechanical transmission configured to transmit a motion from the at least one driving wheel or the like to the movable blade set, thereby moving the movable blade set with regard to the housing along the transverse direction during shaving.
In the following, unless otherwise specified, "wheel or the like" should be understood as wheel, belt, caterpillar, or any movable device configured to transmit a rotational movement. In the following, unless otherwise specified, "the driving wheel" should be understood as "the at least one driving wheel or the like".
The cartridge may comprise one or several wheels similar to the driving wheel but which are not mechanically coupled with the transmission. Such wheels are thus not driving wheels.
The driver comprises the driving wheel and the mechanical transmission, and is configured so that when the driving wheel contacts skin and the shaving cartridge is moved along skin for shaving in the longitudinal direction, the mechanical transmission drives the movable blade set in the transverse direction.
The movable blade set is configured to move along a direction parallel to the skin and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The movable blade set may thus provide a shearing action along the transverse direction.
Such a shaving cartridge may provide less hair pulling and/or less irritations and/or smoother sensation than with shaving cartridges of the prior art.
In embodiments, the blades are parallel (to each other), each blade having a cutting edge, the cutting edges forming an angle lying between 20° and 90° with regard to the longitudinal direction, for example between 20° and 70° with regard to the longitudinal direction.
Two blades may be considered parallel (to each other) when their respective cutting edges are parallel (to teach other). The cutting edges may be straight, but not necessarily.
In embodiments, the cutting edges of adjacent blades may be spaced a predetermined distance along the transverse direction, the movable blade set being configured to move during a single stroke of about the predetermined distance.
The predetermined distance may lie between 1.0 mm and 4.0mm.
In embodiments, the movable blade set may comprise blades which are bent in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and to the transverse directions.
A bent blade may be a blade having a front part provided with the cutting edge and a rear part, the rear part being inclined with regard to the front part. The rear part may be a mounting part of the blade. The front part may extend in a plane comprising the longitudinal and the transverse directions. In other words, the front part may be configured to be parallel to the skin during shaving. The movable blade set may comprise only bent blades, but not necessarily. In another example, the movable blade set may comprise bent blades and/or straight blades mounted onto bent supports. In still another example, the movable blade set may comprise only straight blades mounted with a distance between them.
In embodiments, the mechanical transmission may comprise a gear mechanism having a gear ratio lying between 3:1 and 7:1.
In other words, when an input gear rotates of one revolution, an output gear may rotate between three to seven revolutions.
In embodiments, the mechanical transmission may comprise a rotating shaft configured to be driven by the at least one driving wheel or the like, the rotating shaft being provided with a cam having an helicoidally closed path, and a cam follower engaged with the cam and configured to move the movable blade set.
In other words, the driving wheel may be rotatably coupled directly or indirectly with the rotating shaft. When the rotating shaft is rotated, the cam rotates as well. The cam and the cam follower transform the rotating movement of the cam into a translation movement, for example along the transverse direction. Such a translation movement is a reciprocating movement. The cam follower may directly or indirectly move the movable blade set. The amplitude of the translation movement may be equal to the predetermined distance. During a single full revolution of the cam (i.e. a rotation of 360°), the cam follower may travel at least a full go back and forth along the translation direction.
In embodiments, at least one driving wheel or the like may comprise a toothed rim while the rotating shaft is provided with a pinion meshed with the toothed rim.
The diameter of the pinion may be smaller than the diameter of the toothed rim. The pinion may comprise fewer teeth than the toothed rime. The toothed rim may be an input gear while the pinion may be the output gear of the gear mechanism.
In embodiments, the teeth of the toothed rim may extend radially inward.
The pinion may be disposed radially inside the toothed rim. The teeth of the pinion may extend radially outward.
In embodiments, the movable blade set may be disposed within a blade assembly, the blade assembly having a grid configured to be placed between the skin and the movable blade set during shaving, the grid comprising parallel slots (i.e. slots parallel to each other) extending along the longitudinal direction.
At least one wall of the slots, for example a wall extending along the longitudinal direction, may form a fixed part opposite to the blade edge onto which hair bears during shaving when the movable blade set is moved to shave.
For example, two slots may be provided per predetermined distance along the transverse direction. In other words, a blade may cross two slots during a single stroke when moving along the transverse direction.
In embodiments, the slots may have a length extending along the longitudinal direction and a width extending along the transverse direction, the length lying between 2.0 mm and 8.0 mm while the width lies between 0.1 mm and 0.9 mm. For example, the length may lie between 2.5 mm and 7.0 mm. For example, the width may lie between 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm.
All the slots may identical.
In embodiments, the grid may comprise engaging teeth, the slots extending between the teeth, a length of the teeth along the longitudinal direction lying between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm.
In other words, the length of the slots along the longitudinal direction comprises the length of the teeth along the longitudinal direction
In embodiments, each blade has a cutting edge, at least two cutting edges extending in a common plane.
In embodiments, the blade assembly may be removable from the housing.
For example, the blade assembly may be assembled with the casing by snap fitting.
In embodiments, the shaving cartridge may comprise (only) two wheels or the like disposed out of the housing, respectively on opposite sides along the transverse direction, at least one of the wheels being a driving wheel or the like.
Only one of the two wheels may be a driving wheel while the other wheel may be a free wheel. Alternatively, each of the two wheels may be a driving wheel. For example the two driving wheels may be rotatably coupled together (for example via a common shaft) and/or each of the two driving wheels may have a toothed rim coupled with a pinion of the rotary shaft.
In embodiments, the at least one driving wheel or the like may be provided with an outer layer configured to contact skin, the outer layer being provided with notches and/or is made of thermoplastic elastomer (also known as "TPE") such as thermoplastic polyurethane (also known as "TPU").
If the shaving cartridge has other(s) wheel(s), which is(are) not driving wheel, such a wheel(s) may have a similar outer layer.
An embodiment relates to a shaving device provided with a shaving cartridge according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
Such shaving cartridges / shaving devices may provide less hair pulling and/or less irritations and/or smoother sensation than with shaving cartridges / devices of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages can be better understood by reading the detailed description of various embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying sheets of figures, in which:

Figures 1A and 1B show different view of a shaving device,
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the shaving cartridge of the shaving device of figures 1A and 1B,
Figure 3 shows a view of the blade assembly of the shaving cartridge of figure 2, along arrow III of figure 1B.

DETAILLED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a shaving device 100 is described with reference to figures 1A, 1B. The shaving device 100, in this example a razor, may comprise a handle 102 and a shaving cartridge 10. The handle 102 may comprise a gripping portion 102A and a first coupling portion 102B arranged at a distal axial end 102A1 of the gripping portion 102A for mounting the cartridge 10. The gripping portion 102 may extend along an axis X. The cartridge 10 may comprise a second coupling portion 11. The first coupling portion 102B and the second coupling portion 11 may be configured to be removably coupled together for assembling/disassembling the cartridge 10 with/from the handle 102, and form a coupling mechanism. In the present example, the cartridge 10 may be mounted with the handle 102 by snap-fitting. In a variant the cartridge 10 may be not removable from the handle 102. For example, the cartridge 10 may be pivotably mounted with the handle 102 in order to follow the skin in a smoother way.
The shaving cartridge 10 is now described with reference to figures 2 and 3. The cartridge 10 comprises a housing 12, a blade assembly 14 having a movable blade set 14A configured to move with regard to the housing 12 for shaving, and a driver 16 for moving the movable blade set 14A with regard to the housing 12.
The housing 12 has a longitudinal direction A1 and a transverse direction A2. When mounted onto the handle 102, the longitudinal direction A1 may be parallel with the axial direction X of the handle 102. In other words, the longitudinal direction A1 may correspond to the direction along which the shaving cartridge 10 is configured to shave, or shaving direction.
The housing 12 may comprise a chassis 12A, onto which the different elements of the cartridge 10 may be mounted (but not necessarily all the elements of the cartridge 10), and a protective cover 12B configured to protect, together with the chassis 12, the elements located between the chassis 12A and the protective cover 12B. The cover 12B may be provided with the second coupling portion 11. As shown in figure 1B, the chassis 12A may be provided with a moisture strip 13. In a variant not shown, the cover 12B may comprise a gripping portion, for example two gripping portions, in order to be able to be directly handled by a user for shaving, the cartridge 10 being provided without the handle 102. This may form a handle-free shaver. The two gripping portions may be located in two opposite side walls of the cover 12B.
The blade assembly 14 may comprise a movable blade set 14A and a grid 14B configured to be placed between the skin and the movable blade set 14A during shaving.
The movable blade set 14A may comprise a plurality of parallel blades 20 mounted onto a frame 22. The blade set 14A may comprise only blades 20 which are bent in a direction A3 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A1 and to the transverse direction A2. Each blade 20 may have a straight cutting edge 20A. For example, the blades 20 may be considered parallel when their cutting edges 20A are parallel. The cutting edges may extend in a common plane P.
For example, the blades 20 may comprise front part 20A1 provided with the cutting edge 20A and a rear part 20A2, the rear part 20A2 being inclined with regard to the front part 20A1. The front part 20A1 may extend in a plane P comprising the longitudinal and the transverse directions A1 and A2. In other words, the front part 20A1 may be configured to be parallel to the skin during shaving. The blades 20 may be fixed to the frame 22 via their rear part 20A2. Alternatively, the blades may be not bent, and supported by a bent support or not.
As shown in figure 3, the cutting edges 20A may be all parallel and/or may form an angle α with regard to the longitudinal direction A1. For example, the angle α may be equal to 45° (α = 45°). The cutting edges 20A of adjacent blades may be spaced a predetermined distance D1 along the transverse direction A2. The predetermined distance may be between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm, for example equal to 2.5 mm (D1 = 2.5 mm).
The movable blade set 14A may be mounted with the grid 14B so as to be able to slide with regard to the grid 14B. The movable blade set 14A may be configured to slide (only) along the transverse direction A2. The grid 14B may comprise mounting grooves 14B1 extending along the transverse direction A2 and configured to receive the blade set 14A. The frame 22 may have two parallel edges 22A extending along the transverse direction A2 which are respectively received by a groove 14B1 and are able to slide within the grooves 14B1.
The grid 14B may comprises a wall 15 configures to contact skin during shaving and extending along the longitudinal and the transverse direction A1 and A2. The wall 15 may be provided with parallel slots 24 extending along the longitudinal direction A1. The grid 14B may comprise engaging teeth 26, the slots 24 extending between the teeth 26. In other words, the space between two adjacent teeth 26 may form part of a slot 24.
As shown in figure 3, the slots 24 may have a length L1 extending along the longitudinal direction A1 and a width L2 extending along the transverse direction A2. For example, the length L1 may be equal to 5.2 mm (L1 = 5.2mm). For example, the width L2 may be equal to 0.6 mm (L2 = 0.6 mm). The teeth 26 may have a length L3 extending along the longitudinal direction A1. The length L3 of the teeth 26 may be equal to 0.8 mm (L3 = 0.3mm). Two slots 24 may be provided by predetermined distance D1. For example, the distance D2 along the transverse direction A2 between two identical reference points P of two adjacent pairs of adjacent slots 24 may be equal to the predetermined distance D1 along the transverse direction A2 between two adjacent cutting edges 20A.
The outer front face 14B2 of the grid 14B may comprise a rib 14B22 configured to cooperate with tongues 12C of the housing 12, for removably mounting the blade assembly 14 with the housing 12 by snap fitting. The tongues 12C may be part of the chassis 12A. When mounted onto the housing 12, the blade assembly 14, in particular the grid 14B, is fixed (i.e. do not move) with regard to housing 12. Therefore, the movable blade set 14A being movable with regard to the grid 14B, the movable blade set 14A is movable with regard to the housing.
The driver 16 may comprise two driving wheels 28 configured to contact skin and to be rotated when moving the shaving cartridge 10 on the skin for shaving, and a mechanical transmission 30 configured to transmit a motion from the wheels to the movable blade set 14A.
The two driving wheels 28 may be disposed out of the housing 12, respectively on opposite sides along the transverse direction A2. Each driving wheel 28 may be provided with an outer layer 28A configured to contact skin, the outer layer 28A being provided with notches 28A1 and may be made of thermoplastic elastomer (e.g. polyurethane). Alternatively, the outer layer 28A may have a rough surface (e.g. comprising protrusions) with a high friction effect. The wheels 28 are mounted on a common shaft 29. The two driving wheels 28 may be rotatably coupled with the shaft 29.
The mechanical transmission 30 may comprise a gear mechanism 30A, a rotating shaft 30B, a cam 30C1 and a cam follower 30C2. The rotating shaft 30B may be configured to be driven by the driving wheels 28. The two driving wheels 28 may comprise a toothed rim 30A1, the teeth 30A11 of the toothed rim 30A1 extending radially inward. The shaft 30B is provided with a single pinion 30A2 meshed with one of the toothed rims 30A1. The teeth 30A21 of the pinion 30A2 may extend radially outward. The gear ratio of the gear mechanism 30A may be 5:1. For example, the pinion 30A2 may comprise twelve teeth while the toothed rims 30A1 may comprise sixty teeth.
In a variant, the rim 30A1 which it not meshed with the pinion 30A2 may be not toothed. In other words, the gear mechanism 30A may comprise only a single toothed rim 30A1 and a single pinion 30A2 meshed with said toothed rim 30A1.
In the present example, one of the two toothed rim 30A1 of the wheels 28 is not meshed with the pinion 30a2. However, the two driving wheels 28 being rotatably coupled via the shaft 29, the driving wheel 28 which is not meshed with the pinion 30A2 (and which may be not toothed) also provide input motion to the driver 16, and may thus be considered as a "driving" wheel. In a variant, the rotating shaft 30B may be provided with two pinions 30A2, each pinion 30A2 being meshed with a distinct toothed rim 30A1. In such a case, the two driving wheels 28 may be rotatably coupled, for example via the shaft 29, or may be independent from each other (rotate freely with regard to each other) and being still considered as "driving" wheel. In another variant, the wheel 28 the rim 30A1 of which being not meshed with the pinion 30A2 may be independent of the other wheel 28 (i.e. rotate freely with regard to the other wheel 28), and may be thus not considered as a "driving" wheel.
The cam 30C1 may have a helicoidally closed path 30C11, the cam follower 30C2 being engaged with the path 30C11. The cam follower may comprise a protrusion or a rod 30C2 extending along the direction A3 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A1 and to the transverse direction A2. The protrusion or rod 30C2 may be unitary with the frame 22. However, any other configuration of the cam follower may be provided.
When shaving, i.e. when applying the shaving cartridge 10 on skin and moving the shaving device 10 along the arrow F1 of figure 3, wheels 28 are rotated while hair is engaged between the engaging teeth 26 in the slots 24. When rotating, the wheel 28 meshed with the pinion 30A2 may rotatably drives the rotating shaft 30B. Since the gear ratio of the gear mechanism 30A may be 5:1, the rotating shaft 30B may rotate five times when the wheels 28 (which may be rotatably coupled via the shaft 29) rotate once. The cam 30C1 may rotate together with the rotating shaft 30B, at the same speed. When rotating, the cam 30C1 may drive the cam follower 30C2 which is coupled with the movable blade set 14A. The reciprocating movement of the movable blade set 14A is shown by the double arrow F2 of figure 2, parallel to the transverse direction A2. The amplitude S of the translation movement of the blade set 14A along the transverse direction A2 may be equal to the predetermined distance D1. The amplitude S may correspond to the extent along the transverse direction A2 of the path 30C11. During its movement, the blade set 14A may shear and cut hair engaged within the slots 24, said hair bearing against the walls of the slots 24 opposite to the cutting edge 20A.
In this example, the amplitude S of the movement of the blade set 14A is equal to the predetermined distance D1 between two adjacent blades 20, but may be different. In the same way, the blade assembly 14 is configured so that during a stroke a blade 20 cross two slots 24 (the distance D2 being equal to the distance D1), but this may be different.
Although the present invention is described with reference to specific examples, it is clear that modifications and changes may be made to these examples without going beyond the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments shown and/or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.
Various materials, methods of construction and methods of fastening have been discussed in the context of the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize known substitutes for the materials, construction methods, and fastening methods, all of which are contemplated as compatible with the disclosed embodiment and are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.
Throughout the description, including the claims, the term "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising one or more" unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art.
As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Claims

A shaving cartridge (10) comprising a housing (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (A1) and a transverse direction (A2), the longitudinal direction (A1) being the direction along which the shaving cartridge (10) is configured to shave, a movable blade set (14A) comprising a plurality of blades (20), the movable blade set (14A) being configured to move along the transverse direction (A2) with regard to the housing (12), and a driver (16) for moving the movable blade set (14A) with regard to the housing (12) in the transverse direction (A2), the driver (16) comprising at least one driving wheel or the like (28) configured to contact skin and to be rotated when moving the shaving cartridge (10) on the skin along the longitudinal direction (A1), and a mechanical transmission (30) configured to transmit a motion from the at least one driving wheel or the like (28) to the movable blade set (14A), thereby moving the movable blade set (14A) with regard to the housing (12) along the transverse direction (A2) during shaving.
The shaving cartridge (10) according to claim 1, wherein the blades (20) are parallel, each blade (20) having a cutting edge (20A), the cutting edges (20A) forming an angle (α) lying between 20° and 70° with regard to the longitudinal direction (A1).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to claim 2, wherein the cutting edges (20A) of adjacent blades (20) are spaced a predetermined distance (D1) along the transverse direction (A1), the movable blade set (14A) being configured to move during a single stroke of about the predetermined distance (D1).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the movable blade set (14A) comprises blades (20) which are bent in a direction (A3) perpendicular to the longitudinal and to the transverse directions (A1, A2).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mechanical transmission (30) comprises a gear mechanism (30A) having a gear ratio lying between 3:1 and 7:1.
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mechanical transmission (30) comprises a rotating shaft (30B) configured to be driven by the at least one driving wheel or the like (28), the rotating shaft (30B) being provided with a cam (30C1) having an helicoidally closed path (30C11), and a cam follower (30C2) engaged with the cam (30c1) and configured to move the movable blade set (14A).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein at least one driving wheel or the like (28) comprises a toothed rim (30A1) while the rotating shaft (30B) is provided with a pinion (30A2) meshed with said toothed rim (30A1).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to claim 7, wherein the teeth (30A11) of the toothed rim (30A1) extend radially inward.
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the movable blade set (14A) is disposed within a blade assembly (14), the blade assembly (14) having a grid (14) configured to be placed between the skin and the movable blade set (14A) during shaving, the grid (14B) comprising parallel slots (24) extending along the longitudinal direction (A1).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to claim 9, wherein the slots (24) have a length (L1) extending along the longitudinal direction (A1) and a width (L2) extending along the transverse direction (A2), the length (L1) lying between 2.0 mm and 8.0 mm while the width (L2) lies between 0.1 mm and 0.9 mm.
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each blade (20) has a cutting edge (20A), at least two cutting edges (20A) extending in a common plane (P).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the blade assembly (14) is removable from the housing (12).
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising two wheels or the like (28) disposed out of the housing (12), respectively on opposite sides of the housing (12) along the transverse direction (A2), at least one of the wheels (28) being a driving wheel or the like.
The shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one driving wheel or the like (28) is provided with an outer layer (28A) configured to contact skin, the outer layer (28A) being provided with notches (28A1) and/or is made of thermoplastic elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane.
A shaving device (100) provided with a shaving cartridge (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.