ES2221425T3 - SHAVING MACHINE WITH A FLUID TANK AND A DISPENSING DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety razor has a handle formed by a refillable container (8). After filling with water a tablet (20) containing a carbon dioxide gas generating substance is added to the water and the gas pressure is used to deliver liquid from the container to the underside of the razor blade unit (1). The tablet also includes a substance which upon being mixed with water produces a fluid which may have desirable properties for application to the skin during shaving, such as lubrication, moisturising, applying a fragrance, chemical treatment of hairs, bacterial or medicinal treatment of the skin and/or blood coagulation. The container (8) can be equipped with a dispenser (30) operable to deliver tablets into the water filled container.

Description

Razor with a fluid reservoir and a dispensing device.

This invention relates to a razor of shaving according to the preamble of claim 1 (see, for example, US-A-5 337 478).

There have been previous proposals to include a pressurized container in a razor handle structure of shaving to dispense shaving foam, being examples of such constructions described in documents US 5337478, DE4335449, WO-A-97/18065 and EP-A-0505630. The containers used in these razors are the type that is pressurized at the factory at the time of manufacture. Too razors have been proposed in which it is discharged liquid from a gravity tank during shaving, being examples of such razors described in the US-A-4238882, US-A-4074429 and GB-A-2266854. In the document GB-A-690828 describes a Razor with a rechargeable reservoir that is pressurized by a piston driven by a spring or an air pump driven manually and the document GB-A-2075406 describes a razor shaving in which liquid is dispensed from a container rechargeable by operating a fluid pump.

In a razor according to the present invention the fluid is discharged in a position ahead of the razor blade or blades when they move by the skin during shaving, such as in the position of the protector of the shaving head that is arranged in front of the blade or leaves.

The substance is introduced into the tank with a predetermined dose and the razor includes also a dispensing device to deliver a dose default substance inside the water-filled tank, the dispensing device being arranged to contain a plurality of doses and being able to act to deliver the dose inside the tank.

More convenient and preferably the substance is a solid and is supplied in predetermined doses in the form of capsules or tablets In this case, the dispensing device incorporates a charger that is adapted to contain several tablets and to dispense the tablets one at a time within the tank to mix it with liquid in it.

The substance can be chosen so that when mixed with water a fluid will be produced that can have a desired effect when applied to the skin in the course of a shaving procedure or in association with a procedure of shaved off. Thus, the prepared fluid may have, for example, one or more of the following effects:

(i) lubrication to help the razor shave to slip through the skin;

(ii) humidification and / or conditioning of another skin shape;

(iii) add a fragrance;

(iv) chemical hair treatment to facilitate the cut;

(v) medicinal or bacterial treatment of the skin;

(vi) skin cleansing; Y

(vii) blood clotting and / or other beneficial treatment of abrasions or small cuts that may suffer during shaving.

It can be included a substance that generates gas so that the substance, when mixed with water, is effervescent. The gas that is generated is preferably inert and is more preferable carbon dioxide since it is harmless and can be easily produced. The gas generator can be, for example, sodium bicarbonate that generates carbon dioxide gas when it dissolve in water. The generation of carbon dioxide can be accelerated, however, by a chemical reaction that involves the neutralization of a carbonate salt by a weak acid and the Preferred gas generating substance is a mixture of dry solids which include citric and / or tartaric acid with a carbonate salt that includes one or more of sodium carbonate, bicarbonate of sodium, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium hydrogen carbonate. To the experts in the art will come up with other gas generators adequate.

The substance that is mixed with water in the deposit can be a solid substance, in which case it can be conveniently provided as a tablet or as a powder contained within a soluble capsule. Alternatively, it can supply and use a substance other than a powder, by example, inside a soluble capsule or in a sealed pad from which the substance is discharged into the tank.

A better understanding of the invention will be achieved in its different aspects of the more detailed description that follows and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in the what:

Figure 1 is a front view of a razor;

Figure 2 is a side view of the razor shaving shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the razor of Figure 1 from the rear;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view from below. of the shaving head of the razor shown in the Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side view of the razor of figure 1 with the deposit container removed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view. which shows a top of the razor of the Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross section through from the top of the razor of figure 1;

Figure 7A is a sectional view in perspective showing a modification of the razor's neck shaving and the cartridge of the example illustrated in figure 7;

Figures 8 and 9 are cross sections that illustrate the immersion tube valve system in orientations vertical and inverted, respectively;

Figure 10 is a front view showing a Razor according to the invention that includes a tablet dispenser;

Figure 11 is a side view of the razor of figure 10; Y

Figure 12 shows the razor of Figure 10 in perspective and in which the upper part is partially removed to fill the reservoir container with Water.

The examples in figures 1-9 they are not covered by the claims and are not embodiments of the invention but they are useful for understanding the invention.

Referring initially to figures 1 a 7 shows a razor that has a unit 1 of blades or a shaving head that includes three 2 blades with edges parallel shears carried in a structure 3 that also supports 4, 5 protector and cover structures, defined by strips elastomerics that are shown each to have a matrix of cylindrical entrees 6 packed tightly, but instead other incoming and / or configurations can be provided protrusions as known in the art. For more details of strips elastomeric 4, 5 and incoming 6 in them, it can be done reference to documents W096 / 02369, W097 / 17174. Structure 5 cap includes a lubricant strip 12 as known per se and which It can be as described in US Patent No. 5113585. The sheets 2 can be movable independently of each other. against the action of return springs under the forces experienced by the blades during shaving as well as Knows in the art. Additional details of sheets loaded by Springs can be found in U.S. Patent No. 4492025. Alternatively, the sheets 2 may be fixedly mounted on the structure. Shaving head 1 may be attached staring at the remaining parts of the razor with the intention that at least the top of the razor of shave be discarded whole when leaves 2 have dull, or shaving head 1 may be cartridge type replaceable so that the shaving head is merely replaced when the 2 sheets have lost their edge.

The razor includes a deposit refillable in the form of container 8 that doubles as the handle of the Razor, this container having a shape generally flat rectangular enclosing a lower chamber with an inlet / discharge port 7 defined by a neck 9 (fig. 7) located at the upper end of the tank container and by means of which the container is connected so disposable, such as bayonet or screw type coupling threaded, to neck 10 of the razor. A part lower neck 10 of the razor forms a lid for cooperation with the neck 9 of the container and the part Top of the neck of the razor carries the nodule of shaving 1. The neck 10 of the razor is equipped with an elongated immersion tube 11 (figures 5 and 7) which is arranged to extend down through neck 9 of the container and substantially to the bottom of container 8 when It is attached to the neck 10 of the razor. Details Additional immersion tube are described below by doing reference to figures 8 and 9. The upper end of the tube immersion 11 communicates with a liquid delivery conduit 13 which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, is formed by a tube 14, but in the modified embodiment shown in Figure 7A a hole 17 through the neck 10 of the razor defines part of the fluid delivery conduit. The extreme waters down the delivery duct 13 is connected to an inlet pipe 15 on the shaving head. Inlet conduit 15 is formed in a collecting member 16 which is attached to the lower side of structure 3 of shaving head 1 and includes a receptacle 15a to which the end of the tube 14 is fixed and with which communicates the duct 15. The collecting member 16 extends to the length of the bottom side of guard 4, parallel with the leaves and next to the rear edge of the protective surface, as you can see in figure 4. Delivery manifold 16 defines a channel interior 16a and has a series of holes along its length separated that are aligned with openings 18 on the surface of protection. Thus, it will be understood that the fluid in the container 1 the conduit can be delivered by means of the immersion tube 11 delivery 13, delivery manifold 16 and openings 18 towards the protection surface, being the intention that such delivery should happen during the shaving process with the razor.  In the modified construction of Figure 7A, the delivery tube it opens within one of the recesses 6 of the protective strip 5 and in in this case there is no collector member, the tube 14 being connected to an opening in the protective structure.

At the beginning of the shaving procedure, the container 8 is disconnected from neck 10 of the razor shave and is filled with water to a depth that can be indicated by an appropriate mark on the container. One tablet 20 (figure 5) of a solid substance that makes contact with water effervescence to generate gas, preferably carbon dioxide and with water it forms a fluid that has a characteristic that makes it desirable for application to the skin during shaving, it is lowered inside the container 8 through the neck 9, and the container is reconnected immediately after to neck 10 of the razor to shave. The preferred gas generated by the substance includes a mixture of tartaric acid and / or citric acid with a carbonate salt of hydrogen, carbonate or sodium or potassium bicarbonate. The gas generated by the reaction of the substance of the tablet with water causes the pressure inside the chamber space to increase by above the water in the container and this pressure forces the fluid prepared, produced by the solid substance when mixed with the water, to flow through the immersion tube 11 and into the head shaving following the flow path described above. The quantities of gas generated and prepared fluid are sufficient to that continuous delivery takes place during a time taken to complete a shave with the razor, even if it you will appreciate that the amounts of carbon dioxide generated by the substance will depend on the volume of the container 8 and the amount of water destined to fill. In an essay, however, a container that has a capacity of 40 ml was filled with 30 ml of Water. Two tablets, weighing 0.3 g, were added to the water, the composition of each tablet being:

Hydrogen carbonate sodium 44% by weight Citric acid 36% in weigh Xanthum gum 15% in weight Polyox (lubricant) 5% in weight

The maximum pressure generated in the vessel that it was fixed with a 5mm hole ball valve in the tube immersion, was 4.1 Kpa (0.6 psi) and this pressure produced a Maximum average flow rate of 4.5 ml / min, and continuous flow of liquid from the vessel lasted an average of approximately 7 minutes

It will be understood that the procedure to fill the container 8 and add one tablet 20 will be repeated for each shaved off. If desired, the delivery line can be placed a valve to allow the user to control the delivery time and / or the speed of delivery of prepared fluid to the head of shave 1.

Like during shaving the razors of shaving are sometimes kept differently than the erect, the immersion tube 11 preferably incorporates an arrangement of valve to ensure that the prepared fluid is always discharged by gas pressure. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the immersion tube 11 has openings 23, 23 'next to its ends opposite to connect the inside of the tube with the inside of the container, these openings being controlled by valves respective 24, 25 ball. Each of the valves is actuated by gravity with ball 24, 25 moving under its own weight between the open and closed positions when the vessel is turned between erect and inverted orientations. When the container is erect (figure 8) the lower valve 24 is open because your ball has moved away from the valve seat 24a and the valve upper 25 is closed, because its ball is applied to the valve seat 25a and is held against the seat by the pressure in the vessel When the container is inverted (Figure 9), valve 25 is open and valve 24 is closed.  Thus, in both orientations that opening 23 or 23 'of tube of immersion that is open for fluid flow inside the tube immersion 11 is always immersed in the fluid inside the container 8.

Figures 10-12 illustrate a razor according to the invention which is generally similar to that described above but differs because the neck 10 of the Razor incorporates a dispenser 30 and a charger tablets The shape of the container 8 is adapted to define a port or neck opening facing forward, in which The bottom of the neck 10 of the razor can be connected detachable by any suitable means capable of establish a sealed connection between the neck 10 of the razor shaving and container 8. The bottom of the neck 10 of Razor incorporates the charger and dispenser 30 of tablets including a cylindrical housing 31, within the which receives a rotating member 32 that defines a series of gaps 34, five in number as shown, distributed in a circular arrangement and intended to receive respective tablets of solid substance to be mixed with water inside the container 8. Preferably, a guarantor system is provided for provide some control over the rotation of member 32 so that the holes 34 are easily presented in turn in a position to dispense the tablets contained within them inside the container. The tablet charger can be rechargeable to allow the holes to be filled with tablets after they have been emptied, or the member swivel can be replaceable to allow a member 32 empty be replaced by a similar but fully charged. Alternatively, the charger can be adapted to contain a sufficient number of tablets for such a number of shaves like the one that the razor blades of shave before dulling, and the charger and razor cartridge Shaving can be discarded and replaced together later, possibly as an individual unit or cartridge assembly and charger.

During the use of the razor of the Figures 10-12, the container 8 is separated from the neck 10 of the razor and refilled up to a certain level with water, after which the container 8 and the neck of Razor are reconnected. The rotating member 32 is then manually turned to carry a hole 34, which contains a compressed, to a rotating dispensing position in which the tablet 20 is deposited from the hollow inside the container in the one that mixes with the water to generate gas and produce a fluid prepared to be delivered to the shaving head 1. The fluid is led to the protective surface of the head of shaved in the same way as described above with respect to the realization of figures 1-9, namely, through of the immersion tube, the delivery conduit included in the neck of the razor, the delivery manifold arranged in the shaving head and openings 18 on the surface of protection. It will be appreciated that the charger and dispenser of tablets are shown only schematically and will be willing to so that the container is closed sealed after delivery a tablet inside the container, what is necessary to create the gas pressure necessary to discharge the fluid prepared in the tank container

Of course, modifications to the specific embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. TO by way of example, a valve may be included in the conduit 13 of fluid, between the container 8 and the shaving head 1, for allow the user to control when and / or the speed at which the fluid is going to be supplied to the shaving head.

Claims (14)

1. A razor that has a shaving head (1), which includes at least one blade (2) and a reservoir (8) to supply a fluid to be applied to the skin in relation to a shaving procedure , the fluid being discharged under pressure on or next to the shaving head (1), and the tank (8) being coupled to the shaving head (1) and including a chamber, characterized in that said chamber is adapted to contain water and a substance to prepare said fluid, the chamber can be filled with water, said reservoir includes at least one inlet and discharge port (7) to fill the chamber with water, to deliver, within the chamber, the substance to be mixed with water in the chamber to prepare the fluid to be applied to the skin and to discharge the fluid prepared from the chamber for application to the skin, and a dispensing device (30), incorporated in the razor, which can be operated to deliver a dose s predetermined of the substance inside the tank, it is arranged to contain a plurality of doses and in turn deliver the predetermined dose inside the tank (8), in which the fluid is discharged under pressure produced in the chamber by the generated gas when the substance is mixed with the water in the chamber. 2. A razor according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir (8) is a container arranged to form a razor handle. 3. A razor according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaving head (1) is supported in the container by a razor neck (10) that provides a delivery conduit for conducting fluid discharged from the chamber of the shaving head tank (1). 4. A razor according to claim 3, characterized in that the shaving head (1) is arranged so that the fluid is discharged in a position in front of the blade or blades (2) when they move through the skin during the shaved off. 5. A razor according to claim 4, characterized in that the fluid is discharged into a protective surface (4). A razor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said predetermined dose of substance is provided as a tablet (20) or contained in a water soluble capsule. A razor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dispensing device (30) includes a charger to contain predetermined doses of substance in the form of a tablet (20). 8. A razor according to claim 7, characterized in that each dose of substance is sufficient for a complete shave. 9. A razor according to claim 8, characterized in that the substance generates carbon dioxide when mixed with water. 10. A razor according to claim 9, characterized in that the substances include sodium bicarbonate. 11. A razor according to claim 9, characterized in that the substance includes tartaric acid and / or citric acid and at least one salt selected from the group including sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium hydrogen carbonate. 12. A razor according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the substance, in the mixture with water, produces a fluid with desired lubricating properties and / or moisturizing and / or fragrance properties and / or chemical treatment properties of the hair and / or medical or bacterial properties, and / or cleansing properties and / or blood clotting properties. 13. A razor according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that valve means (24, 25) are arranged to control the flow of fluid through the discharge port (7) through which the fluid flows from the reservoir. 14. A razor according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an immersion tube (11) is provided for the discharge of fluid from the reservoir (8), the immersion tube having a valve arrangement that allows the discharge of fluid through it with the reservoir kept well erect or inverted.