FR2491383A1 - Dual blade wet shaver - has distancing element between blades fitted between platform and clamping action-cap parts - Google Patents

Abstract

One blade (40) rests between a cap section (8) and a platform section (4). The cap section exerts a clamping pressure onto the blade assembly by its downwards sloping edge (34). The spacer element (50) has a protrusion (58) provided on either end. The platform section has a pair of leaf springs (26) moulded into the front part (12) of the shaver body. The spacer (50) has top and bottom locating projections engaging with corresponding perforations provided in the blades.

Description

 The present invention relates to wet type shaving systems and more specifically to an inexpensive wet type shaving device and very convenient handling.

 There is already known a housing having a platform and a cap intended to accommodate a blade device therebetween. U.S. Patent No. 1,195,259 shows a platform and a cap formed in a single metal leg, the cap covering the platform.

 We also know the coating of a blade in a shaving head formed of plastic and permanently attached to a handle or on the contrary removable from a handle so that it can be replaced by another. U.S. Patent No. 1,864,995 describes such an arrangement.

 United States Patent Nos. 3,703,764, 3,724,070 and 4,026,016 describe more recent examples of shaving heads formed from plastic and in which the blades are attached. Although these recent examples are extremely satisfactory, products of less expensive manufacture and having excellent functional characteristics, are however desirable and necessary.

 The combination of the simplicity of the device described in the aforementioned patent of the United States of America No. 1,195,259 and more recent shaving heads formed by blades coated in plastic material, allows significant savings and in addition allows the manufacture of a shaving head whose handling is more convenient and easier.

 As we realized that only the cutting edge of a razor blade was doing real work, we tried to reduce the width of the blades.

In most cartridge shaving heads, the blades are retained in plastic cartridges by passing plastic studs or pins through holes in the blades, and by forming heads on the pads. Although this process satisfactorily fulfills the intended function, the use of "rivets" of this type requires that the blade has a width of approximately 2.5 mm, so that the possible narrowness is greatly limited. For example, efforts have been devoted to the use of very narrow blades welded to a support such as a rigid metal wire, as described for example in United States patent No. 4,084,316. problems given the heat it requires and the effects of heating the metal on the blade.

 It should be noted that a shaving head construction allowing the use of blades of width less than 2.5 mm, but not subjecting the blades to harmful temperatures or other harmful conditions during manufacture, is thus desirable.

 A shaving head housing has a platform, a back protruding transversely from a longitudinal edge of the platform, a cap protruding from the back and covering the platform, branches protruding forward of the platform and ensuring the connection of a protective part, the platform having a series of aligned cavities adjacent to the back, the cap comprising a series of distant and aligned fingers, projecting forward, each finger being placed above one of the cavities, these cavities being separated by ribs from the platform, the ribs and the fingers being intended to accommodate and retain between them a blade device.

 The invention also relates to a shaving head comprising a platform, a back protruding from a longitudinal edge of the platform, a cap protruding from the back and covering the platform, end walls connecting the platform. form the cap at both ends, the platform, the back, the cap and the end walls being molded in a single piece of plastic material, the cap, when not under stress, tilts towards the platform, towards a first position, a blade device being permanently disposed between the cap and the platform, and being adjacent to the back, this blade device applying stresses to the cap and retaining the latter in a second position further from the platform than the first position, the cap thus exerting a clamping pressure on the blade device.

 The invention also relates to a shaving head which comprises a platform, a back projecting from a longitudinal edge of the platform, a cap projecting from the back and covering the platform, and a blade device intended to be permanently disposed between the cap and the platform, the cap being intended to exert a clamping pressure on the blade device, this comprising a first blade, a spacer and a second blade, the spacer being placed between the first and the second blade, the blades and the spacers being in abutment and being intended to be kept in contact by the clamping pressure but not being connected in any other way, the spacer having a tab which protrudes from its underside at near its two ends, the platform having two leaf springs molded in one piece and sufficiently flexible so that the legs can slide on them during the introduction of the blade device between the platform and the cap on, these springs being pushed elastically so that they come to engage on the legs by locking the spacer permanently in its position between the platform and the cap.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings; in which
- Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the housing according to the invention
- Figure 2 is a front elevation of the housing of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a section along the line
Figure III-III
- Figure 4 is a section along the line
Figure IV-IV
- Figure 5 is an exploded perspective of an example of a blade device
- Figure 6 is a plan view of an example of a shaving head according to the invention;
- Figure 7 is a front elevation of the shaving head of Figure 6
- Figure 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII of Figure 6
- Figure 9 is a side elevation of an example of a razor according to the invention;
- Figure 10 is a section similar to Figure 8, showing another embodiment of the invention
- Figure II is a plan view of a housing useful in one embodiment of the invention;
- Figures 12 and 13 are sections along lines XII-XII and XIII-XIII of Figure11;
- Figure 14 is a perspective of another example of blade device; and
- Figure 15 is a section through the plane identified by the line XV-XV in Figure 11, of the housing thereof and a blade device, in one embodiment of the shaving head according to the invention.

 The drawings and in particular Figures 1 to 4 show an example of a housing 2 having a platform 4. A back 6 protrudes from a longitudinal edge of the platform 4 and a cap 8 protrudes in front of the back 6 and covers the platform. The housing also includes branches 10 protruding downstream from the platform and joining a protective part 12 which is placed parallel to the back 6. The housing also has end walls 14, 16 connecting the back to the protective part, at the ends of the housing.

 The cap 8, when it is not under stress (Figures 3 and 4) tilts towards the platform 4, towards a first position. The cap is flexible enough to allow the housing of a blade device below it, this device putting the cap under stress so that this cap takes a second position (Figure 8) further from the platform than the first position. The cap therefore exerts a clamping pressure on the blade device.

 The cap 8 has a series of spaced and aligned fingers 18 which protrude forward. The platform has a series of aligned and spaced cavities 20, separated by ribs 22. As shown in FIG. 1, each finger 18 is placed above one of the cavities 20 and each rib 22 is aligned on a space delimited between two fingers 18.

 The entire housing and at least the platform, the back and the cap are molded in plastic in one piece. The fingers 18 are in fact leaf springs intended to flex so that they allow the accommodation of a blade device between the fingers and the platform and that they also push the blade device against an upper face 24 of the platform.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the end walls 14, 16 have protrusions 26 projecting inwards, one opposite the other, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The protrusions constitute an additional device blade device retainer. Each projection has a front face 28 projecting obliquely from the end wall on which it is mounted, towards a side face 30. A rear face 32 connects the rear edge of the side face to the surface of the end wall. The role and operation of the projections 26 are described in more detail later in this memo.

 Each finger 18 has a surface 34 intended to guide a blade device in the space or pocket formed by the platform, the back and the fingers. The fingers 18 are formed so that, while being directed forward, they are also slightly inclined downward as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or towards the surface 24 of the platform.

 FIG. 5 represents a blade device which can be used in the aforementioned case, and comprising a first blade 40 having a cutting edge 42 and a second narrower blade 44 having a cutting edge 46, the blades 40, 44 being fixed on either side of a spacer 50. The latter has an elongated central part 52 and end parts 54 protruding from a front edge 56 of the central part 52 and having notches 58 facing outwards and intended housing the projections 26. The notches 58 are partially delimited by extensions 60 each having a cam surface 62, an external surface 64 and a notch surface 66.

 During assembly, the blade device comprising the first blade 40, the spacer 50 and the second blade 44, is introduced between the fingers 18 and the upper face 24 of the ribs 22, the surfaces 34 for guiding the fingers pushing the device to blades in position while guiding it. The cam surface 62 cooperates with the front face 28 of the projection. A pressure applied continuously to the blade device releases the extensions 60 which can engage on the projections 26, the notches 58 coming to be placed around the projections 26 as shown in FIG. 6.

 The blades and the spacer of the blade device are held in position relative to each other only by the pressure exerted by the cap 8 and they are also not fixed to each other. There is no rivet connection device, and the width of the blade is not a primary factor, a very narrow blade, less than 2.5mm in width between the cutting edge and the edge rear, can be used.

 Figure 9 indicates that the housing may include a device for attachment to a razor handle. Although such a device may be of the grooved type described in the aforementioned United States patent No. 3,724,070 or the plain bearing described in the aforementioned United States patent No. 4,026,016, the housing comprises, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, a connection device 70 intended to cooperate with a razor handle or handle 80. This handle 80 can be of a type allowing permanent connection to the housing 2 or d '' a type allowing the selective assembly and disassembly of the shaving head and the handle.

 Figures to 13 of the drawings indicate that the boot maker shown 102 includes a platform 104.

A back 106 protrudes transversely from a longitudinal edge of the platform 104, and a cap 108 protrudes in front of the back 106 and covers the platform. The housing also has branches 110 protruding towards the front of the platform and connecting to a protective part 112 placed parallel to the back 106. The housing further comprises end walls 114, 116 connecting the back to the protective part, at the ends of the housing.

 The cap 108, in the absence of stress (Figure 2) tilts towards the platform 104 to a first position. The cap is flexible enough to allow the housing below it of a blade device which puts the cap under stress so that this cap takes a second position (Figure 15) further from the platform than the first position. The cap therefore exerts a clamping pressure on the blade device.

 The cap 108 may include a series of distant and aligned fingers 118 protruding forward.

The platform may have a series of distant and aligned cavities 120, these cavities being separated by ribs 122 from the platform. As shown in FIG. 11, each finger 118 is placed above one of the cavities 120 and each rib 122 is aligned with the space separating two of the fingers 1188
Preferably, the entire housing and at least the platform, the back and the cap, are formed from a plastic material molded in one piece. The fingers 118 in fact form leaf springs intended to flex so that they allow the accommodation of a blade device between the fingers and the platform, and they also have the role of pushing the blade device against a upper face 124 of the platform.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the protective part 112 has leaf springs 126 projecting outwards and molded in one piece with the protective part 112 The free ends of these leaf springs 126 each have an inclined surface 128 cam, an upper face 130 and a rear face 132, the latter being substantially perpendicular to the upper face 130 (FIG. 13).

 Each of the fingers 118 has a guide surface 134 (FIG. 12) intended to guide a blade device in the space or housing formed by the platform, the back and the fingers. As indicated above, the fingers 118 are made so that, while projecting forwards, they are also slightly directed downwards as indicated in FIG. 12 or towards the surface 124 of the platform.

 FIG. 14 indicates that a blade device which can be used with the aforementioned case comprises a first blade 140 having a cutting edge 142 and a second narrower blade 144 having a cutting edge 146, the blades 140 and 144 being placed on either side of a spacer 150. The latter has an elongated central part 152 and end parts 154 projecting in front of a front edge 156 of the central part 152.

The spacer 150 also has legs 158 protruding from its underside and aligned with the aforementioned leaf springs 126 with which they are intended to cooperate.

Each tab 158 has an inclined cam surface 160, a bottom surface 162 and a posterior surface 164, the latter being substantially perpendicular to the bottom face 162.

 The spacer 150 further preferably has upper and lower latches 166, 168, protruding from the upper and lower faces of the spacer. The upper tabs 166 are housed in holes 170 of the second blade 144 and the lower tabs 168 are similarly housed in openings 172 of the first blade 140. Each tab 166, 168 has a side 174 facing the rear and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spacer 150, the surface 174 being intended to cooperate with the rear wall of the hole 170 or of the opening 172 which corresponds to it.

 During assembly, the blade device comprising the first blade 140, the spacer 150 and the second blade 144, is introduced between the fingers 118 and the upper faces 124 of the ribs 122, the surfaces 134 guiding the blade device in position and repelling it.

When the assembly formed by the first and second blades 140, 144 is put in place, the surfaces 174 of the latches 166, 168 come into contact with the rear walls of the holes 170 and the openings 172 in which they are housed so that the he assembly is put in place with proper alignment. The spacer acts as a support for the blades. When the assembly comes into place, the legs 158 cooperate with the springs 126, the cam surfaces 160 being in contact with the cam surfaces 128 so that the springs are pushed down.

Continuous pressure applied to the leaf device causes the leaf springs 126 to move by the legs 158, the surfaces 130, 162 sliding against each other until each leaf spring engages by raising and blocking the tabs 158, the blade device thus being held in place, the surface 132 coming to rest against the surface 164 of the tab as indicated in FIG. 15.

 The blades and the spacer of the blade device are held in relative position by the pressure exerted by the cap 108 and the aforementioned device formed by the springs and the latches, but they are not fixed elsewhere. There is no connection to rivets, and it can be noted that the width of the blade is not a primary factor, a very narrow blade, less than 2.5 Iran in width between the cutting edge and the rear edge can be used.

 Those skilled in the art may note that the housing may include a device, not shown, allowing attachment to a razor handle. This device can be of the well-known type with groove described in the aforementioned patent of the United States of America No. 3,724,070 or of the well-known type with a smooth bearing described in the aforementioned patent of the United States of America No. 4,026 016. In a variant, a handle can be permanently connected to the housing 102, instead of a handle which can be assembled and disassembled selectively.

 Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described only by way of nonlimiting examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

1 shaving head, characterized in that it comprises a platform (104), a back (106) projecting transversely from a longitudinal edge of the platform, a cap (108) projecting from the back and disposed at- above the platform, end walls (114, 116) connecting the platform to the cap at both ends, the platform, the back, the cap and the end walls being made of molded plastic a single piece, the cap (108), when it is not subjected to stresses, tilting towards the platform (104), in a first position, and a blade device permanently disposed between the cap and the platform near the back, the blade device exerting stress on the cap (108) and keeping the latter in a second position further away from the platform than the first position, the cap thus exerting pressure tightening on the blade device.  2. Shaving head according to claim l, characterized in that the blade device comprises a first blade (140), a spacer (150) and a second blade (144), the spacer being placed between the first and the second blade, the blades and the spacers being in abutment and being held in contact by the clamping pressure but not being otherwise connected.  3. Shaving head according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the blades (140, 144) has a width less than 2.5 mm between its cutting edge and its rear edge. 4. Shaving head according to claim 2, characterized in that the spacer (150) has an elongated central portion (152) and end portions (154) projecting from a front edge of the central portion (152), the portions end projecting in front of the first and second blades 5 .Shaving head, characterized in that it comprises a platform (104), a back (106) projecting transversely from a longitudinal edge of the plate -form, a cap (108) protruding from the back and placed above the platform, and a blade device intended to be placed permanently between the cap and the platform, the cap. (108) being intended to exert a clamping pressure on the blade device, the latter comprising a first blade (140), a spacer (150), and a second blade (144), the spacer (150) being placed between the first and the second blade, the blades and the spacer being in abutment and being intended to be kept in contact by the clamping pressure but n not being otherwise connected, the spacer (150) having a tab (158) protruding from its underside near each of its ends, the platform (104) having two leaf springs (126) which are formed integrally with the platform by molding and which are flexible enough so that the tabs (158) can pass over the springs during the introduction of the leaf device between the platform and the cap, the springs then engaging upon contact lugs and thereby locking the spacer permanently in its position between the platform and the cap. 6. Shaving head according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacer (150) has upper and lower latches (166, 168) projecting from upper and lower faces, the first blade (140) having openings (172) intended to housing the lower tabs (168), and the second blade (144) having holes (170) for accommodating the upper tabs (166). 7 shaving head according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a protective part (112) connected to the platform (104) by branches protruding in front of the platform, and the leaf springs (126) protrude from the protective part towards the back.