GB1565415A

GB1565415A - Safety razors

Info

Publication number: GB1565415A
Application number: GB930977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Priority date: 1978-01-25
Filing date: 1978-01-25
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Description

(54) SAFETY RAZORS (71) We, THE GILLETTE COMPANY, a Company organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America of Prudential Tower Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to safety razors and provides a razor in which provision is made for protection of the cutting edge or edges of the blade or blades during periods of non-use, without the use of a separate cover a shield.

More particularly, the invention provides a safety razor comprising a handle and a shaving head including one or more blade members, the shaving head being mounted on the handle for reciprocating movement between two predetermined positions, namely an operative position, and a storage position in which the cutting edge of the blade member or of each and everyone of the blade members is shielded against potential contact.

In the presently preferred form of razor in accordance with the invention, the head is pivotally mounted on the handle for movement between its two positions about an axis extending parallel with the blade edge or edges and fixed relative to the handle.

This form of razor is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a scrap perspective view, partly broken away, showing the head in its operative position; and Figure 2 is a scrap perspective view showing the head in its storage position.

The razor shown in the drawings comprises a handle 1 and a shaving head 2. The handle, which is conveniently formed as a plastics moulding, has a transverse upper yoke portion presenting a transverse rear wall 3 and opposed end lugs 4 each formed with blind holes 5 (see the broken away portion of Figure 1) and with a detent recess 6 (Figure 2) in its inner surface. The upper portion of the handle is bifurcated by a longitudinal slot 7.

The shaving head 2 comprises a moulding presenting guard and cap -portions 8 and 9 bridging end walls 10. In the space between the guard and cap portions is mounted a pair of single edged blades 11 arranged to operate in tandem upon the skin of the user. The blades are conveniently formed as narrow steel strips each sharpened at one edge only and stiffened by a narrow support to which the blade is secured along its length as by spot or projection welding.

The ends of the blade support are embedded in slots in the end walls 10 of the head.

The outer surfaces of the end walls 10 are provided with integral trunnions 12 engaged in the holes 5 (Figure 1) and with detent pips for engaging in the detent recesses 6 (Figure 2) to retain the head in the storage position.

The rear edge of the cap portion 9 has a finger tab 13 which, in the operative position of the head is frictionally engaged in the slot 7 to hold the head in its operative position, but projects sufficiently to permit the user to pivot the head into the storage position at will.

Bifurcation of the handle gives a degree of resilient separation of the upper handle portions to provide for assembly of the head in the handle and retention of the head in each of its position of adjustment.

The illustrated razor can be manufactured sufficiently cheaply to be regarded as disposable as a whole when the cutting edges are dulled, but it would obviously be possible to provide for replacement of the head only, keeping the handle for continuous use.

Alternatively the invention is applicable to razors in which the head remains permanently associated with its handle, and only the blade or blades are discarded and replaced.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A safety razor comprising a handle and a shaving head including one or more blade members, the shaving head being mounted on the handle for reciprocating movement between two predetermined positions, namely an operative position. and a storage position in which the cutting edge of the blade member (or of each and everyone of the blade members) is shielded against potential contact by a portion of the handle.

2. A safety razor according to claim 1.

in which the shaving head is mounted for pivotal movement on the handle about an axis which is parallel with the blade edge or edges and which is fixed relative to the handle.

3. A safety razor according to claim I or 2, in which the shaving head comprises a guard member for engaging the skin ahead of the blade edge or edges and a cap member for engaging the skin behind the blade edge or edges.

4. A safety razor according to claim 3, wherein the handle has an elongate transverse portion at its upper end, the opposite ends of the transverse portion providing mountings for the shaving head.

5. A safety razor according to claim 4, wherein the upper end portion of the handle is bifurcated by a medial slot.

6. A safety razor according to claim 5 in which the shaving head is provided with a projecting tab which is frictionally engaged in the slot to hold the head in its operative position, a projecting portion of the tab being accessible to permit manual displacement of the head to its storage position.

7. A safety razor according to claim 5 or 6 in which the handle is formed of resilient material, the said slot rendering the ends of the transverse portion resiliently separable for assembly of the shaving head in the handle.

8. A safety razor according to any one of claims 3 to 7, including detent means for retaining the shaving head in its storage position.

9. A safety razor according to any preceding claim in which the shaving head is separable from the handle to permit its replacement by a fresh shaving head.

10. A safety razor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to razors in which the head remains permanently associated with its handle, and only the blade or blades are discarded and replaced. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A safety razor comprising a handle and a shaving head including one or more blade members, the shaving head being mounted on the handle for reciprocating movement between two predetermined positions, namely an operative position. and a storage position in which the cutting edge of the blade member (or of each and everyone of the blade members) is shielded against potential contact by a portion of the handle.

2. A safety razor according to claim 1.