GB2081165A - Razors - Google Patents

Abstract

A razor of the kind in which a shaving unit 10 can pivot relative to the handle in response to the pressures which result when the unit contacts the skin during shaving comprises a handle having, at the end adjacent the shaving unit, two cantilever leaf springs 11n, 11p which contact the shaving unit, one or other of the springs being deflected as pivoting occurs. Consequently, when the shaving unit is removed from the skin the leaf springs ensure that the shaving unit is restored to a non- deflected position. The shaving unit can be supported by outwardly directed arms on opposite sides of the leaf springs, the arms being provided with pivots which engage in recesses in the shaving unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Razors This invention relates to razors. More particularly, the invention relates to razors of the kind in which the portion of the razor which carries the razor blade, or razor blades, can pivot (or rock) relative to the handle in response to the pressures which resuit when that portion of the razor contacts the skin during shaving.

One possible construction of razor in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the handle of the razor from above and showing one side and the back, Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below showing the other side and the front of the handle, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper portion only of the handle, Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 3, Fig, 5 is a plan view of the handle, Fig. 6 is an underside view of a shaving unit for use with the handle, Fig. 7 is a view of the head of the handle taken along the line VIl-Vil in Fig. 5, and with a sectional view of the shaving unit taken along the line VIl-Vil in Fig. 6, shown adjacent, but not secured to, the head of the handle, Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the shaving unit secured to the head of the handle, Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but with the leading edge of the shaving unit tilted downwards, whilst, Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but with the leading edge of the shaving unit tilted upwardly.

This construction of razor is designed to be disposable, that is to say the complete razor is thrown away when the user decides that he is no longer obtaining a satisfactory shave. The razor is designed to incorporate a shaving unit 10 of well known kind in which one or more razor blades 15, 1 5 are mounted (in this case two blades), a guard surface 1 Od which contacts the skin during shaving being provided for the cutting edge or cutting edges of the, or each blade 1 5.

The underside of the shaving unit 10 has two webs 1 0a, 1 Oa which each have recesses in their outwardly facing surface which form bearing surfaces, each of which is engaged by a pivot, as described hereafter.

The remainder of the razor consists of a handle 11 which has two side walls 11 a, 11 b, a central rear wall 1 C from which extend forwardly two inner walls 11 d, lie (Fig. 5) which lie in planes parallel to the planes in which the side walls ii a, 1 b lie, and two front walls 1 1 f, ii g which, at the front of the bandle, unite side wall 1 a with inner wall lid and side wall 1 b with inner wall 11 e, respectively.The front walls 11 f, 1 g and the side walls 1 1 a, 1 ib are grooved to facilitate gripping of the handle.

Each side wall 11 a, 1 1 b has a forwardly directed extension which at its forward end supports a transverse arm 1 h, 1 ljrespectively.

The outer end of each arm 11 h, 1 it, is provided with a forwardly extending projection 1 1 k, 11 m which turns inwardly to form pivots 1 kl, 1 ml respectively. Each pivot ilks, 1 ill engages in one of the recesses in the webs 1 Oa, 1 Oa (one recess 1 0a1 can be seen in Fig. 7) to retain the shaving unit 10 on the handle 11, whilst allowing it to swivel about the axis of the pivots 11 kl, 1 imi.Also provided at the forward end of each forwardly directed extension of the side walls 1 1 a, 1 1b is a cantilever leaf spring 1 1 n, lip having a short end lug 1 Inl, 1 ipl which is substantially perpendicular to the leaf spring 1 1 n, 1 1p. The leaf spring 1 ln lies above the leaf spring 1 lp (Fig. 4) and the lug 1 lnl is directed upwardly and forwardly (Fig. 3) whilst the lug 1 ill extends forwardly.The lengths of the leaf springs 1 n, lip are such that the lug 1 lnl lies on one side of a centrally located web lOb (Fig. 6) provided on the underside of the shaving unit 10 whilst the lug 1 lpl lies on the opposite side of web lOb.

When the shaving unit 10 is applied to the face the shaving unit can pivot (or rock) relative to the handle 11 about the axis of pivots 11k1, 1 ill, in response to the pressures applied to the shaving unit when it is in contact with the skin. In the static position (Fig. 8) the end of lug 1 nl is in contact with the underside of the shaving unit 10 whilst the end of lug 1 lpl is in contact with the lower end of the rear wall 1 Oc of the rinsing slot 1 Oe in the shaving unit. When the pressure applied to the shaving unit during shaving is such that the leading edge of the shaving unit tilts downwards, lug 1 ill is deflected rearwardly as shown in Fig. 9.Consequently, when this pressure is removed the restoring force of the leaf spring 1 lip returns the shaving unit to the static position of Fig. 8. Likewise, pressure applied to the shaving unit such that its leading edge is tilted upwardly (Fig. 10) causes the lug 11 n1 and leaf spring 1 n to be deflected downwardly, thereby ensuring return of the shaving unit to the Fig. 8 position when the pressure is removed.

The whole of the razor, with the exception of the shaving unit, may be a one-piece moulding in plastic, for example a medium impact polystyrene such as that sold by Stirling Thermoplastics Ltd.

under Type No. ST 73.

It will be seen that the invention provides a simple construction for a razor in which the blade(s) can pivot according to the pressures applied during shaving. Although described for a disposable razor it will be appreciated that the principles of construction can be used in razors where the shaving unit is replaceable when no longer fit for use.

Claims

1. A handle for a razor of the kind specified, comprising first and second springs, the first spring being adapted to be acted upon when a razor blade or blades carried by the handle is tilted

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

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Razors This invention relates to razors. More particularly, the invention relates to razors of the kind in which the portion of the razor which carries the razor blade, or razor blades, can pivot (or rock) relative to the handle in response to the pressures which resuit when that portion of the razor contacts the skin during shaving. One possible construction of razor in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the handle of the razor from above and showing one side and the back, Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below showing the other side and the front of the handle, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper portion only of the handle, Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 3, Fig, 5 is a plan view of the handle, Fig. 6 is an underside view of a shaving unit for use with the handle, Fig. 7 is a view of the head of the handle taken along the line VIl-Vil in Fig. 5, and with a sectional view of the shaving unit taken along the line VIl-Vil in Fig. 6, shown adjacent, but not secured to, the head of the handle, Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the shaving unit secured to the head of the handle, Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but with the leading edge of the shaving unit tilted downwards, whilst, Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but with the leading edge of the shaving unit tilted upwardly. This construction of razor is designed to be disposable, that is to say the complete razor is thrown away when the user decides that he is no longer obtaining a satisfactory shave. The razor is designed to incorporate a shaving unit 10 of well known kind in which one or more razor blades 15, 1 5 are mounted (in this case two blades), a guard surface 1 Od which contacts the skin during shaving being provided for the cutting edge or cutting edges of the, or each blade 1 5. The underside of the shaving unit 10 has two webs 1 0a, 1 Oa which each have recesses in their outwardly facing surface which form bearing surfaces, each of which is engaged by a pivot, as described hereafter. The remainder of the razor consists of a handle 11 which has two side walls 11 a, 11 b, a central rear wall 1 C from which extend forwardly two inner walls 11 d, lie (Fig. 5) which lie in planes parallel to the planes in which the side walls ii a, 1 b lie, and two front walls 1 1 f, ii g which, at the front of the bandle, unite side wall 1 a with inner wall lid and side wall 1 b with inner wall 11 e, respectively.The front walls 11 f, 1 g and the side walls 1 1 a, 1 ib are grooved to facilitate gripping of the handle. Each side wall 11 a, 1 1 b has a forwardly directed extension which at its forward end supports a transverse arm 1 h, 1 ljrespectively. The outer end of each arm 11 h, 1 it, is provided with a forwardly extending projection 1 1 k, 11 m which turns inwardly to form pivots 1 kl, 1 ml respectively. Each pivot ilks, 1 ill engages in one of the recesses in the webs 1 Oa, 1 Oa (one recess 1 0a1 can be seen in Fig. 7) to retain the shaving unit 10 on the handle 11, whilst allowing it to swivel about the axis of the pivots 11 kl, 1 imi.Also provided at the forward end of each forwardly directed extension of the side walls 1 1 a, 1 1b is a cantilever leaf spring 1 1 n, lip having a short end lug 1 Inl, 1 ipl which is substantially perpendicular to the leaf spring 1 1 n, 1 1p. The leaf spring 1 ln lies above the leaf spring 1 lp (Fig. 4) and the lug 1 lnl is directed upwardly and forwardly (Fig. 3) whilst the lug 1 ill extends forwardly.The lengths of the leaf springs 1 n, lip are such that the lug 1 lnl lies on one side of a centrally located web lOb (Fig. 6) provided on the underside of the shaving unit 10 whilst the lug 1 lpl lies on the opposite side of web lOb. When the shaving unit 10 is applied to the face the shaving unit can pivot (or rock) relative to the handle 11 about the axis of pivots 11k1, 1 ill, in response to the pressures applied to the shaving unit when it is in contact with the skin. In the static position (Fig. 8) the end of lug 1 nl is in contact with the underside of the shaving unit 10 whilst the end of lug 1 lpl is in contact with the lower end of the rear wall 1 Oc of the rinsing slot 1 Oe in the shaving unit. When the pressure applied to the shaving unit during shaving is such that the leading edge of the shaving unit tilts downwards, lug 1 ill is deflected rearwardly as shown in Fig. 9.Consequently, when this pressure is removed the restoring force of the leaf spring 1 lip returns the shaving unit to the static position of Fig. 8. Likewise, pressure applied to the shaving unit such that its leading edge is tilted upwardly (Fig. 10) causes the lug 11 n1 and leaf spring 1 n to be deflected downwardly, thereby ensuring return of the shaving unit to the Fig. 8 position when the pressure is removed. The whole of the razor, with the exception of the shaving unit, may be a one-piece moulding in plastic, for example a medium impact polystyrene such as that sold by Stirling Thermoplastics Ltd. under Type No. ST 73. It will be seen that the invention provides a simple construction for a razor in which the blade(s) can pivot according to the pressures applied during shaving. Although described for a disposable razor it will be appreciated that the principles of construction can be used in razors where the shaving unit is replaceable when no longer fit for use. Claims

1. A handle for a razor of the kind specified, comprising first and second springs, the first spring being adapted to be acted upon when a razor blade or blades carried by the handle is tilted in one direction in response to pressure applied during shaving, whereby said first spring restores said blade or blades to a static position after removal of the pressure, and the second spring being adapted to be acted upon when the razor blade or blades is tilted in a direction different from said one direction in response to pressure applied during shaving, whereby said second spring restores said blade or blades to said static position after removal of the pressure which caused said second spring to be acted upon.

2. A handle according to claim 1, comprising two pivots each adapted to engage in a respective recess in a shaving unit in which said blade or blades are mounted, whereby said shaving unit can tilt on said pivots in response to pressures applied during shaving.

3. A handle according to claim 2, comprising two transverse arms extending transversely in opposite directions from the upper end of said handle, each arm having a forwardly extending projection which at its forward end carried a respective one of said pivots.

4. A handle according to claim 3, wherein said handle is a plastic moulding and said transverse arms, said forwardly extending projections and said pivots are an integral part of the moudling.

5. A handle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle is a plastic moulding and said springs are an integral part of the moulding.

6. A handle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said springs are cantilever leaf springs.

7. A handle according to claim 6, wherein said leaf springs each have a lug at their free end, one lug being adapted to engage the shaving unit on one side of the axis about which the shaving unit can pivot under the pressures applied during shaving, and the other lug being adapted to engage the shaving unit on the other side of said axis.

8. A handle for a razor of the kind specified substantially as described herein.

9. A handle according to any one of the preceding claims, having a shaving unit carried thereby.