GB2086790A

GB2086790A - Safety razors

Info

Publication number: GB2086790A
Application number: GB8035996A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Priority date: 1980-11-10
Filing date: 1980-11-10
Publication date: 1982-05-19
Also published as: GB2086790B

Abstract

In a razor handle having pivot pins (10) for pivotally supporting a blade assembly and a spring loaded cam follower (14) for engaging the assembly, the pins (10) are formed on slide members (9) mounted in the handle for rectilinear movement towards and away from each other. Movement of the members (9) is effected through a wishbone spring (6) coupled to a push-button (4) operable to spread the arms of the wishbone spring and thereby effect separation of the slide members and pivot pins. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety razors This invention relates to safety razors in which a handle is constructed to receive a disposable blade assembly which is releasably mounted on the handle in a manner permitting limited pivotal movement of the assembly relative to the handle about a pivot axis extending parallel with the cutting edge or edges of the blade assembly.

A razor of this form is known from British Patent Specification 1523377, in which the blade assembly is engaged by a pair of pivot mounting means formed on respective bellcrank levers pivotable on the handle in a common plane which contains the pivot mounting means.

When a used blade is to be removed and discarded, the user operates a manual plunger which causes the levers to swing away from each other and also to press on the assembly.

The present invention provides a somewhat simplified construction in which the pivot mounting means are provided on respective slide members which are movable towards and away from each other in a straight line.

One form of razor handle in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the razor handle, with working parts in different operative positions and with a cover plate removed for the sake of illustration; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cover plate omitted from the first two views.

The razor handle comprises a grip portion 1 integral with a forwardly and upwardly angled head portion 2 to which the cover plate 3 is attached.

The head portion 2 is recessed to receive and locate a push button 4, a wishbone spring 6, a plunger 7 and plunger spring 8 and a pair of slides 9 received in transverse grooves 11 for sliding movement towards and away from each other in straight line. The slides carry respective pivot mounting pins 10 aligned with each other.

The wishbone spring 6 has at its centre a tail with an enlarged head 1 2 engaged in a recess in the push button 4 and the free end of each arm of the wishbone each has a barrel shaped enlargement to engage in a corresponding recess in a respective adjacent slide 9. In the operative condition shown in Fig. 1, the wishbone spring has a shape similar to its free ("as moulded") shape and holds the slides in their inner positions. In the second condition, shown in Fig. 2, the slides are at their outer positions of maximum separation, in which the arms of the wishbone are resiliently stressed apart.

To retain the wishbone arms in their stressed position, the head portion is provided with a pair of latching abutments 13, best seen in Fig. 1, whose forward edges are perpendicular to the general plane of the head portion, and which taper rearwardly to form respective ramp surfaces.

In the stressed condition of Fig. 2, the forward edges of the abutments engage behind the wishbone to prevent its springing back.

The plunger 7 has its forward end rounded to act as a cam follower 14 and is urged forwardly by the plunger spring 8. The tail of the plunger 7 is aligned with the gap between latching abutments 1 3 and is formed with a rearwardly tapering wedge portion 1 6 on its upper surface, whose function is described below.

In the condition shown in Fig. 1, the slides 9 pivot pins 10 are at their inner positions in which they can support a razor blade assembly for pivotal movement about the pivotal axis defined by the pins. The cam follower 14 is also positioned to engage a co-operating portion of a blade assembly in such a manner as to be displaceable inwardly, against the action of spring 8, to apply a restoring force to the blade assembly as it pivots away from a medial, neutral position. The razor handle shown is designed for use with razor blade assemblies of the form described and illustrated in British Patent Specification 1 523377 and 1523376.

When the assembly is to be discarded and replaced, the user presses the push button forwardly, to press on the rear portion of the wishbone, whose arms are constrained to move apart laterally by their engagement with the slides 9, which are concomitantly moved outwardly to withdraw the pins 10 from engagement with the blade assembly, which is given a small impulsion clear of the head by the spring 8 acting through the plunger 7.

In the last part of its forward movement, the central portion of the wishbone rides up the ramp surfaces of the abutments 1 3 and finally snaps down in front of its forward edges so as to be latched in its stressed condition.

To load a new blade assembly, the head is pressed against the underside of the assem bly, the cam follower 14 engaging and then being depressed by the cam formation. Rearward movement of the plunger causes the wedge portion 1 6 to engage under the wishbone spring and deflect it upwardly, sufficient to clear the abutments 1 3. The spring then snaps back to its original position (of Fig. 1) drawing the slides 9 towards each other for the pins 10 to engage the blade assembly.

Rocking movement of the wishbone spring as it rides over the abutments is accomoodated by the barrel shaping of the enlargements at the ends of the arms. The rear, central portion of the wishbone spring is resil iently biassed downwardly by a spring finger 1 9 formed in the cover plate 3, the spring yielding to permit the central portion to rise and recovering to return the wishbone spring to its normal level.

Claims

1. A safety razor handle constructed to receive a disposable blade assembly which is releasably mounted on the handle in a manner permitting limited pivotal movement of the assembly relative to the handle about a pivot axis extending parallel with the cutting edge or edges of the blade assembly, wherein the razor comprises pivot mounting means provided on respective slide members which are movable towards and away from each other in a straight line.

2. A razor handle according to claim 1 in which the pivot mounting means are formed as respective pivot pins extending parallel with the direction of movement of the slide members.

3. A razor handle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the handle is provided at its upper end with a head portion in which the slide members are guided, and which also houses spring means coupled to the slide members and operable to hold the slide members alternately in positions of maximum separation and minimum separation.

4. A razor handle according to claim 3, wherein the spring means comprises a unitary wishbone spring having divergent arms coupled at their free ends to the respective slide members and coupled at its centre to a manually operable push button which can be pushed forwardly to strain the arms laterally and thereby force the slide members away from each other.

5. A razor handle according to any preceding claim further comprising a spring loaded cam follower positioned between the slide members and having its line of action perpendicular to the said straight line.

6. A razor handle according to claim 5 when appended to claim 4, wherein the central portion of the wishbone spring is latched in its forward position, and the cam follower has a rearward extension operative to unlatch the spring when the cam follower is depressed against its spring load.

7. A razor handle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.