GB2147535A

GB2147535A - Razor with sliding cover having integral actuator

Info

Publication number: GB2147535A
Application number: GB8326951A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claude L Miserez
Original assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Current assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Priority date: 1983-10-05
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1985-05-15
Also published as: NL187791B; FR2553328A1; SE8305158D0; NL187791C; GB2147535B; SE8305158L; AU1939283A; AU562791B2; SE442718B; CA1213429A; GB8326951D0; DE3335120A1; BE897924A; FR2553328B1; NL8303301A; DE3335120C2

Abstract

A disposable razor having a sliding cover 13 for protecting and exposing blade edges 19,21, selectively, with a manually operable cover actuator 14 moulded integrally with the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Razor with sliding cover having integral actuator The present invention relates to razors and relates in particular to razors which are fitted with a movable, permanently attached blade cover which is movable selectively to expose or cover razor blade edges as desired.

Examples of razors of this type are disclosed and claimed in copending Patent Applications Nos. 8041188, 8213409, and 8235584.

Application No. 8041188 shows a cover 1 4 which makes a permanent but sliding connection with a blade support or seat 1 8 which is movable from a closed position in which blade edges are protected to an open position in which the blade edges are exposed properly for wet shaving.

Application No. 8213409 shows a cover 14 making a similar connection with a razor body or blade support. Its distinguishing feature is a lever system supported pivotally in the razor handle and makes a driving connection with the cover so that the cover is movable from the closed to the open position by manipulation of the lever in "one-hand" fashion.

Application No. 8235584 shows an improved cover manipulator in the form of a slide or actuator 21 mounted in a track 1 7 in the razor handle. The slide makes a flexible connection with the cover so that motion of the slide along the track moves the cover along its track.

The use of the terms "blades", "blade package", "blade edge" or "blade cutting edges" in this specification is intended to include one or more blades each having a cutting edge.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a sliding permanently attached blade cover which includes a cover actuating lever moulded integrally with the cover to define with the cover a single piecepart.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a razor of the above configuration including a handle where the lever is formed with a rocker arm or walking" pivot operable to find a fulcrum upon and "walk" along the razor handle.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a disposable razor having a sliding cover including a cover actuator which is of uncomplicated design and which is complementary to high-speed mass production, systems necessary to achieve commercial success in the disposable razor market.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a blade package for a razor having a blade cover operable selectively to protect and expose the cutting edges of the blade or blades in said blade package, and a cover actuator formed integrally with the cover defining with the cover a single piecepart.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a disposable razor comprising a blade package as defined above and a handle, said actuator being normally in contact with said handle while said blade package is protected by said cover, said handle providing a fulcrum for said actuator, said actuator being operable to rotate about said fulcrum and along said handle to develop sufficient mechanical advantage to move the cover to expose the blade package for wet shaving.

Reference is now made to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the back side of a low cost disposable razor illustrating the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of the razor of Fig. 1 as viewed in the plane represented by the line 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows showing the blade cover in the closed position; Figure 3, in perspective, is similar to Fig. 2 showing the cover in the open or operative position; Figure 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 3 as viewed in the plane represented by the line 4-4 showing the disposition of razor elements, in detail, when the razor unit is closed; Figure 5 is similar to Fig. 4 showing the cover actuator in the operative position and the cover "open" with the blade package exposed properly for wet shaving; and Figure 6 is similar to Fig. 5 showing the cover in the open position with the actuator in the "relaxed" position.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a low cost disposable razor having a handle 11, a blade support or razor body 12, a sliding blade cover or cap 1 3 and a cover actuator 1 4.

The exterior side view of the razor z Fig. 2 shows the cover 1 3 with integrally attached actuator 1 4 defining a lever 1 6 and "walking" rocker arm or pivot 1 7 in contact with the handle 11 at 1 8. The illustration of Fig. 2 shows the cover 1 3 in the "closed position (blades protected) and the handle 11 providing a fulcrum for the lever.

Fig. 3 shows the cover "open" with the blade edges 1 9 and 21 exposed properly for wet shaving. Note that the lever 1 6 is in a "relaxed" condition and the arm or pivot 1 7 is spaced from the handle 11. (See also Fig.

6).

Figs. 4 through 6 shows the disposition of piece-parts in the closed, open, and relaxed positions in greater detail.

In Fig. 4, the cover 1 3 is closed and blade edges 19 and 21 are protected.

Arm 1 7 is in contact with handle 11 with operating tab 22 of lever 1 6 poised for manual depression (rotation) in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 shows (in solid lines) the disposition of razor elements immediately after manual depression or rotation of tab 22 with the razor open and the blade edges-properly exposed for wet shaving.

Note that the arm 17, in finding a fulcrum upon handle 11, has also "walked" down the handle a distance represented by the space between the fulcrum point at the closed position (dotted line) and the fulcrum point at the open position (solid line).

Fig. 6 shows the razor open and the cover actuator 14 relaxed in that the lever 1 6 and the arm 17, by virtue of the elastic memory of the material from which the cover-actuator piece-part was fabricated, are spaced from the handle 11.

Assuming that the cover 1 3 is in the closed position of Fig. 4, depression of tab 22 will cause arm 1 7 to rotate about handle 11 with the result that lever 1 6 moves cover 1 3 in the direction of arrow to the open position as shown in Fig. 5 to expose blades 19 and 21 properly for wet shaving.

During the manipulation of the tab 22 about the handle 11, the fulcrum about which arm 1 7 rotates tends to migrate a short distance along the handle usually in a downward direction from the dotted line position of Fig.

5 to the solid line position thereof.

Upon release of the tab 22, the lever 1 6 assumes a relaxed position as disclosed in Fig.

6.

When it is desired to close the razor, one merely applies pressure with an appropriate digit (manually) at the point indicated by the reference numeral 23 of Fig. 6 to move the cover 1 3 to the closed position i.e., until the arm 1 7 abuts the handle 11.

It is to be noted that the manipulation of the cover 1 3 (opening and closing) by means of the present invention is accomplished in "one-hand" fashion.

Claims

1. A blade package for a razor having a blade cover operable selectively to protect and expose the cutting edges of the blade or blades in said blade package, and a cover actuator formed integrally with the cover defining with the cover a single piece-part.

2. A disposable razor comprising a blade package according to Claim 1 and a handle, said actuator being normally in contact with said handle while said blade package is protected by said cover, said handle providing a fulcrum for said actuator, said actuator being operable to rotate about said fulcrum and along said handle to develop sufficient mechanical advantage to move the cover to expose the blade package for wet shaving.

3. A razor according to Claim 2 in which the cover actuator defines a lever having a rocker arm in contact with said handle when the blade cover is protecting the blade package.

4. A razor according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the cover actuator is formed with arm operating tab.

5. A disposable razor including a blade package and a handle of the type having a permanently connected sliding blade cover operable to protect and expose the cutting edges of the blade or blades in the blade package selectively, a lever moulded integrally with the cover defining with the cover a single piece-part, said lever being moulded with a rocker arm normally in releasable contact with said handle while said blade package is protected by said cover, said lever being flexible relative to said cover and operable to rotate about and to travel along said handle developing sufficient mechanical advantage to move the lever and thus the cover to expose the blade cutting edge or edges for wet shaveing.

6. A disposable razor including a blade package and a handle of the type having a permanently connected sliding blade cover operable to protect and expose the cutting edges of the blade or blades in the blade package selectively, a lever formed integrally with the cover defining with the cover a single piece-part, said lever being formed with a rocker arm normally in contact with said handle defining a fulcrum while said blade package is protected, said lever being flexible relative to said cover and being further formed with a manually operable tab depressible to rotate said rocker arm about said fulcrum and along said handle to develop sufficient mechanical advantage to move the lever and thus the cover to expose the blade cutting edge or edges for wet shaving, after exposure of the blade package and after release of the tab the lever, by virtue of its inherent elastic memory, being operable to move out of contact with the handle automatically.

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