GB2319464A - Reservoir shaving brush - Google Patents

Abstract

A reservoir shaving brush has a bristled brush head releasably attached to a bellows, containing shaving lather, which may be compressed to supply lather to the bristles.

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION.

SHAvING BRUSH SYSTEM.

This invention relates to a Shaving Brush System.

It is a matter of record that the field of reservoir shaving brushes is a well worked area by inventors. It is also a matter of record that I have also previously worked on inventions in this field; most notably in my application number GB 9310040.2.

In the specification of my above application I identified, for the first time by anyone working in this field, that it is important to have some correlation between the dispensing method and the shaving lather; for a system to be truly effective. In my application number GS 9310040.2 I made various claims for a shaving brush system which included a claim for a shaving brush with a reservoir in combination with or for use with an interrelated flowable material suitable for use as a shaving lather.

In the specification of my application number GB 9310040.2 a number of dispensing methods were described and specific details were provided on how to formulate a suitable lather. I am quite satisfied that I can rely on my prior art as valid and novel work in the field. However I have since conceived a significant improvement to the dispensing method of this type of shaving brush system details of which are described below.

One object of this present invention is to optimise a low cost method of dispensing the lather from the reservoir into the brush. A further objective of this present invention is to create an integrated shaving brush system that resembles a conventional shaving brush but which has the practical benefits inherent in the specification described herein.

Hitherto dispensing methods have been quite complex mechanical devices or as in my own prior work, relatively simple deformable reservoirs. The simplicity of a deformable reservoir is an ideal solution in terms of cost, but it is a difficult art to get right given the general aesthetics and ergonomics required in such a personal item of use.

There are some practical difficulties with deformable reservoirs, particularly over relatively modest temperature ranges. For example a deformable reservoir made of plastic is much more difficult to squeeze at say 5 degrees Celcius when the plastic can become quite rigid than at say 25 degrees Celcius when the plastic can be quite pliable. Also the general requirement to have to invert the reservoir, prior to deforming the reservoir, is a disadvantage in use.

According to the present invention a significant improvement to the dispensing method is achieved by the use of a collapsible bellows type reservoir to form the handle of the shaving brush The benefits of bellows type reservoirs, the subject of this invention and as described herein include: a) the bellows reservoir is designed to collapse vertically allowing the contents of the reservoir to be fully dispensed. When the bellows is operated it causes forward pressure that allows the user to very easily inject lather into the brush. This contrasts significantly with previous deformable reservoirs that would be squeezed by pressure on the side walls.

b) after the reservoir has been collapsed, it is designed to expand again to regain its original size and shape to form a useful handle.

c) the design of the reservoir is such that it can collapse and regain its shape sufficient times to last for the useful life of the reservoir and its contents.

d) the 'corrugated' walls allow the user to grip the reservoir handle firmly without the risk of dispensing yet more lather, whilst using the lather previously injected into the brush.

e) The bellows type cartridge can act as an ergonomic pump and the user can pump lather into the brush as the cartridge empties. It would be quite possible to apply the bellows principle to a reservoir that would collapse through the horizontal plane. This form of bellows configuration is less preferable but would still show an improvement over a conventional deformable reservoir.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig t shows a bellows type cartridge.

Fig 2A shows a side view of a screw thread cap for attachment to the bellows type cartridge.

Fig 2B shows the plan view of the screw thread cap illustrating the hole in the cap into which the brush head is inserted.

Fig 2C shows a cross-section of the screw thread cap.

Fig 3 shows a shaving brush knot set in a carrier ferrule.

Fig 4 shows a cross section of the plug that is used to seal the system.

Referring to the drawings the shaving brush system comprises a bellows type cartridge Fig. 1 filled with a flowable material suitable for a shaving lather 18. The bellows type cartridge has a flat part to the base 16 that allows the unit to be stood upright and an internal return section 17 that assists the lather to be fully dispensed. It further comprises a screw thread neck 19 for the attachment and detachment of the screw thread cap shown in Fig 2C. The cartridge has collapsible corrugated walls 20 to allow the cartridge to function in a bellows fashion.

The brush knot 12 is made from natural hog bristle set in a housing 13 secured by a fast setting resin based glue 14. A channel 15 is formed through the resin based glue to allow the shaving lather to be injected from the bellows into the brush.

The brush knot 12 secured in its housing 13 is a push fit into the screw thread cap hole 22 Fig 2B - plan view and hole 23 Fig 2C - section view.

On the internal circumference of hole 23 Fig 2C there is moulded a raised ring section 24 with a leading edge on its upper surface. This moulded raised ring is designed to compress under the pressure of inserting the bristle housing 13 and its purpose is to take up tolerance differences between the diameter of the cap hole 23 Fig 2C and the brush housing 13. It is by this means that the brush is secured in the carrier cap without any additional secondary means such as glue. The brush bristle housing may have a complementary raised section 11 Fig 3 with a leading edge on its underside to allow a one way push fit that locks once engaged.

Once assembled the whole system is sealed a) by engaging the top of the neck of the cartridge 21, fig 1 with the underside of the cap 2E, Fig 2C under pressure by the screw thread means of both parts and b) by insertion of the plug Fig 4 into the underside of the hole 23 Fig 2C.

The plug Fig 4 is a removable plug that can be removed to allow the user to activate the system. This can be re-inserted to re-seal the system for transportation. The plug Fig 4 has a concentric ring 28 around its circumference to provide a snug fit within the hole 23 on the underside of the screw thread cap Fig 2C.

Once in active mode it is a simple matter to inject lather into the brush. The user can either place the reservoir handle on a flat surface and push down or; with the index finger and middle finger either side of the brush, resting on the cap, and with the thumb on the base of the reservoir, flex the hand to collapse the bellows and thus inject lather into the brush.

Either way the lather can be injected into the brush in a measured manner, whilst the brush is in an upright position, a distinct improvement over earlier deformable reservoirs.

The system is designed as a replacement cartridge system.

Hence once the shaving lather in the bellows cartridge Fig 1 has been fully expended it is a simple matter to unscrew the cap Fig 2A. The cap Fig 28 has finger grips 27 to assist the user to release the cap from the reservoir. The cap Fig SA will during normal use have the brush head Fig 3 in situ and the combined item can be unscrewed, transferred and screwed on to a new full cartridge.

For commonality the same screw cap in Figs 2, 2B and 2C can be used for the refill replacement cartridges. When used for the refill replacement cartridge the plug Fig 4 has been designed to fit into the top side of the cap Figs 2a, 28 and 2C to close off the cap during distribution. The concentric ring 28 around the circumference of the plug Fig 4 provides a snug fit in the top side of the screw thread cap Figs 2S - 2C to seal the refill cartridge.

After the attachment of the combined cap and brush unit to a new refill cartridge unit the refill cartridge cap will no longer be required although the plug part could be removed as a standby to re-seal the master system The preferred lather is a lather similar to the lather described in my application No GB 9310040.2.

This combination of the collapsible bellows type cartridge with the viscosity controlled lather provides a low cost system with optimum user control. This system is very tactile and one which each individual user can adapt to their own style of use with reliable, repeatable results

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS.

   Shaving Brush System.

   APPLICATION NUMBER GB 9624066.8 REF: JAE/SBSIBEL I Claim:1 A shaving brush system comprising a shaving brush having a bristled brush head in combination with a collapsible reservoir.
2. 2 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 1 in combination with a flowable material for use as a shaving lather.
3. 3 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the brush head can be releasably attached to the reservoir.
4. 4 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 1 incorporating removable seal means to close off the supply of shaving lather between the reservoir and brush head.
5. 5 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the bristled brush head is a push fit into the carrier cap.
6. 6 A shaving brush system as daimed in Claim 1 whereby the carrier cap has a compressable internal ring for gripping the brush ferrule.
7. 7 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 2 whereby the reservoir has a raised internal return section in its base.
8. 8 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 3 whereby the brush head carrier cap is releasably attached to the reservoir by screw thread means.
9. 9 A shaving brush system as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the brush head is made from a natural bristle.
10. 10 A shaving brush system substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.