GB2437358A

GB2437358A - Razor cartridge tray with variable force of attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2437358A
Application number: GB0607434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Richard Hesketh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-13
Filing date: 2006-04-13
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: GB0607434D0

Abstract

Tray 5 engages razor cartridges or magazines 4, 6 with a force which can be varied by applying a force to the tray 5. Preferably the engagement is provided by a flexible cantilever 10 pip 11 which can enter a hole in the cartridge 4, 6. Preferably the retention force is increased by the user pinching the outer surfaces of the tray 5.

Description

I

RAZOR CARTRIDGE RETENTION FOR SHAVING DEVICE

HAVING MULTIPLE RAZOR BLADES

The present invention pertains in general to razor cartridge retention for shaving devices having multiple razor blades.

Modern shaving devices commonly have one or more blades retained within a cartridge that is mounted upon a handle. This cartridge may be detachably mounted to the handle, enabling replacement of a used cartridge. Many configurations for the method of mounting the cartridge to the handle exist, but typically there is a hand operable polymeric spring clip at the connection end of the handle that is used to detachably retain the cartridge.

The cartridge is typically composed of a plastic housing into which are mounted one or more razor blades. A cartridge with multiple razor blades usually presents a repetitive material, shape and finish of the cutting edge of each of the blades, these being essentially parallel to the direction of shaving and at a distance from each other. The said plastic housing is usually comprised of a seat portion to which the blade(s) is mounted, and a clip engagement portion for mating to the said clip at the connection end of the handle. The seat portion may be composed of a flexible structure to enable the razor blade(s) to accommodate their position against the surface being shaved, the razor blade(s) thus being movable lying in the blade plane.

A characteristic of shaving devices with multiple razor blades is that the first blade contacted during shaving action has the primary cutting action work, this is generally of a greater abrasive load than the blade(s) af of it that consequently has a lesser amount of abrasive work. The first blade therefore generally wears with use at a greater rate than the blade(s) that are seated aft of it. As the first blade progressively wears then the user is subject to an accumulating degradation in the thoroughness and smoothness of shaving, as a consequence, the user eventually selects to replace the whole cartridge. This defines a typical lifecycle of a cartridge in the modern razor with multiple razor blades, from a new cartndge to a used worn cartridge.

A disadvantage of the prior art for shaving devices with multiple razor blades is where the first razor blade has worn beyond satisfactory use and the razor blade(s) aft of it have remained comparatively usable, but there is no provision made for first blade substitution with a used, though lesser worn blade afi of it, or for replacement of part of the blade set, such as the first blade with a new un-used blade whilst retaining the rest of the blade set for use.

An invention, having Patent Serial Number GB241 1141 provides a multiple blade razor that improves over or overcomes the disadvantage of the prior art noted above by providing a shaving device having multiple razor blades where the shaving component is an assembly of two or more detachable and physically interchangeable razor cartridges with each razor cartridge having at least one razor blade.

The present invention is to provide a novel means by which the two or more detachable and physically interchangeable razor cartridges may be loaded on and off the end of the razor handle and into and out off a cartridge tray without the need for direct user contact with the cartridges.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a three quarter view of a razor as for Patent GB2411141 having two cartridges that is situated above the Cartridge Tray in which may be held used and new cartridges.

Figure 2 is a top view of Cartridge Support into which two cartridges may be fitted.

Figure 3 is an above view of Cai-tndge Support into which two cartridges may be fitted.

Figure 4 is a three quarter view of the Cartridge Tray in which may be held used and new cartridges Figure 5 is a detail view of a clip portion of the Cartridge Tray.

Figure 6 is a three quarter view of the underside of the Cartridge.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the clip parts of the Cartridge.

Figure 8 is an above view of a razor cartridge mounted in the front location of the cartridge support tray.

Figure 9 is section view of a razor cartridge mounted in the front location of the cartridge support tray.

Figure 10 is an above view of two razor cartridges mounted in the cartridge support tray thereby forming a complete assembly of razor cartridges.

Figure 1 shows how a shaving device having multiple razor blades 1 according to the Patent 0B2411141 that may be composed of a handle 2 with a connection end 3 of the handle 2 to which attaches the assembly of two razor cartridges 4. The shaving device having multiple razor blades us situated above the Cartridge Tray 5 into which may be loaded several Cartridge 6 that may be of used or new condition.

Figure 2 shows the Cartridge Support 7 and a Support To Cartridge Clip 8.

Figure 3 shows a U Bend 9 of the Cartridge Support 7 Figure 4 shows the Cartridge Tray 5 and Figure 5 shows detail of the Finger 10 and the Domed Pip 11. In this embodiment of the invention the Domed Pip 1 lengages with suitably shaped hole in the side of the Cartridge 6 to retain the Cartridge 6 in the Cartridge Tray 5, the arrangement being on both sides of the Cartridge 6 functioning in a pincer like action. The Finger 10 is a flexible stubby cantilever, given it is manufactured from a suitable polymer this Finger 10 provide a sprung characteristic to the Domed Pip 11.

Figure 6 shows a Cartridge 6 and the detail view Figure 7 shows features of the clip elements of the invention. The hole Hole 12 in the side of the Cartridge 6, is suitably shaped to engage with the Domed Pip 1 las shown in Figure 5. Ramp 13 and Void 14 are elements of the clip arrangement that holds the Cartridge 6 to the Cartridge Support 7.

Figure 8 shows the Cartridge 6 clipped onto the Cartridge Support 7.

Figure 9 is a cross section of the Cartridge 6 clipped onto the Cartridge Support 7. This shows how the Ramp 13 has provided a path and guide for the Support To Cartridge Clip 8 as shown in Figure 2 to run over it such that it shall clip into the Void 14.

Referring to Figure 10 the Cartridge 6 is retained in the Cartridge Tray 5 by way of the pincer like action of the Domed Pip 11 engaging with the hole Hole 12 on both sides of the Cartridge 6. By aligning and then pressing the Cartridge Support 7 onto the Cartridge 6 whilst they are in the Cartridge Tray 5 another clip engagement takes place with the Support To Cartridge Clip 8 clipping into the Void 14. Because of the rounded form of the Domed Pip 1 lupward movement of the Cartridge Support 7, for example by pulling up on the razor Handle 2, will cause the Cartridge 6 to preferentially disengage with the Cartridge Tray 5.

When the opposite action is required, this being to fit a Cartridge 6 from the Cartridge Support 7 into the Cartridge Tray 5, a stronger engagement of the Domed Pip 11 is required. This is provided by the user hand pinching the outer surfaces of the sides of the Cartridge Tray 5, thus iocaliy pressing in on both sides the Finger 10 parts and hence making this clip portion strength now dominant over the engagement strength of the Support To Cartridge Clip 8. Upward movement of the Cartridge Support 7 whilst maintaining the hand pinch will then leave behind the Cartridge 6 in the Cartridge Tray 5.

Conceivably the Domed Pip 11 may be any shape that provides a readily disengaged clip attachment between the Cartridge 6 and the Cartridge Tray 5, similarly the male and female portions may be interchanged and the action of the clip may be outwards as well as inwards.

Conceivably the Support To Cartridge Clip 8 may be any shape that provides a disengage able clip action between the Cartridge 6 and the Cartridge Support 7 with the provision that the engagement force must be inherently stronger than that of the Cartridge 6 to the Cartridge Tray 5 except in the instance when an additional force is exerted by the user on the engagement force between the Cartridge 6 to the Cartridge Tray 5.

Claims

CLAIMS

I A razor cartridge retention device in which razor cartridges are engaged into a razor cartridge tray, the strength of the tray engagement being variable by user applied force on said razor cartridge tray such that the user may select to load said razor cartridge from said razor cartridge tray to a razor handle when making the tray engagement force weaker than that between said razor cartridge and said razor handle or alternatively loading said razor cartridge from said razor handle to said razor cartridge tray when the said tray engagement force is stronger than that between said razor cartridge and said razor handle.

2. A razor cartridge retention device as claimed in Claim I where the said tray engagement is provided by flexible cantilever pip from the tray locating into a hole in the said razor cartridge.

3. A razor cartridge retention device as claimed in Claim 2 where the pip and hole portions may be interchanged between said flexible cantilever and said razor cartridge.

4. A razor cartridge retention device as claimed in Claim 4 where the said razor cartridge to said razor handle engagement is provide by disengage able cartridge clip action between said razor cartridge and cartridge support.

5. A razor cartridge retention device as claimed in any preceding claim where the said support to said cartridge clip may be any shape that provides disengage able cartridge clip action 6 A razor cartridge retention device as claimed in any preceding claim where the said pip and hole portions may be any shape that provides user variable tray engagement force.

7. A razor cartridge retention device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures ito 10 of the accompanying drawings. *.S. * * a... a... a.. S.. S. S

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