KR100487499B1 - Shaving system with improved protection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The shaving system includes a housing 10, one or more blades 2 and 3 mounted to the housing, a cap 6 located behind the blades in the housing, and a guard located in front of the blades in the housing. A structure (4), wherein the protective structure comprises a plurality of flexible skin engagement protrusions (26) that engage the skin of the user in front of the blade and a shaving aid to the skin behind the flexible skin engagement protrusions And a water filtration shaving aid composite 24 positioned for the purpose.

Description

Shaving system with improved protection structure

The present invention relates to shaving systems with improved protection structures.

In replaceable shaving cartridges and disposable razors, one or more blades are secured to the plastic housing. The surface in front of the blade is known as a guard and the surface behind the blade is known as a cap.

The protector has a structure that engages the skin at the front of the blade to spread the skin, the cap is configured to slide over the skin, and in some cases has a water filtration lubrication strip. International Publication No. WO 96/01171, incorporated herein by reference, describes various types of protection, caps, and blades in blade assemblies. For example, US Pat. No. 5.249.361, issued to April, discloses an upper skin joint of an elastic material having a plurality of upwardly projecting protrusions, and a lower base portion of a rigid plastic material fixed to a cartridge housing. Member shaped protection structures are described.

Other protection structures are described in US Pat. No. 5.191.712 issued to Crook and US Pat. No. 5.056.222 issued to Miller, which shaving cartridges are located in front of the blade and between the metal webs. And a spring piece metal housing member embedded with a water filtration material exposed and having a skin tension structure at another location of the metal housing member.

1 is a perspective view of a shaving system in which an improved protection structure according to the invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the protector structure of the shaving system of FIG.

3 to 5 are vertical cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the protection structure for the shaving system of FIG.

6-8 are vertical cross-sectional views of the cartridge in another alternative embodiment of the guard structure.

According to a feature of the invention, the shaving system comprises a housing, at least one blade mounted to the housing, a cap behind the blade on the housing, and a protection in front of the blade on the housing. This protection structure includes a flexible skin engagement protrusion that engages the user's skin in front of the blade and a water filtration shaving aid composite disposed to dispense the shaving aid to the skin behind the flexible skin engagement protrusion. Thus, the shaving aid is well dispensed in front of the blade without compromising the likelihood of engagement with the flexible skin engagement bulge and the user's skin.

In a preferred embodiment, the protection structure includes a rear stop member that forms a blade exposure for the first blade. Flexible skin-bonding protrusions generally take the form of flexible fins that extend parallel to the blades. The water filtration shaving aid composite includes a skin contact surface that extends without blocking the length of the blade, and the fin extends above this skin contact surface. Water filtration shaving aid composites include water-soluble and water-insoluble polymers that provide shaving aids. Such shaving aids are skin lubricants and other additives may also be provided if desired.

The protector structure includes a rigid base that is secured to the housing, and a flexible skin engaging protrusion (preferably 휜) is mounted on the rigid base. Water filtration shaving aid composites are also mounted on a rigid base. The rear stop member may also be mounted on the rigid base, formed of the same components as the rigid base or the housing, and formed of the same material as the flexible material part or of the same material as a part of the flexible material part. The rigid base, the flexible material part, and the rear stop member are molded and extruded from each other, or fixed together after being separated. The water filtration shaving aid composite may be secured to a rigid base or flexible material component or housing by adhesive or mechanical interconnect. In addition, the protective structure can be produced by tricolor molding or tricolor extrusion.

Optionally, the water filtration shaving aid can be obtained in a cavity in the protective structure, the protective structure including a channel extending from the shaving aid to a position behind the flexible skin engaging protrusion. Other protrusions may also be used, for example fin segments positioned at different angles to the blade or nub.

The flexible material part may be an elastomeric material such as rubber (e.g. natural rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, styrene butadiene rubber) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) [e.g. styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) TPE, styrene ethylene Butadiene styrene (SEBS), polyester TPE, polyamide TPE, polyurethane urethane TPE, polyolefin based TPE, mixtures of these TPEs]. Rigid bases are made of thermoplastic materials such as, for example, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, noryl, or nylon.

The blade is a spring piece and the cartridge is pivotally mounted relative to the handle.

In a preferred embodiment, the water filtration shaving aid is mounted directly to the housing. In some preferred embodiments, a rear stop member is provided that is mounted directly to the housing, which may be integrally formed with the housing or two-color molded with the housing. The flexible skin engaging protrusion is connected directly to the housing by two color injection molding.

According to another feature of the invention, the shaving system comprises a housing, one or more blades mounted to the housing, a cap behind the blade on the housing, and a protection in front of the blade on the housing. This protection structure includes a first water filtration shaving aid composite and the cap includes a second water filtration shaving aid composite. The first and second water filtration shaving aid composites have first and second wear indicators. The first and second wear indicators have different rates of appearance change as a function of use.

Embodiments of the present invention have one or more of the following advantages. Additional amounts of shaving aids are provided to the skin. In addition, embodiments of the present invention reduce the cut, improve the adhesion and lubricity, and also improve the comfort. In addition, when the razor is positioned to face the wet counter downward, there is less tendency for the guard structure to stick to the counter surface.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a razor cartridge 1. Conventional razor blade cartridges of this type are widely sold. The cartridge 10 comprises a rigid plastic housing 10 composed of one or more spring pieces of blades 2, 3 and a lower base member 8 and two end units 5, 5 ′. Base member 8 includes an arch surface 9 which provides a cell for supporting a pivot connection to a handle (not shown) along with other structures on the base.

The blade is supported on a spring or other movable member, ie a member that allows the blade edge to match the outer shape of the surface. The guard structure 4 is in front of the first blade 2 and the cap 6 is behind the second blade 3. The cap 6 is a shaving aid component comprising a water-insoluble polymer matrix (high impact polystyrene) and a water soluble shaving aid (polyethylene oxide) that filters out the composite to enhance comfort during shaving.

In FIG. 2, the protection structure 4 comprises a part 20 made of a flexible material, a rigid base 22 made of rigid plastic, and a water filtration shaving aid composite mounted on the base 22. And a rear stop member 28 mounted on the base 22. The part 20 has three parallel flexible jabs 26 extending in front of the top surface of the shaving aid composite 36 to engage the skin of the shaver. The rear stop member 28 provides a fixed criterion to form a desired posture with respect to the front blade 2. The rear stop member 28 may be made of the same material as the part 20, or may be made integrally with the same material as the base 20.

The water filtration shaving aid composite 24 is positioned between the fin 26 and the rear stop member 28 and is secured to the base 22 by an adhesive. The parts 20, 28 are molded on the base member 22 by injection molding. The base member 22 anchors the protector structure 4 to the base member 8 of the housing and may comprise, for example, an interlocking structure described in US Pat. No. 5.249.361, which is incorporated herein by reference. .

3 shows another protection structure 30. This structure includes a flexible fin component 32 mounted in front of the base 34 and a water filtration shaving aid composite 36 mounted at the rear of the base 34. The composite 36 is fixed to the base 34 by an adhesive, and the fin 32 is fixed to the base 34 by molding. The flexible fin 32 has three fins 38 extending over the top surface of the shaving aid composite 36.

In FIG. 4, the protection structure 40 includes a flexible component 42, a rigid base 44, a water filtration shaving aid composite 46, and a rear stop member 50. The flexible part 42 includes three flexible shocks 48 in front of it. The rear stop member 50 forms four first blades 2. The water filtration shaving compound 46 includes an enlarged bottom 52 that anchors to the recess 54 in the rigid base 44. The recess 54 has a narrow opening that allows the enlarged bottom portion 52 to be fixed to the recess 54 by mechanical interlocking. The rear stop member 50 may be made of the same material as the part 42 or may be made of the same material integrally with the rigid base 44.

In the protection structure 50 of FIG. 5, the water filtration shaving aid composite 52 is included in the cavity 54 of the rear stop member 55, and the channel 56 is a flexible skin bond from the shaving aid composite. Extends to the rear position of 58; US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 497.194, filed June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference, describes the form and materials used for the cavity and channel. The structure 50 includes a rigid base member 60 and a flexible material component 62 comprising the fin. The rear stop member 55 may be made of the same material as the part 62, or may be made of the same material integrally with the rigid base.

The elastomeric protrusions have shapes and sizes other than those described in US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 497.194, which is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the protuberances take the form of chopped segments or nubs oriented at different angles to the blade, for example in a herringbone or checkered Western board pattern. The protrusions may take the form of spaced fin segments arranged in rows parallel to the blades or spaced fin segments arranged perpendicular to or parallel to the blades.

The rigid bases 22, 24, 44, 60 may be made of thermoplastic materials such as, for example, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyurethane, nylon, and noryl. Can be. The flexible parts 20, 32, 42 may be thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) or rubbers (e.g. natural rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, styrene butadiene rubber), styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) TPE, styrene ylene butadiene styrene (SEBS) TPE (eg Kraton), polyester TPE (eg Hitrel), polyamide TPE (Pebox), polyurethane TPE, polyolefin based TPE, and such TPE (eg Poly Ester / SEBS mixture).

The shaving aid composites 24, 36, 46, 52 comprise a matrix of water insoluble polymers and skin lubricity water soluble polymers dispersed within the matrix. Optionally, the shaving aid composite may include an outer shell of the insoluble polymer (eg, the cavity forming the composite of FIG. 5) surrounding the core comprising the skin lubricating water soluble polymer.

Suitable water-insoluble polymers that can be used in the matrix (or sheath) are polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, butadiene-styrene copolymers (eg, high and medium impact polystyrenes), polyacetals, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene airborne Copolymers, mixtures of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers and polypropylene / polystyrene, and the like, most high impact polystyrenes (eg, polystyrene-butadiene) such as Mobil 4324 (Mobil Corporation).

Suitable skin lubricating water soluble polymers include polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl imidazoline, and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate. Better water soluble polymers are generally polyethylene oxides known as POLYOX (Union Carbide Corporation) or ALKOX (Mesei Chemical Works, Kyoto, Japan). Such polyetherene oxides have a molecular weight of about 100,000 to 6,000,000, suitably 3,000,000 to 5,000,000. The best polyethylene oxides are from about 40 to 80% of polyethylene oxides having an average molecular weight of 5 million (e.g. POLYOX COAGULANT) and from about 60 to 80% of polyethylene oxides having an average molecular weight of 3 million (e.g. POLYOX WSR-N-750). 20% of the mixture. The polyethylene oxide mixture contains up to 10% by weight low molecular weight (eg MW <10,000) polyethylene glycol, such as PEG-100.

Shaving aid composites include low molecular weight water soluble release enhancers such as cyclodextrins, polyethylene glycols (e.g., 1-10% by weight), and water-swellable release enhancers (e.g., 2-7 wt. ), Encapsulating complexes of skin sedatives with colorants, antioxidants, preservatives, fungicides, beard softeners, astringents, hair loss agents, conditioning agents, coolants and the like.

Preferred examples include a rigid base of polypropylene, flexible parts of TPE base SEBS useful in Kraton G trade designations or C-Flex trade designations, 35% high impact polystyrene, 55% polyethylene oxide, 10% Shaving aid composites of polyethylene glycol.

The guard structure can be produced by two color injection molding. The rigid base of polypropylene is first molded to a molding temperature of about 200-230 ° C., and the SEBS base TPE® composite is molded on polypropylene around 200-230 ° C. Shaving aid composites are prepared by extruding a polypropylene oxide (PEO) mixture using Haake HBI system 90 under typical processing conditions.

Optionally, three composites (or two of the three composites) may be prepared by coextrusion, or may be separately prepared and fixed together with an adhesive.

In use, the flexible shock (26, 38, 48, 58) first combines with the user's skin to spread the skin and pull the short beard. The flexible shock penetrates the skin, pulls the beard away from the pores, and repeatedly grips and releases the short beard to support the beard at the lower point with each contact. The flexible shock additionally acts as a squeegee to remove excess fluid on the surface, providing a satisfactory touch.

The shaving aid composites 24, 36, 46, 52 lubricate the stretched skin and short beard before cutting with the blades. The shaving aid composites 24, 36, 46 vary in shape and wear with repeated use. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the rear stop members 28, 50 are mounted on the first blade irrespective of the shape change of the shaving aid composite 24 or 46 which may be generated by repeated use. It provides a permanent surface that forms an exposure.

Shaving systems with improved protection structures as described above reduce cuts, improve adhesion and lubricity, and improve comfort. In addition, when the razor is positioned to face the wet counter downward, there is less tendency for the guard structure to stick to the counter surface. The extra fill flow material allows additional fill flow material to be used.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following examples of protective structure, each material and its amount and other conditions not limiting the present invention.

Example

The guard structure is made of a support of rigid polypropylene (Amoco propene 7635), a flexible shock and rear stop SEBS (GLS) Elastalloy 6545, and a shaving aid composite of the following PEO mixture.

Polyethylene oxide

(Union Carbide Polyox N750) 22%

Polyethylene oxide

(Union carbide polyox coagulant) 33%

High Impact Polystyrene

(Mobil HIPS 4324) 33%

Polyethylene glycol

(Dow PEG 4500) 33%

Other additives 2%

Two-color injection molding devices are used to make rigid supports, flexible shocks and flexible rear stops. The polypropylene portion is first molded, and then the jab and flexible rear stop member are molded on the polypropylene support. The molding temperature of the polypropylene is about 200-230 ° C and the molding temperature of SEBS is 200-220 ° C. The PEO mixture is extruded into the required form at 180-200 ° C. using a Haake HBI system 90 extruder. The extruded PEO mixture is cut to the required length and the shaving aid composite member is secured to the molding.

Other embodiments of the invention are also included in the claims.

For example, in FIG. 6, the razor cartridge 100 includes a housing 102 mounted to the protector structure 104, first and second spring flap blades 106 and 108, and a cap lubrication strip ( 110). The protector structure 104 includes a rigid base 112 anchored to the housing 162 and a flexible skin-engaging protrusion 114 mounted on the base 112. Water filtration shaving aid composite 116 and rear stop member 118 are mounted on base 112. The rear stop member 118 forms a blade exposure to the first blade 106 on the cartridge.

In Figures 7 and 8, each razor cartridge 120, 122 has a housing 124 mounted on a respective guard structure 126, 127, and first and second spring pieced blades 106, 108 and cap lubrication strip 110. Each protection structure 126, 127 includes an anterior support 128 of the housing 124 and a shock member 130 mounted on the base 131. The fin member 130 is coextruded with the base 131. Optionally, the base 130 may be integrally formed as part of the portion 128 of the housing 124, and the fin member 130 may be two-color molded with the housing 124. Each protector structure 126, 127 includes a water filtration shaving aid composite 132 mounted to the housing portion 128. The guard structure 126 (FIG. 7) also includes a rear stop member 134 mounted to the housing portion 128 and forming a blade exposure to the first blade 106 on the cartridge. Optionally, the rear stop member 134 may be manufactured as part of the portion 128, in which case it will be rigid and may also be made of the same material as the fin member 130, in which case the rear stop member 134 ) And the fin member 130 are molded in two colors.

In the illustrated embodiment, the water filtration shaving aid composite at the front of the blade and the water filtration shaving aid composite at the back of the blade each include first and second color usage indicators that modify appearance in use, wherein the first and second color usage are used. Indicators have different rates of appearance change as a function of this use. US Pat. Nos. 3.879.844 and 5.340.581 and International Patent Applications WO 96/04112 and WO 96/01172, incorporated herein by reference, describe such color usage indicators. This is well used to create a window or range of time that the user should consider when assembling the cartridge.

Claims (18)

The housing 10, One or more blades 2, 3 mounted to the housing, A cap 6 located behind the blades 2, 3 in the housing 10; A protection structure (4) located in front of the blades (2, 3) in the housing (10), The protection structure 4 comprises a plurality of flexible skin engaging protrusions 26 which engage the skin of the user in front of the blades 2, 3, and at the front of the at least one blade and at the rear of the flexible skin engaging protrusions. And a water filtration shaving aid composite (24, 46, 116, 132) positioned to dispense the shaving aid to the skin. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) the water filtration shaving aid composite comprises a skin contact surface extending without blocking the length of the one or more blades; (b) the water filtration shaving aid composite comprises a water-insoluble polymer and a water soluble polymer providing the shaving aid; (c) the water filtration shaving aid composite includes a skin contacting surface extending without blocking the length of the one or more blades, the flexible skin-bonding protrusion extending over the water filtration shaving aid composite; (d) the water filtration shaving aid extends within the cavity of the protector structure, the protector structure including a channel extending from the shaving aid to a position behind the flexible skin engagement protrusion; (e) the water filtration shaving aid composite includes a skin contact surface extending without blocking the length of the one or more blades, wherein the flexible skin engagement protrusion extends over the water filtration shaving aid composite and is parallel to one blade Include an extended flexible shock; or (f) said at least one blade is spring biased. 2. The shaving system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible skin engaging protrusion comprises a flexible shock (26) extending parallel to the blades (2, 3). 4. The shaving system of claim 3, wherein the shavings are provided in shaving segments oriented at different angles with respect to the blade. 4. The shaving system of claim 3, wherein the flexible skin-binding protrusions take a pattern that provides a skin spreading effect. 2. The protective part structure (4) according to claim 1, wherein the protection structure (4) comprises a rigid base (34) seated in a housing, the flexible skin engaging protrusion (20) being mounted on a flexible material component (20) mounted on the rigid base. Shaving system, characterized in that located. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein (a) the water filtration shaving aid composite is mounted on the rigid base and extends without blocking the length of the one or more blades and includes a skin contact surface located behind the flexible skin engagement protrusion. ; (b) the flexible skin engagement protrusion is located on a flexible material part having the same portion extending over the length of one or more blades, wherein the rigid base and the flexible material part are coextruded; (c) the flexible skin-bonding protrusion is located on a flexible material part molded with a rigid base; (d) the flexible skin engagement protrusion is located on a flexible material component adhesively fixed to the rigid base; (e) a water filtration shaving aid composite is adhesively fixed to the rigid base; or and (f) said water filtration shaving aid composite is fixed by mechanical interconnection. 7. The shaving system of claim 1 or 6, wherein said water filtration shaving aid is mounted directly to the housing. 2. The shaving system of claim 1, wherein said flexible skin engaging protrusion is connected directly to the housing by two-color injection molding. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more blades include a first blade positioned immediately behind the guard structure, the guard structure being rear mounted to the housing. A shaving system, characterized in that it further comprises a stop member. The method of claim 6, wherein (a) the rear stop member is two-color injection molded and is made of the same material as the protrusion; or and (b) the rear stop member is made of the same plastic as the housing and integrally formed with the housing. 2. The shaving system of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a second water filtration shaving aid composite (110) positioned to dispense the shaving aid to the skin behind one or more blades. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein (a) the first and second water filtration shaving aid composites comprise respective first and second usage indicators; or (b) The first and second water filtration shaving aid composites comprise respective first and second usage indicators having different usage indicators. 9. The shaving system of claim 8, wherein the flexible skin engaging protrusion is directly connected to the housing by two-color injection molding. 9. The shaving of claim 8 wherein said at least one blade comprises a first blade located immediately behind the guard structure, said guard structure further comprising a rear stop member mounted to said housing. system. 10. The shaving of claim 9, wherein said at least one blade comprises a first blade positioned immediately behind said guard structure, said guard structure further comprising a rear stop member mounted to said housing. system. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein (a) the rear stop member is two-color injection molded and is made of the same material as the protrusion; or and (b) the rear stop member is made of the same plastic as the housing and integrally formed with the housing. The method of claim 16, wherein (a) the rear stop member is two-color injection molded and is made of the same material as the protrusion; or and (b) the rear stop member is made of the same plastic as the housing and integrally formed with the housing.