MXPA01001771A - Applying fluid preparations to the skin, e.g. in connection with shaving - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety razor has a handle formed by a refillable container (8). After filling with water a tablet (20) containing a carbon dioxide gas generating substance is added to the water and the gas pressure is used to deliver liquid from the container to the underside of the razor blade unit (1). The tablet also includes a substance which upon being mixed with water produces a fluid which may have desirable properties for application to the skin during shaving, such as lubrication, moisturising, applying a fragrance, chemical treatment of hairs, bacterial or medicinal treatment of the skin and/or blood coagulation. The container (8) can be equipped with a dispenser (30) operable to deliver tablets into the water filled container.

Description

APPLICATION OF SKIN FLUID PREPARATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE IN RELATION TO SHAVING DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with the field of preparing fluids for application to the skin such as in connection with shaving and in particular the so-called " wet shaving "during the process in which a razor with one or more sharp cutting edges is moved on the skin to cut hairs projecting from the skin. It is usual to apply to the skin a preparation, such as a shaving soap, which can be applied by means of a brush, shaving foam or shaving gel to improve the conditions of real shaving. The need to prepare the skin in this manner as part of the overall shaving procedure is an inconvenience and adds significantly to the time required to consummate a satisfactory shave. With the above disadvantages in mind, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a fluid to be applied to the skin, for example in connection with a shaving procedure, comprising filling a refillable container with water and add to the water a substance that generates gas and that produces the fluid after mixing with the water, seal the container after the addition of the substance by Ref: 127156 which generated gas pressurizes the interior of the container to deliver the container fluid for application to the skin. According to another aspect, the invention provides a system for preparing a fluid to be applied to the skin, for example in connection with a shaving process, comprising a refillable container having at least one inlet and a discharge orifice for fill the container with water, to distribute to the container a dose of a substance for mixing with water in the container and to discharge the liquid content by gas pressure inside the container and a dose of substance for addition to the water and which after the mixture with the water generates gas and produces a fluid prepared for application to the skin, the container is arranged so that the gas generated by the dose of substance that is mixed with water in it pressurizes the container and distributes the fluid prepared through of the discharge hole for application to the skin. It is possible that a single hole provides the three functions of filling the container with water, introduction of the dose of substance and discharge of the prepared fluid or a hole can serve for two of these functions while a second hole serves for the performance of the third . Alternatively, respective holes could be provided for filling with water, addition of the substance and discharge of the fluid content. A valve means may be provided in a fluid discharge passage in order to control the distribution of fluid prepared from the container. The fluid prepared conveniently is discharged by means of a dip tube that extends to the vessel and the dip tube can be equipped with a valve arrangement that allows the discharge of the fluid prepared with the vessel held either vertically or in an inverted orientation . The method and system for preparing a fluid according to the invention can be advantageously used in connection with a shaving procedure to prepare a fluid and deliver the fluid to the skin before, during or subsequent to actual shaving. The invention is especially convenient for distributing a fluid that is applied to the skin by means of the razor itself and in accordance with a further aspect of the invention provides a machine or razor comprising a shaving head which includes less a sheet and a container to supply fluid to be applied to the skin during shaving and a substance that, when mixed with water generates a gas and produces the fluid to be applied to the skin, the container is coupled to the shaving head and comprises a chamber refillable with water and at least one inlet opening and a discharge orifice to fill the chamber with water, to deliver the substance to the chamber for mixing with water in the chamber. the chamber for preparing the fluid to be applied to the skin and for discharging the preparation fluid from the chamber for application to the skin, the fluid is discharged at or adjacent to the shaving head under pressure produced in the chamber by the gas generated when the substance is mixed with the water in the chamber. There have been previous proposals to include a pressurized container in a razor handle structure for distributing shaving foam, examples of such constructions are described in U.S. Patent 5,337,478, O-A-97/18065 and EP-A-0505630. The containers used in these razors are of the type that are pressurized in the factory at the time of manufacture. Razors have also been proposed in which the liquid is discharged from a container under severity during shaving, examples of such shaving machines are described in US Patents A-4,238,882, US-A-4,074,429 and British Patent GB- A-2266854. GB-A-690828 discloses a razor with a refillable container which is pressurized by a piston operated by a spring or a manually operated air pump and GB-A-2075406 discloses a razor in which liquid is dispensed from a refillable vessel by operation of a fluid pump. In a razor according to the present invention the fluid is preferably discharged at a function in front of the razor or knives of the razor as they move through the skin during shaving, such as in the case of shaving. position of protection or safety element of the shaving head that is disposed forward of the blade or leaves. It is preferable that the substance be introduced into the container as a predetermined dose and according to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a container for preparing fluid for application to the skin in the course of performing the shaving procedure, comprising a container refillable having an inlet for filling the container with water and a dispensing device for supplying a predetermined dose of substance to the container filled with water, the distributing device is arranged to contain a plurality of doses and is operable to deliver the doses to the container in turn . Such a container provides a very convenient way to prepare fluid for use during shaving, at the beginning of each shave the container simply refilled with water and the distributor device is operated to distribute the appropriate dose of substance to the water. More conveniently and preferably the substance is a solid and is supplied in predetermined doses in the form of a tablet or capsule. In this case, the dispensing device of such container may incorporate a box that is apt to contain several tablets and to distribute the tablets one at a time to the container for mixing with the liquid therein. The substance can be chosen in such a way that when mixed with water it will produce a fluid that can have a desired effect when applied to the skin in the course of the shaving procedure or in succession with a shaving procedure. Thus, the prepared fluid may for example have one or more of the following effects: (i) lubrication to help the razor slide over the skin; (ü) moisten and / or otherwise condition the skin; (iii) add a fragrance; (iv) chemically treat the hairs to facilitate cutting; (v) bactericidal or medicinal treatment of the skin; (vi) cleaning the skin and (vii) blood coagulation and / or other beneficial treatment of minor cuts and abrasions that may be suffered during shaving. A substance that generates gas can be included in such a way that the substance, when mixed with water, will experience effervescence. The gas that is generated is preferably inert and the carbon dioxide is more preferred since it is non-harmful and can be easily produced. The gas generator could be, for example, sodium bicarbonate which generates carbon dioxide gas when it is dissolved in water. The generation of carbon dioxide can however be accelerated by a chemical reaction involving neutralization of a carbonate salt by a weak acid and the preferred gas generating substance is a mixture of dry solids comprising citric acid and / or tartaric acid with a carbonate salt that includes one or more selected sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, 'C-C' ^ U carbonate hi ^ o-g sodium, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and carbonate hydr &getH) potassium. Other suitable gas generators will occur to those skilled in the art.

The substance that is mixed with water in the container can be a solid substance, in which case it can be conveniently provided in the form of a tablet or as a powder contained within a soluble capsule. Alternatively, a substance other than a powder may be used and supplied, for example within a soluble capsule or in a sealed pouch from which the substance is discharged into the container. A better understanding of the invention is its different aspects will be obtained from the more detailed description that follows and with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a razor according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the razor shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the razor of figure 1 from the rear; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the underside of the razor head of the razor shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of the razor of Figure 1 with the reservoir container removed; Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing an upper part of the razor of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a cross-section through the upper part of the razor of Figure 1; Figure 7A is a sectioned perspective view showing a modification to the razor neck and cartridge of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7; Figures 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating the dip tube valve system in vertical and inverted orientations respectively; Fig. 10 is a front view showing a modified razor including a tablet dispenser; Figure 11 is a side view of the razor of Figure 10; and Figure 12 shows the razor of figure 10 in perspective and which the upper part partially removed for filling the container of the tank with water. With initial reference to Figures 1 to 7 there is shown a razor having a shaving head or blade unit 1 including 3 blades 2 with parallel cutting edges carried within a frame 3 which also supports safety or protection structures and of cover 4, 5 defined by elastomeric strips which are each shown having an array of tightly packed cylindrical recesses or recesses, although other configurations of recesses or recesses and / or projections could be provided instead of as is known in the art. . For further details of the elastomeric strips 4,5 and the recesses 6 reference is made to WO 96/02369, WO 97/17174, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The lid structure 5 includes a lubricant strip 12 as known per se and which can be described in US Pat. No. 5, 113, 585, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The blades 2 can be movable independently from each other against the action of return springs under the forces experienced by the blades during shaving as is also known in the art. Additional details of spring-loaded sheets can be found in U.S. Patent No. 4,492,025, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the sheets 2 can be fixedly mounted on the frame. The shaving head 1 can be fixedly attached to the remaining parts of the razor with the intention of at least the upper part of the razor being completely discarded when the blades 2 lose their edge or the shaving head 1 it could be of the replaceable cartridge type in such a way that the shaving head is only replaced when the blades 2 have lost their edge. The razor includes a reservoir or refillable container in the form of a container 8 that is double as the handle of the razor, this container having a generally flat rectangular shape encloses an inner chamber with an inlet / unloading orifice 7 defined by a neck 9 (FIG. 7) located at the upper end of the container and by means of which the container is removably attached, such as by means of a threaded or ballonet type coupling to the neck 10 of the razor. A lower part of the neck 10 of the shaving machine forms a cover for cooperating with the neck 9 of the container and the upper part of the neck of the shaving machine carries the shaving head 1. The neck 10 of the shaving machine is equipped with an elongate dip tube 11 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is arranged to extend through the neck 9 of the container and substantially to the bottom of the container 8 when coupled to the neck 10 of the razor. Further details of the dip tube are described hereinafter with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The upper end of the dip tube 11 communicates with a fluid distribution passage which in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 is formed by a tube 14, but in the modified embodiment shown in Figure 7A a perforation 17 through the neck 10 of the shaving machine defines part of the fluid distribution passage. The downstream end of the supply passage 13 is connected to an inlet duct 15 in the shaving head. The inlet conduit 15 is formed in a manifold element 16 which is attached to the underside of the frame 3 of the shaving head 1 and includes a receptacle 15A to which the end of the tube 14 is adjusted and with which the conduit 15 communicate The manifold element 16 extends along the underside of the protection element 4 parallel to the sheets and adjacent to the trailing edge of the protection surface, as can be seen in Figure 4. The manifold 16 defines a channel 16A and has spaced along its length a series of holes that are aligned with opening 18 in the protection surface. Thus, it will be understood that the fluid in the container 1 can be supplied, by means of the dip tube 11 the distributor passage 13, the distribution manifold 16 and the holes 18 to the safety surface, the intention being that such distribution Be present during the shaving process with the razor. In the modified construction of Figure 7A, the distributor tube opens to one of the recesses 6 of the protective strip 5 and in this case there is no manifold element, the tube 14 is connected to an opening in the protective structure . At the beginning of a shaving procedure, the container 8 is disconnected from the neck 10 of the razor and is filled with water to a depth that can be indicated by an appropriate mark on the container. A tablet 20 (figure 5) of a solid substance which in contact with water undergoes effervescence to generate gas, preferably carbon dioxide and with the water forms a fluid having a characteristic which makes it desirable for application to the skin during shaving, is dropped into the container 8 through the neck 9 and into the container and is then immediately collected at the 10 neck of the razor. The preferred gas generating substance comprises a mixture of tartaric acid and / or citric acid with a sodium, potassium carbonate, bicarbonate or carbonate acid salt. The gas generated by the reaction of the tablet substance with water causes the pressure within the space above the water in the container to rise and this pressure drives the prepared fluid produced by mixing the solid substance with the water to flow through the immersion tube 11 and the shaving head following the flow path previously described. The quantities of gas generated and fluid prepared are sufficient for a continuous distribution to be carried out for the time taken to complete a shave with the shaving machine, although it will be appreciated that the amounts of carbon dioxide generating substances will depend on the volume of the shaving. container 8 and the amount of water that is proposed to be filled. In one test, however, a container having a capacity of 40 ml was filled with 30 ml of water. Two tablets, weighing 0.3 g each, were added to the water, the composition of each tablet is: Hydrogen carbonate sodium 44% by weight Citric acid 36% by weight Xanthan gum 15% by weight Polyox (lubricant) 5% by weight The maximum pressure generated in the vessel that was fitted with a 5 mm drill ball valve in the dip tube was 4.1 kPa (0.6 psi) and this pressure produced an average maximum flow rate of 4.5 ml / min and the continuous flow of liquid from the hard container an average of about 7 minutes. It will be understood that the method of filling the container 8 and adding a tablet 20 will be repeated for each shave. If desired, the distributor passage could be adjusted with a valve to allow the user to control the timing of distribution and / or the speed of distribution of the prepared fluid to the shaving head 1. Since the shavers are sometimes retained in the a position different from the vertical during shaving the dip tube 11 preferably incorporates a valve arrangement to ensure that the prepared fluid is always discharged by the gas pressure. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the dip tube 11 has openings or holes 23, 23 'adjacent its opposite ends to connect the interior of the tube with the interior of the container, these openings or orifices are controlled by respective valves of ball 24, 25. Each of the valves is put into operation by the force of gravity with the ball 24, 25 which moves under its own weight between open and closed positions as the container is rotated between vertical orientations and inverted When the container is vertical (Figure 8) the lower valve 24 is opened because its ball has been moved or separated from the valve 24A and the upper valve 25 is closed, due to its ball coupling of the valve seat 25A and It is required with the seat by pressing on the container. When the container is inverted (Figure 9) the valve 25 is opened and the valve 24 is closed. Thus, in both orientations the opening 23 or 23 of the immersion tube which is open for the flow of the fluid to the immersion tube 11 is always submerged in the fluid inside the container 8. In figures 10-12 there is illustrated a modified shaving which is general similar to that described above but differs in that the neck 10 of the shaver incorporates a box or distributor 30 of tablets. The shape of the container 8 is apt to define an opening or front facing neck hole to which the lower part of the neck 10 of the razor is removably attached by means suitable for establishing a sealed connection between the neck 10 of the razor and the container 8. The portion The lower part of the neck 10 of the shaving machine incorporates the box or distributor 30 of tablets that includes a cylindrical box 31 inside which a rotating element 32 is received defining a series of cavities 34., five in number as shown, distributed in a circular arrangement and designed to receive respective tablets of solid substances to be mixed with water within the container 8. A retention system is preferably provided to provide some control over the rotation of the element 32. whereby the receptacles 34 are easily presented in turn in position to distribute the tablets contained therein to the interior of the container. The tablet case can be rechargeable to allow the receptacles to be filled with tablets after they have been emptied by the rotating element could be replaceable to allow an empty element 32 to be replaced by a similar but fully charged one. Alternatively, the box may be capable of holding a sufficient number of tablets for a number of shaves in such a manner that the razor blades last at least before they lose their edge and the razor box and cartridge they can then be discarded and replaced together, possibly as a single unit or a cartridge and box assembly. In the use of the razor of Figures 10-12, the container 8 is separated from the neck 10 of the razor and filled to a certain level with water, after which the container 8 and neck of the machine of Shave are reconnected. Then the rotating element 32 is manually rotated to bring a cavity 34 containing a tablet to a rotational distribution position where the tablet 20 is deposited from the cavity to the container where it is mixed with the water to generate gas and produce a prepared fluid to be distributed to the shaving head 1. The fluid is conducted to the safety surface or protection of the shaving head in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1-9, ie by means of of the dip tube, the dispensing passage included in the neck of the razor, the multiple dispenser provided in the shaving head and in the openings or holes 18 in the protection surface. It will be appreciated that the box and distributor of tablets is shown only schematically and would be arranged in such a way that the container is sealed in a sealed manner after distributing a tablet to the container, which is necessary to create the necessary gas pressure to discharge the prepared fluid. in the storage container. Of course modifications to the specific embodiments described above are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. By way of example, a valve could be included in the fluid passage 13 between the container 8 and shaving head 1 to allow the user to control when and / or the speed at which the fluid is to be delivered to the head of the patient. shaved off. Also, a system of tablets for preparing and distributing a fluid prepared on the skin in the course of a shaving procedure could be provided independently of a razor if desired. A container and supply of tablets may have the advantage of being much smaller and lighter in weight than conventional shaving preparation dispensers. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (35)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A method for preparing a fluid to be applied to the skin for example in connection with a shaving process, characterized in that it comprises filling a refillable tank With water and adding a substance that generates gas to the water and that produces the fluid after mixing with the water, the container is sealed after the addition of the substance whereby the gas generated pressurizes the inside of the container and uses the pressure of gas to distribute the fluid from the container for application to the skin.
2. 2. The method of compliance with the claim 1, characterized in that the substance is added to water in the form of a tablet or contained in a water soluble capsule.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid is distributed from the container to a shaving head for application to the skin.
4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the substance is added to the water in a predetermined amount to produce the fluid prepared for a complete shaving process.
5. 5. The method according to claims 1,2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the substance added to the water generates carbon dioxide when it is mixed with water.
6. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the substance comprises sodium bicarbonate.
7. 7. The method of compliance with the claim 5, characterized in that the substance comprises tartaric acid and / or citric acid and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. potassium.
8. 8. A system for preparing a fluid to be applied to the skin, for example in connection with a shaving process, characterized in that it comprises a refillable container having at least one inlet and discharge orifice for filling the container with water, for distribute to the water-filled container a dose of a substance for mixing with water in the container and to discharge the liquid content by pressure of the gas inside the container and a dose of substance for its addition to the water and which, after mixing With the water generates gas and produces a fluid prepared for application to the skin, the container is arranged so that the gas generated by the dose of substance is mixed with water in it to pressurize the container and to distribute the prepared fluid through of the discharge hole for application to the skin.
9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes means for distributing a predetermined dose of substance to the container.
10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it includes a dose of substance in the form of a tablet or contained in a water-soluble capsule.
11. The system according to any of claims 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that they include a dispenser box for containing respective doses of substance and operable to distribute the respective doses at the same time to the container.
12. 12. The system according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the dose of substance generates carbon dioxide when mixed with water.
13. 13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the dose of substance includes sodium bicarbonate.
14. 14. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the dose of substance comprises tartaric acid and / or citric acid and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid carbonate, carbonate of potassium, potassium bicarbonate and potassium acid carbonate.
15. 15. A razor characterized in that it comprises a razor head including at least one blade and a reservoir for distributing a fluid to be applied to the skin in connection with a shaving process and a substance to which when mixed with water generates gas and produces the fluid to be applied to the skin, the container is coupled to the shaving head and comprises a chamber refillable with water and at least one inlet and discharge orifice for filling the chamber with water, distributing to the chamber the substance for mixing with water in the chamber for preparing the fluid to be applied to the skin and to discharge the prepared fluid from the chamber for application to the skin, the fluid is discharged into or adjacent to the shaving head under pressure produced in the chamber by the gas generated when the substance is mixed with the water in the chamber.
16. 16. The razor according to claim 15, characterized in that the container is a container arranged to form a handle of the razor.
17. The razor according to claim 16, characterized in that the razor head is supported on a container by a neck of the razor which provides a dispensing passage for driving the discharging fluid from the chamber of the container to the shaving head.
18. The razor according to claim 17, characterized in that the shaving head is arranged so that the fluid is discharged in the position in front of the sheet or sheets to measures that move through the skin during shaving.
19. 19. The razor according to claim 18, characterized in that the fluid is discharged into a protective or safety surface.
20. The razor according to any of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that means are provided for distributing a predetermined dose of the substance to the container.
21. The razor according to any of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that a predetermined dose of substance is provided in the form of a tablet or contained in a water-soluble capsule.
22. 22. The razor according to any of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that it includes a box for containing respective doses of substance and operable to distribute the respective doses in turn to the chamber of the container.
23. 23. The razor according to any of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that the substance generates carbon dioxide when mixed with water.
24. 24. The razor according to claim 23, characterized in that the substance comprises sodium bicarbonate.
25. The razor according to claim 23, characterized in that the substance comprises tartaric acid and / or citric acid and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium acid carbonate.
26. 26. A container for preparing a fluid for application to the skin in connection with a shaving procedure, characterized in that it comprises a refillable container having an inlet for filling the container with water and a dispensing device operable to distribute a predetermined dose of substance to the patient. container filled with water, the distributing device is arranged to contain a plurality of doses and to distribute the predetermined doses to the container at a time.
27. 27. The container according to claim 26, characterized in that the dispensing device comprises a box for containing predetermined doses of substance in the form of a tablet.
28. 28. The container according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that each dose of substance is sufficient for a complete shave.
29. 29. The container according to claim 26, 27 or 28, characterized in that the substance when mixed with water generates gas to pressurize the container and produces a fluid prepared for application to the skin.
30. 30. The container according to claim 29, characterized in that the substance generates carbon dioxide when mixed with water.
31. 31. The container according to claim 30, characterized in that the substance comprises sodium bicarbonate.
32. 32. The container according to claim 30, characterized in that the substance comprises tartaric acid and / or citric acid and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium, potassium bicarbonate and potassium acid carbonate.
33. The invention according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substance when mixed with water produces a fluid with lubricating properties and / or wetting and / or fragrance properties and / or chemical hair treatment properties and / or bactericidal properties. or medicinal and / or cleansing properties and / or blood coagulation properties. 3 .
34. The invention according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that valve means are provided for controlling the flow of fluid through a distribution passage through which fluid flows from the container.
35. 35. The invention according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dip tube is provided for discharge of the fluid from the container, the dip tube has a valve arrangement that allows the discharge of the same fluid with the container retained and be vertical or inverted.