WO1988007443A1

WO1988007443A1 - Improvements in or relating to razors

Info

Publication number: WO1988007443A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000949
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bryan Rodney Kirk
Original assignee: The Gillette Company
Priority date: 1987-04-03
Filing date: 1988-03-16
Publication date: 1988-10-06
Also published as: ZA881916B; KR890700444A; MA21234A1; GB8707995D0; MY102815A; CN88101762A; BR8807079A

Abstract

A shaving system in which a blade unit seats on a platform (22) and is retained in position by an overlying cap (29). The cap is movable between an open position to permit insertion and removal of the blade unit and a closed position to retain said blade unit in position on the platform (22). The blade unit includes two parallel blades (1, 2) with an interposed spacer (3) which extends beyond the ends of said blades (1, 2) to facilitate handling of the blade unit.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RAZORS

The specification of our prior British Patent No. 2166997 describes a razor blade unit comprising at least one razor blade and an edge protecting bar positioned in front of the (or each) blade edge, the bar being integrally connected to the base portion by frangible connecting means.

Tests have shown that, whilst the above described unit provides for adequate protection of the blade edge, some users nevertheless find difficulty in loading and unloading the unites into and out of the razor.

In accordance with the present invention however, there is provided a shaving system comprising an exchangeable blade unit consisting of a pair of single edged blades secured to opposite surfaces of a spacer, one end of which extends beyond the ends of the blades to provide a tab facilitating handling of the blade unit, and a razor comprising a blade platform and a cap, the cap being movable relative to the platform between an open position permitting insertion or removal of the blade unit and a closed position in which the unit is clamped in its operative shaving position, and in which the said tab is resiliently displaced by the cap so as to extend below the platform.

With this arrangement, loading of the unit into its razor is easily effected, the user holding the tab to move the unit into position. On closing the razor, the tab is engaged by the cap in its closing movement and thus automatically displaced to a position where it will not interfere with normal shaving.

When the unit is to be discarded, the cap is opened and the tab tends to spring back, at least partially, towards its original position, so that it can be grasped to facilitate removal of the unit from the razor.

Preferably, the blade units are initially housed for transit and storage until required each in a protective package of sufficiently light construction to permit of its being readily opened and readily deformed to expose the major portion of the unit whilst remaining engaged with the said tab.

A presently preferred form of razor system in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the blade unit;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the blade unit and its packaging;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the razor in its open condition, with a blade unit in position;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating loading of the blade unit into the razor; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the loaded razor, closed in readiness for use;

The blade unit shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tandem pair of single edged blades 1, 2 permanently secured to opposite faces of a spacer 3, conveniently formed as a stamping of metal or plastics material. At the left hand end, as seen in the drawing, the spacer is extended just beyond the ends of the blades and is formed with a notch 4 to assist in location in the razor.

At the end, the spacer is extended beyond the blades to provide a tab 6 of sufficient size to facilitate gripping between a thumb and forefinger. The tab has a through hole 7 whose purpose is explained below, and the assembly is formed with holes 8 to assist its location in the package. The blade package. Fig. 2 comprises a tray

11, for example formed as an aluminum alloy pressing or a vacuum forming thermoplastic synthetic resin. The tray is shaped to define a main cavity 12 to receive the blade unit, upstanding pips 13 to locate in the holes 7 and 8 of the unit, a projection 14 in one end wall of the cavity to locate in the notch 4 of the unit and a narrow through 15 which serves to reinforce the tray in the region of the blade edges. The package is completed by a thin foil 16 of plastics or metallic material which totally covers the cavity and is adhered to the tray to seal the cavity. The foil is, however, readily peeled away from the tray when the blade unit is required for use.

The razor comprises an elongate grip 21 integrally united to the underside of a blade platform 22 having a guard member 23 integrally moulded therewith. Abutments 24 at the ends of the guard member form blade edge stops, and the rear of the blade unit is engaged by spring pillars 26. A rectangular stop 27 is formed at one end of the platform and a resilient latch 28 at the other.

A cap member 29 is connected to one end of the platform by integral, living hinges 31. The underside of the cap has two projecting ramps 32 (only one of which is seen in the drawings) for engaging the spring pillars 26 when the cap is closed.

To load a new blade unit into the open razor, the user peels off the foil 16 and grips the tab 6 with a thumb and the tray, beneath the tab, with the forefinger of the same hand. The tray is then deformed by pulling the opposite end down, exposing the major portion of the blade unit, which is then loaded onto the blade platform, the notch 4 engaging around the stop and the hole 7 engages over the latch 28. The user may now release the tab 6 and swing the cap 29 into its closed position. In the last stage of this closing movement, the ramps 32 engage the spring pillars 26 to urge them forwardly against the rear edge of the blade unit until the ends of the leading blade edge engage the abutments 24.

Finally the free end of the cap makes snap fitting engagement with the latch 28, which secures the cap in clamping engagement with the blade unit. The end of the cap also forces the tab 6 to bend down below the platform, so as not to interfere in the course of shaving. When the edges of the blade unit are too dull for further use, the razor is opened and the user grips the tab 6 to remove the unit and discard it.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A shaving system comprising an exchangeable blade unit consisting of a pair of single edged blades secured to opposite surfaces of a spacer, one end of which extends beyond the ends of the blades to provide a tab facilitating handling of the blade unit, and a razor comprising a blade platform and a cap, the cap being movable relative to the platform between an open position permitting insertion or removal of the blade unit and a closed position in which the unit is clamped in -its operative shaving position, and in which the said tab is resiliently displaced by the cap so as to extend below the platform.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tab is formed with a through hole the remaining portions of the tab to the front and rear of the hole constituting a weakened region at which the tab is bent down when displaced by the cap.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the said hole is engaged over a projection on the razor when loading the blade unit onto the platform.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the said projection is constituted by a displaceable latch which secures the cap in its closed position.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade unit is formed, at the end opposite to the said tab, with a notch for co-operation with a stop on the blade platform to assist primary location of the unit longitudinally of the platform but permitting some limited movement of the unit fore-and-aft of the platform.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein resilient pillars are formed at the rear of the blade platform and ramp means are formed on the underside of the cap, the said ramps being positioned to engage the pillars during closing movement of the cap, thereby causing the said pillars to press the blade unit forwardly of the platform against fixed abutment means.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade unit is initially housed in a protective package which is of sufficiently light construction to permit of its being readily deformed to expose the major part of the unit whilst remaining engaged with the said tab.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the packaging comprises a tray formed with a cavity in which the blade unit is located, and a foil closing the cavity, the said foil being partially or totally removable to permit the tray to be deformed to expose the major part of the unit for location on the blade platform.

9. For use in a system according to claim 1, a blade unit characterized by a pair of spaced blades and an interposed spacer, said spacer extending beyond the ends of said blades.