WO2012038692A1

WO2012038692A1 - Razor system

Info

Publication number: WO2012038692A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/001363
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Hill; Andrew Honour
Original assignee: The King Of Shaves Company Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-20
Filing date: 2011-09-19
Publication date: 2012-03-29
Also published as: GB2483802A; GB201116130D0; GB201015674D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a wet razor system 1 comprising a razor cartridge head and a handle 3 having a hollow body 5; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; a battery cap means removably mounted on the hollow body; which includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal. The motor is fixedly mounted in the hollow body of said handle and aligned with the battery and at the razor cartridge head end, said motor having a shaft extending therefrom; an eccentric element fixedly connected to said shaft and disposed for rotation within said hollow body; the battery operatively connected to said motor to rotate said eccentric element to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor. The razor cartridge head is connected to the handle by means of an elastomeric element arranged between the razor cartridge and the handle end, such that vibration from the handle hollow body is transferred to the razor cartridge.

Description

Razor System

The present invention relates to a razor system and more particularly to an oscillating wet razor system with a battery powered motor rotating an eccentric element within the body portion of the razor handle to generate an oscillating vibration which is transmitted to a razor blade cartridge.

Vibrating razor elements have been known for some time. Traditional electric razors, also known as dry shavers, are used without water or soap or shaving cream. Such dry electric shavers are not regarded by many as sufficiently close to the skin to provide as close a shave as a wet razor.

Wet shaves traditionally use water and soap or some kind of shave cream to soften the individual hairs of the beard of the user. The water and soap soften the individual hairs of the beard to make them much easier to cut. It has become desirable to combine the beard softening action of a wet shave with the oscillating cutting element of the traditional dry electric shaver.

There have been many attempts to provide an oscillating wet shaver none of which have been entirely satisfactory. Many used traditional wet razor connection means between the handle and the razor blade cartridge and users observed an unsatisfactory vibrational effect and also levels of noise which did not give them the feeling that the shave is effective.

The object of the present invention is to provide a razor system which overcomes these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a wet razor system comprising: a razor cartridge head and a handle having a hollow body; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and a battery cap means removably mounted on the hollow body; which includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment, a motor fixedly mounted in the hollow body of said handle and in intimate contact with an internal surface of the hollow body and aligned with the battery and at the razor cartridge head end, said motor having a shaft extending therefrom; an eccentric element fixedly connected to said shaft and disposed for rotation within said hollow body; the battery operatively connected to said motor; and switch means on said handle for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the handle, the vibration is further transmitted to the razor cartridge head; wherein the razor cartridge head is connected to the handle by means of first and second fork arms, each of the first and second fork arms having a razor cartridge end and an opposite handle end, such that the razor cartridge end of the first fork arm is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge and the razor cartridge end of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge, and whereas the handle ends of the first and second fork arms are both connected to the handle, such that vibration from the handle hollow body is transferred to each end of the razor cartridge through the respective fork arm.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a wet razor system comprising: a razor cartridge head and a handle having a hollow body; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and a battery cap means removably mounted on the hollow body; which includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment, a motor fixedly mounted in the hollow body of said handle and aligned with the battery and at the razor cartridge head end, said motor having a shaft extending therefrom; an eccentric element fixedly connected to said shaft and disposed for · rotation within said hollow body; the battery operatively connected to said motor; and switch means on said handle for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the handle, the vibration is further transmitted to the razor cartridge head; wherein the razor cartridge head is connected to the handle by means of an elastomeric element arranged between the razor cartridge and the handle end, such that the razor cartridge is fixedly connected to the elastomeric element and the elastomeric element is connected to the handle, such that vibration from the handle hollow body is transferred to the razor cartridge.

Preferably each of the first and second fork arms comprise elastomeric element extending across at least a proportion of the section of each arm at a position between the razor cartridge end and the handle end of each fork arm.

Preferably the elastomeric element means is located nearer to the razor cartridge end of each fork arm. The elastomeric element may also be flexible and resilient to permit movement of the razor cartridge in response to contact pressure by the user during shaving and the elastomeric element causing with the razor cartridge to return to the same rest position after such movement.

The motor may be a variable speed motor and the switch means which may include manually operable means to vary the speed of the motor and hence the frequency of the induced vibration.

By means of the invention a superior vibrational effect is achieved. It is believed that this may be due to the multi-part mechanical hinges of existing oscillatory wet razor will probably lose more of the vibration energy as the hinge pin moves around inside its housing. Conventional hinges also need a spring to tension the head to avoid an annoying rattling sound, with no loose parts on the handle of the present invention rattling does not arise.

The resulting vibration is uniform in effect and feel and produces a more satisfactory shave.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a wet razor system comprising: a first operating part and a second operating part and a handle having a hollow body, the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and attaching means for releasably attaching one of the first and second operating parts to the handle together with attachment sealing means which prevent the ingress of water when attached, wherein the first operating part comprises a base part and first and second fork arms and a razor cartridge head is connected to the first operating part by means of the first and second fork arms, each of the first and second fork arms having a razor cartridge end and an opposite end, such that the razor cartridge end of the first fork arm is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge and the razor cartridge end of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge, and whereas the opposite ends of the first and second fork arms join at the base part of the first operating part, and in that the second operating part includes a further grooming tool.

Preferably a first motor is fixedly mounted in the first operating part and a second motor fixedly mounted in the second operating part.

The first operating part may comprise an eccentric element fixedly connected to a shaft of the first motor and disposed for rotation within the operating part; the battery operatively connected to said motor when the operating part and the handle are attached by means of corresponding electrical connection means on the first operating part and the second operating part respectively; and switch means for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the first operating part such that the induced vibration is transferred to each end of the razor cartridge through the respective fork arm.

Preferably a battery cap means mounted on the hollow body; which includes battery sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment.

The second operating part may comprise a beard trimming tool. The second operating part may comprise a body grooming tool.

Preferably the attaching means comprises corresponding male and female parts with a cone-shaped male part.

Preferably the handle part and the first and second operating parts include corresponding mating surfaces which are provided with attachment sealing means which prevent the ingress of water when the first or second operating part is attached to the handle part. The attachment sealing means may be a '0' ring located in a groove in one of the mating surfaces.

The attaching means may include a bayonet fitting or a screw fitting.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the

accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective longitudinal cross sectional view of a razor and handle with one of the two fork arms shown and part of a razor cartridge of a first embodiment of the wet razor system of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective expanded view of the motor and eccentric motor part of the handle of Fig 1 ,

Fig. 3 is a perspective longitudinal cross sectional view of a razor and handle with one of the two fork arms shown and part of a razor cartridge of a further embodiment, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the wet razor system of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a perspective partial longitudinal cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a perspective longitudinal cross sectional view of a further embodiment of the wet razor system of the invention,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section of the connection part of the handle,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the connection part of the handle in an open state, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the fork arm region of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig 1 shows a wet razor system 1 comprising a razor cartridge 2 and a handle 3 having a hollow body 5. The hollow body 5 comprises a battery compartment 7 to permit the insertion of a battery 9 therein; and a battery cap means (not shown) is removably mounted on the hollow body 5 and includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body 5 to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment 7.

A motor 11 fixedly mounted in the hollow body 5 of said handle 3 and in intimate contact with an internal surface 13 of the hollow body 5. The internal surface 13 comprises ribs which grip and hold the motor 1 1 in position. As shown in Fig. 2, the motor 1 1 is aligned with the battery 9, said motor 11 having a shaft 15 extending therefrom with an eccentric element 17 fixedly connected to said shaft 15 and disposed for rotation within said hollow body 5. The battery 9 is operatively connected to said motor 11 ; and switch means (not shown) are located on said handle 3 for turning said motor 11 on and off. In the on state the battery 9 energizes said motor 1 1 which rotates said eccentric element 17, via shaft 15, at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor 1 . This vibration is induced in the handle 5 through the ribs on the internal surface 13 of the handle 5, from which the vibration is further transmitted to the razor cartridge 2.

The razor cartridge 2 is connected to the handle by means of first and second fork arms 21 , each of the first and second fork arms 21 having a remote end 23 and an opposite handle end 25, such that the remote end of the first fork arm is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge 2 and the remote end 23 of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge. The handle ends of the first and second fork arms are both connected to the handle 5, such that vibration from the handle hollow body 5 is transferred to each end of the razor cartridge 2 through the respective fork arm 21.

Each of the first and second fork arms 21 comprise elastomeric elements 27 which act as damping means and extend across at least a proportion of the section of each arm at a position between the remote end 23 and the handle end 25 of each fork arm 21. In this embodiment the elastomeric element 27 is located nearer to the razor cartridge end of each fork arm. The elastomeric element 27 also forms an elastic hinge which permits the razor cartridge to move away from the users skin by pivoting about the hinge in response to shaving forces produced on the razor cartridge 2 during the shave on contact with the users skin and which restores the razor cartridge 2 to the normal rest position when the shaving forces are removed.

This restoring pivoting effect is provided for in conventional known powered razors by means of a mechanical pivot with a separate restoring spring. It is believed that these multi-part mechanical hinges of existing oscillatory wet razors will lose more of the vibration energy as the hinge pin moves around inside its housing and are not in intimate contact with the razor head. Conventional hinges also need a spring to tension the head to avoid an annoying rattling sound, with no loose parts on the handle of the present invention rattling does not arise. There is also no issue of wear between relatively moving parts of the razor cartridge hinge. Thus by means of the invention a superior overall vibrational effect is achieved.

Referring now to figures 3 to 6 a further aspect of the invention is described in which the a wet razor system 30 comprises a first operating part 31 and a handle 3 having a hollow body 5; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery 9 therein. A battery cap means mounted on the hollow body; which includes battery sealing means (not shown) between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment.

Alternatively, a rechargeable battery may be used with connection mean provided on the handle to connect to a battery charger, in which case the battery may be permanently located in the battery compartment.

Attaching means 36, 37 are provided for releasably attaching the first operating part 31 to the handle 3 together with attachment sealing means (not shown) which prevent the ingress of water when the operating part 31 and the handle 3 are attached.

The first operating part 31 comprises a base part 32 and first and second fork arms 21 and a razor cartridge head 2 is connected to the first operating part 31 by means of the first and second fork arms 21 , each of the first and second fork arms having a remote end 23 and a handle end 25, such that the remote end 23 of the first fork arm 21 is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge and the remote end of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge 2. The handle ends 25 of the first and second fork arms join at the base part 32 of the first operating part 31.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a razor which comprises the same handle part 3 as in Fig. 3 with a second operating part 33 attached. The second operating part 33 in this embodiment is a beard trimmer and includes a motor 39 which is electrically connected to the battery 9 when the operating part 32 is attached to the handle part 3.

Referring once more to Fig 3, a motor 38 is fixedly mounted in the first operating part 31 and an eccentric element fixedly connected to a shaft of the motor 38 and disposed for rotation within the operating part 31. The battery 9 is operatively connected to said motor 38 when the operating part 31 is attached to the handle 3 by means of corresponding electrical connections means on the operating part 31 and the handle 3. Furthermore switch means are provided 45 for turning said motor on and off, (as well as varying the motor speed see Fig. 9), whereby in the on state the battery 9 energizes said motor 38 which rotates said eccentric element 17 as described previously. Elastomeric elements 27 are also present in each fork arm as in the previous embodiment.

Referring now to fig 6 a further embodiment is shown wherein the second operating part 34 is an edge trimmer 35. In all other respects the second operating part 34 of this embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment.

The second operating part may also comprise a body grooming tool.

Referring again to figures 3, 5 and 6 the attaching means comprises corresponding male and female parts with a cone-shaped male part 36. As shown in more detail in Fig 7 and Fig 8, the handle part and the first and second operating parts include corresponding mating surfaces 37 which are provided with attachment sealing means 39 which prevent the ingress of water when the first or second operating part is attached to thehandle part. In this embodiment the attachment sealing means 39 may be a '0' ring located in a groove 40 in one of the mating surfaces 37.

The attaching means may be by means of a bayonet fitting or a screw fitting. A bayonet fitting is shown in Fig 7 and Fig 8 in which lugs 51 co-operated with corresponding L-shaped grooves 52 which are comprise a retaining lip 53 to retain the lugs 51 in the connected position. In this connected position the handle electrical connections 54 on the outside surface of the cone-shaped male part come in to electrical contact with corresponding head electrical connections 55 at the base of the corresponding female part. Alternatively the attaching means may be provided by a snap-fit type attaching device with lugs on one part, which may be spring loaded, and corresponding indentations on the other part. The attaching means being carefully sized so that sufficient pressure is exerted on the seal means in the attached position to form an effective water seal.

As shown in Fig 9, in an embodiment of a razor 50, the motor may be a variable speed motor and the switch means 45 includes manually operable means 46 to vary the speed of the motor and hence the frequency of the induced vibration. This has the effect of creating a different shaving experience for the user. The variability in skin types and beard hair types in different users is considerable and this results in a wide variation of shaving experiences by different users. Users develop shaving patterns and habits which are unique to them and which in part accommodate their particular skin and beard type and also accommodate other lifestyle factors which impact upon them and these are also varied and numerous. A wet shave may be carried out at the sink for example whereas the trimming task could be earned out away from the sink. This results in a shaving experience which is practically unique form one user to the next. By means of this variable motor speed the user is able to vary the vibration frequency when using the fixed blade operating part 31 as well as the hair removing device (e.g. trimmer) speed when using one of the alternative operating parts. Thus the user is able to adapt the performance of the wet razor system to his or her particular skin, beard, hair and lifestyle needs.

The manually operable means 46 may be mounted on the first operating part 41 as shown or alternatively on the handle part 5.

Claims

1. A razor system 1 comprising: a razor cartridge head and a handle 3 having a hollow body 5; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and a battery cap means removably mounted on the hollow body; which includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment, a motor fixedly mounted in the hollow body of said handle and aligned with the battery and at the razor cartridge head end, said motor having a shaft extending therefrom; an eccentric element fixedly connected to said shaft and disposed for rotation within said hollow body; the battery operatively connected to said motor, and switch means on said handle for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the handle, the vibration is further transmitted to the razor cartridge head;

characterised in that: the razor cartridge head is connected to the handle by means of first and second fork arms, each of the first and second fork arms having a razor cartridge end and an opposite handle end, such that the razor cartridge end of the first fork arm is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge and the razor cartridge end of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge, and whereas the handle ends of the first and second fork arms are both connected to the handle, such that vibration from the handle hollow body is transferred to each end of the razor cartridge through the respective fork arm.

2. A razor system 1 comprising: a razor cartridge head and a handle 3 having a hollow body 5; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and a battery cap means removably mounted on the hollow body; which includes sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment, a motor fixedly mounted in the hollow body of said handle and aligned with the battery and at the razor cartridge head end, said motor having a shaft extending therefrom; an eccentric element fixedly connected to said shaft and disposed for rotation within said hollow body; the battery operatively connected to said motor; and switch means on said handle for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the handle, the vibration is further transmitted to the razor cartridge head;

characterised in that: the razor cartridge head is connected to the handle by means of an elastomeric element arranged between the razor cartridge and the handle end, such that the razor cartridge is fixedly connected to the elastomeric element and the elastomeric element is connected to the handle, such that vibration from the handle hollow body is transferred to the razor cartridge.

3. A razor system 1 according to claim 1 , characterised in that each of the first and second fork arms comprise elastomeric means extending across at least a proportion of the section of each arm at a position between the razor cartridge end and the handle end of each fork arm.

4. A razor system 1 according to claim 2, characterised in that the elastomeric means is located nearer to the razor cartridge end of each fork arm.

5. A razor system comprising:

a first operating part and a second operating part and a handle having a hollow body; the hollow body comprises a battery compartment to permit the insertion of a battery therein; and

attaching means for releasably attaching one of the first and second operating parts to the handle together with attachment sealing means which prevent the ingress of water when attached, characterised in that, the first operating part comprises a base part and first and second fork arms and a razor cartridge head is connected to the first operating part by means of the first and second fork arms, each of the first and second fork arms having a razor cartridge end and an opposite end, such that the razor cartridge end of the first fork arm is fixedly connected to one end of the razor cartridge and the razor cartridge end of the second fork arm is fixedly connected to a second end of the razor cartridge, and whereas the opposite ends of the first and second fork arms join at the base part of the first operating part,

and in that the second operating part includes a further grooming tool.

6. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that a first motor fixedly mounted in the first operating part and a second motor fixedly mounted in the second operating part.

7. A razor system according to claim 6, characterised in that the first operating part comprises an eccentric element fixedly connected to a shaft of the first motor and disposed for rotation within the first operating part; the battery operatively connectable to said first motor by means of corresponding electrical connection means on the handle and the first operating part and the second operating part respectively; and switch means for turning said motor on and off, whereby in the on state the battery energizes said motor which rotates said eccentric element at between 3,000 rpm to about 8,000 rpm which in turn causes the motor to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the motor and this vibration is induced in the first operating part such that the induced vibration is transferred to each end of the razor cartridge through the respective fork arm.

8. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that the second operating part comprises a beard trimming tool.

9. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that the second operating part comprises a body grooming tool.

10. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that a battery cap means mounted on the hollow body; which includes battery sealing means between said battery cap and the hollow body to provide a waterproof seal for said battery compartment.

11. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that the attaching means comprises corresponding male and female parts with a cone-shaped male part.

12. A razor system according to claim 5, characterised in that the handle part and the first and second operating parts include corresponding mating surfaces which are provided with attachment sealing means which prevent the ingress of water when the first or second operating part is attached to the handle part.

13. A razor system according to claim 12, characterised in that the attachment sealing means is an Ό' ring located in a groove in one of the mating surfaces.

14. A razor system according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the motor is a variable speed motor and the switch means including manually operable means to vary the speed of the motor and hence the frequency of the induced vibration.