WO2019233639A1 - A hand-held device and method for rinsing a razor cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a hand-held device (1) for rinsing a razor cartridge (32) by a stream of water, said device comprising walls (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 3A, 13B) forming a casing (10) including a top portion (11) and a bottom portion (13), said top portion (11) having an inlet (1A) for rinsing water and said bottom portion (13) having an outlet (1B) for waste water, said casing (10) having an opening (2) arranged to insert a cartridge (32) into and across a cavity within said casing (10), wherein water flowing downward from the top portion (11 ) through the bottom portion (13) is arranged to pass through passages (323) between blades (322) in said cartridge (32), wherein said casing (10) also comprises walls (12A, 12B) forming a middle portion (12), between said top portion (11) and said bottom portion (13), that said walls (11A, 1B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) form a through cavity arranged to channel said water flow through said casing (1), preferably in the form of a through cavity extending, at least substantially, along a straight center line (C) enclosed by but not contacting the casing (10), and that said opening (2) is arranged in said middle portion (12), wherein the cross 1 sectional shape of said middle portion (12) is adapted to the shape of the cartridge (32), such that water passing downward through the middle portion (12) will have to pass through the passages (323) in the cartridge (32) to rinse away soap and shaving residue accumulated around said blades (322).

Description

A HAND-HELD DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RINSING A RAZOR CARTRIDGE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hand-held device and method for rinsing a razor cartridge under a stream of falling water, said cartridge having an exterior face with a plurality of blades projecting therefrom and water passages extending inwardly from said exterior face through said cartridge past said blades.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Razor cartridges have a plurality of blades, commonly between two and five blades, and in using razors having such cartridges the hairs cut off by the blades and the foam used for shaving accumulate between the plurality of razor blades and between the blades and body of the cartridge, thus very considerably reducing the efficiency of this type of mounting. It should also be noted that so-called "thick" foams very quickly obstruct the spaces formed between the blades and this occurs even before the user finishes shaving. Rinsing these "multiple blade" cartridges under the tap has been effective only to a very limited extent. Further, it is hard to avoid water splashing upwards and sideways from the cartridge when hit by tap water.

As disclosed in US 4,838,949 (Dugrot) and US 4,941,492 (Morgan), for example, it has been proposed to provide a razor cartridge rinsing device that fits on to a faucet tip and receives tap water at line pressure. The cartridge that is to be rinsed has an exterior face with a plurality of blades projecting therefrom and passages extending inwardly from said exterior face through said cartridge past said blades. Upon receiving tap water at line pressure, the device then channels, via relatively complex channelling means, the tap water to provide a high-pressure source of directed water jets onto the exterior face for cleaning the "multiple blade" cartridge.

By fitting the rinsing device to the faucet tip, the splashing is avoided, but another problem is created. Faucets are made in a large variety of types and have tips of different dimensions and shapes, and no known cartridge rinsing device can fit on all tips. Modem indoor faucets usually are equipped with aerators, but also the aerators are of different sizes. Consequently, the cartridge rinsing device has to be selected to fit the faucet that you intend to fit it to. In addition, many persons prefer shaving in the shower, and as a bottom tip of the mixing faucet is larger than the faucet tip used in a sink, a cartridge rinsing device fitting one of them will not fit the other. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a razor cartridge rinsing device, which is hand-held and does not have to be fitted to a faucet tip but will provide an acceptable rinsing effect when used in a stream of falling water, and is of a design such that it does not need any movable components and that also preferably offers the possibility of a cost-effective manufacturing and preferably also of reducing the risk of splashing.

In a razor cartridge rinsing device of the kind referred to in the first paragraph above, this object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a razor as defined in claiml, which has proven to effectively rinse away soap and shaving residue accumulated around the plurality of blades of a modern razor cartridge.

Such a design makes it possible for the newly shaved person to easily insert the cartridge carried by the razor into its intended position in the middle portion of the rinsing device, and to hold the device in a falling water jet from a faucet filling (at least partly) the top portion with water that then will pass downward along the through cavity formed by the casing, first through the middle portion while also (at least partly) passing through the passages in the cartridge to rinse away soap and shaving residue

accumulated around said blades and thereafter leaving the rinsing device as waste water via the outlet (at least partly) in the bottom portion. Some water may also pass out via the opening for the razor cartridge, which flow may have a beneficial further cleaning effect by also rinsing exterior surfaces of the razor cartridge.

A further advantage of the invention is that the razor cartridge may be positioned in such a manner in the rinsing device that the passages between the blades are back- flushed, i.e. rinsing with water in an opposite direction compared to the direction that shaving residue will enter into the passages. Mostly it will be easier to rinse by use of back-flushing. It is preferred that the middle portion of the casing has a rectangular cross section formed by the walls and having two opposed wide broadsides of constant width and two opposed narrow sides of reduced constant width, and that the opening is provided in one of the broadsides. Thereby, it is easy to design the middle portion to provide an exact position for the cartridge during rinsing while simultaneously reducing the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing. To further reduce the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing, also each one of the top portion and the bottom portion suitably has a rectangular cross section formed by the walls and having two broadsides and two narrow sides. Preferably, the broadsides of the top portion converge in a direction from the inlet to the middle portion, while its narrow sides diverge in the same direction, the middle portion has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and the broadsides of the bottom portion diverge in a direction from the middle portion to the outlet, while its narrow sides converge in the same direction. The converging shape of the narrow sides in

combination with the diverging shape of the broadsides provides the advantage that splashing out upwardly may be substantially eliminated and further that rinsing water is spread over the width of the cartridge, so that also the ends of the cartridge will be exposed to substantially the same rinsing as the central portion of the cartridge. It may also contribute in reducing the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing.

A further reduction of the cost of material may be obtained if the cross sections of the casing portions have a circumference of generally the same length irrespective of where they are taken along the casing. Preferably, the opening for insertion of the cartridge into the middle portion is provided at a lower end of the middle portion, to improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge.

Further, preferably the volume enclosed by the upper portion is larger than the volume enclosed by the middle portion, to improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge.

Even more preferred each one of the volumes enclosed by the upper portion and by the lower portion, respectively is larger than the volume enclosed by the middle portion, to improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge, wherein more preferred the volume enclosed by the upper portion is larger than the volume enclosed by the lower portion.

To assist in the correct positioning of the cartridge in the device, the opening suitably includes a recess for a razor handle and/or attachment carrying the cartridge.

To reduce the risk of water splashing sideways from the outlet, it is preferred that an inwardly extending flange member is provided at the water outlet. Preferably, stiffening edgings are provided along the casing. Thereby, the cost material spent during the manufacture of the device can be reduced in that the walls may be made of a thin material.

In a preferred embodiment, the top portion, the middle portion, and the bottom portion have axial lengths that relate to one another as about 2-4: 1 : 1-1,5, respectively. Thereby, the top portion is large enough to provide desired flow properties, e.g. to obtain sufficient rinsing effect, avoid unnecessary splashing of water, and a bottom large enough to avoid that the device is easily overturned.

It is also preferred that the axial length of the casing is about 30-100 mm, preferably 50- 90 mm. Thereby the device is of sufficient size to operate as intended but still is small enough not to take up a great deal of space on a bathroom shelf or in a toilet bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention of the cartridge rinsing device viewed obliquely from the top.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1 as viewed toward its broadside.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line III— III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a razor cartridge inserted in the middle portion of the device.

FIG. 7 is a top view, back view and side view of a first half of a dividable device of the invention, and,

FIG. 8 is a top view, back view and side view of a second half of a dividable device of the invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The drawings illustrate a device 1 for rinsing a razor cartridge 32 (the head) of a razor 3 with water, as shown in more detail in relation to Fig. 6. The device 1 of the present invention comprises a casing 10 designed to be hand-held, preferably at a distance D under, a water faucet 4, from which a stream of water 40 falls into the casing 10 to pass through the cartridge 32 while cleaning the cartridge 32. As shown in the Figs 1-5, the inventive device comprises walls 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B,

13 A, 13B forming a casing 10 having a top portion 11, a middle portion 12, a bottom portion 13, and a through cavity, wherein the through cavity is formed by the walls 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B. The through cavity has an inlet 1A for water into the top portion 11 and an outlet 1B for waste water from the bottom portion 13 and includes a substantial portion in the form of a through cavity extending along a straight line C enclosed by, but not contacting the casing 10.

The razor 3 has a handle 31 carrying cartridge 32 with a plurality of blades 322, commonly two to five blades. The cartridge 32 has a shaving face 321 having the sharp edges of the plurality of blades 322 projecting therein. Between each of the blades 322, there are passages 323. Streaming water, preferably tap water, is used to rinse the cartridge 32, i.e. clean the passages 323 extending through the cartridge 32. As shown in Fig. 6, the razor cartridge 32 may be positioned in such a manner in the rinsing device 1 that the passages 323 between the blades 322 are back- flushed, i.e. rinsed with water in an opposite direction compared to the direction that shaving residue will enter into the passages 323, i.e. having the shaving face 321 facing downstream. Mostly it will be easier to rinse by use of back-flushing. The middle portion 12 has an opening 2 for insertion of the cartridge 32. In level with the opening 2 the middle portion 12 has a cross sectional shape adapted to peripheral edges of the cartridge 32, such that a substantial amount of the water passing downward through the middle portion 12 will have to pass through the passages 323 in the cartridge 32 to rinse away soap and shaving residue accumulated around said blades 322. As indicated in Fig. 1, a flange member 123 may be arranged at the transition between the bottom portion 13 and the middle portion 12 to support the cartridge 132 to keep it transversal in the flow path and preferably also assisting in channeling the water flow to improve rinsing, i.e. to arrange for a hinder such that no, or merely a minor amount of, water may pass outside of the cartridge 132 along the short sides 12A, 12B of the middle portion 12. It may also assist in using the device for slightly differently sized cartridges 132, i.e. provide good rinsing even if the cartridge 132 does not extend the whole width of the opening 2. Preferably a part of the flow is allowed to flow out via the opening 2, which may assist in rinsing also exterior parts of the cartridge 132. The opening 2 is also adapted to the shape of the cartridge 32, being defined by edges 120, 121 that are adapted to the cross-sectional shape transversal to the shaving face 321 of the cartridge 32, i.e. along the whole width having a height H that is slightly larger than the height h of the cartridge 32. Further, the opening 2 mostly (e.g. to adapt to the cross-sectional shape) will include at least one recess 121 for a razor handle attachment 31 at the cartridge 32, to enable the cartridge 32 to fully fit into the passage defined by the walls 12A, 12B of the middle portion 12. The recess 121, or plurality of recesses 121, may also, or merely, have the purpose to improve the rinsing effect.

Such a design makes it possible for the newly shaved person to easily insert the cartridge 32 carried by the razor handle 31 into its intended position in the middle portion 12 of the rinsing device 1, and to hold the device 1 in a falling water jet from a faucet 4 to allow water into the top portion 11, where it is enclosed by the walls 11A,

11B and forced by gravity downwards to be channeled by the walls 11A, 11B, to pass downward into and through the middle portion 12 under influence of pressure from water in the top portion 11, while passing through the passages 323 in the cartridge 32 to rinse away soap and shaving residue accumulated around said blades 322. Thus, to clean the cartridge 32, the device 1 does not have to be attached (e.g. to the tip of a faucet 4 as needed by prior art devices) but is easily held by one hand while the other hand may hold the razor with the cartridge 32 inserted in the opening 2. Normally there is no need to hold the razor 3, once inserted, because the adapted opening 2 may arrange for keeping the cartridge 32 and razor 3 in place without any need of holding it 3.

Hence, the other hand is free, e.g. for control of the water flow. Actually, both hands may be freed if the device 1 is positioned on the bottom in a sink under a water stream, which may be facilitated by having the lower edges of the bottom portion 13 forming a support arranged to position the device 1 stably with the straight line C of the through cavity substantially vertically.

It is preferred that the middle portion 12 of the casing 1 has a rectangular cross section that is formed by the walls 12A, 12B and has two opposed wide broadsides 12B of constant width and two opposed narrow sides 12A of reduced constant width, and that the opening 2 is provided in one of the broadsides 12B. Thereby, it is easy to design the middle portion 12 to provide an appropriate position/room for the cartridge 32 during rinsing while simultaneously reducing the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing 1.

To further reduce the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing 1, also each one of the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 13 suitably has a rectangular cross section formed by the walls 11A, 11B, 13A, 13B and having two broadsides 11B, 13B and two narrow sides 11A, 13A. Preferably, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the broadsides 11B of the top portion 11 converge in a direction from the inlet 1A to the middle portion 12, while its narrow sides 11 A diverge in the same direction. To present a relatively large 1 A inlet opening 1A and further providing the middle portion 12 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The broadsides 13B of the bottom portion 13 diverge in a direction from the middle portion 12 to the outlet 1B, while its narrow sides 13A converge in the same direction. The diverging shape of the narrow sides 11 A in combination with the converging shape of the broadsides 11B spreads the water over the width of the cartridge 32, so that also the ends of the cartridge 32 will be exposed to substantially the same rinsing as the central portion of the cartridge 32.

The shape also contributes to creating a larger volume V 1 enclosed by the upper portion 11 than the volume V2 enclosed by the middle portion 12, which may assist in improving flow properties for rinsing the cartridge 32. Preferably therefore the axial length Ll of the upper portion 11 is longer, than the axial length L2 of the middle portion 12. Preferably also the volume V3 enclosed by the lower portion 13 is larger than V2 enclosed by the middle portion 12, to further improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge. Even more preferred, the volume V 1 enclosed by the upper portion 11 is larger than the volume V3 enclosed by the lower portion 13, to even further improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge. Preferably therefore the axial length Ll of the upper portion 11 is longer than the axial length L3 of the lower portion 13.

Further, the preferred shape may assist in reducing the cost of material spent during manufacture of the casing 10. A further reduction of the cost of material may be obtained if the cross sections of the casing portions 11, 12, 13 have a circumference of generally the same length irrespective of where they are taken along the casing 10. The expression“along the casing” shall be understood to mean“in the direction of flow from the water inlet 1A to the water outlet IB. Preferably, the opening 2 for insertion of the cartridge 32 into the middle portion 12 is provided at a bottom end of the middle portion 12, which may further improve flow properties for rinsing the cartridge.

To reduce the risk of water splashing sideways from the bottom portion 13, it is preferred that an inwardly extending flange member 10A is provided at the water outlet 1B, as best shown in Fig. 4. The walls 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B may be made of a thin material, e.g. 0,5-3 mm, preferably about 1,5 mm, which provides the advantage that“automatically” a very thin upper edge is provided that may eliminate/reduce splashing and also reduce cost of material spent during the manufacture. Stiffening edgings 100 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 may be provided (optional) along (and possibly also across) the casing 10, e.g. to increase stability and/or to facilitate use of even thinner material in the walls. In one embodiment (not shown) the edgings 100 may be of a resilient material and the walls be foil like, enabling an embodiment that may be foldable, i.e. a very compact device in compressed form that may occupy very little space when stored (e.g. in a casing) and that unfolds into the desired shape by the inherent resilient properties.

In a preferred embodiment, the top portion 11, the middle portion 12, and the bottom portion 13 have axial lengths that relate to one another as about 2-4: 1 : 1-1,5,

respectively. Of course, the axial lengths are measured in a direction from the water inlet 1A to the water outlet 1B. Thereby, the top portion 11 will be large enough to avoid undesired splashing of water from the top, and outlet 1B from the bottom portion 13 will be large enough to avoid undesired splashing of water from the bottom, and also to avoid that the device 1 is easily overturned. The size of the device 1 makes it easily held in the hand of a user, and also that it is easily stored, e.g. in a bathroom cabinet standing upright on its bottom edge 100. It is therefore preferred that the axial length L of the casing 10 is about 30-100 mm, more preferred around 50-90 mm. Thereby the device 10 is of sufficient size to operate as intended but still is small enough not to take up a great deal of space on a bathroom shelf or in a toilet bag of a travelling person.

The device may be manufactured in two ore more pieces, which in a second step are joined together. Alternatively, it may be made as an integral unit, e.g. by thermo forming, 3D printing. A skilled person in the art knows various materials that may be used, but suitably the material is a polymer. Further it is evident that also many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the claims, e.g. to use non- rectangular cross-sectional shapes of the top and/or bottom portion, e.g. conical, and still fulfil the basic function of the invention. Further, there may be arranged inwardly directed flange members at the top edge of the device, e.g. relatively small of 1-3 mm, that may further assist in limiting splashing. It is evident that some aspects of the inventive concept may be protected by its own in one or more divisional applications. In Fig. 7 and 8 there are shown top views, back views and side views, respectively of first 10B and second 10C halves of a dividable embodiment of the invention. The basic design is along the same principles as described above and need not be explained again. The device 1 is split into two halves 10B, 10C along a vertical extension, wherein a first half 10B provides three of the walls 11A, 11B, 11 A, etc., of each portion 11, 12, 13 and the second half 10C merely provides one wall 11B. Preferably the second half 10C also is provided with overlapping wall sections 11A’, 12A’, 13A’ that will fit with and overlap with the narrow walls 11A, 12A, 13A of the first half 10B, to arrange for an easy assembly of the two halves 10B, 10C, preferably with a snug fit that keeps the two halves 10B, 10C.

As indicated in Fig. 7 there may be arranged two flange members 123, one upper to effect steering the water into the desired path through the middle portion 12, and one lower flange member 123 to support the cartridge 132 to keep it transversal I the flow path, wherein preferably the lower flange member 123 may be arranged at the transition between the bottom portion 13 and the middle portion 12.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The device of the present invention is applicable for cleaning multiblade cartridges of safety razors from soap and shaving residue that have accumulated around said blades during shaving.

Claims

1. A, preferably hand-held, device for rinsing a razor cartridge (32) by a stream of water, said device comprising walls (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) forming a casing (10) including a top portion (11) and a bottom portion (13), said top portion (11) having an inlet (1A) for rinsing water and said bottom portion (13) having an outlet (1B) for waste water, said casing (10) having an opening (2) arranged to insert a cartridge (32) into and across a cavity within said casing (1), wherein water flowing downward from the top portion (11 ) through the bottom portion (13) is arranged to pass through passages (323) between blades (322) in said cartridge (32), characterized in that said casing (10) also comprises walls (12A, 12B) forming a middle portion (12), between said top portion (11) and said bottom portion (13), that said walls (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) form a through cavity arranged to channel said water flow through said casing (1), preferably in the form of a through cavity extending, at least substantially, along a straight center line (C) enclosed by but not contacting the casing (10), and that said opening (2) is arranged in said middle portion (12), wherein the cross sectional shape of said middle portion (12) is adapted to the shape of the cartridge (32). 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle portion (12) of the casing

(10) has a rectangular cross section formed by the walls (12A,12B) and having two broadsides (12B) and two narrow sides (12A), the opening (2) being provided in one of the broadsides (12B), wherein preferably also each one of the top portion (11) and the bottom portion (13) has a rectangular cross section formed by the walls (11A, 11B, 13A, 13B).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the volume (VI) enclosed by the upper portion (11) is larger than the volume (V2) enclosed by the middle portion (12).

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each one of the volumes (VI, V3) enclosed by the upper portion (11) and by the lower portion (13), respectively is larger than the volume (V2) enclosed by the middle portion (12), wherein more preferred the volume (VI) enclosed by the upper portion (11) is larger than the volume (V3) enclosed by the lower portion (11).

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 2-4, wherein narrow sides (11A) of the top portion (11) diverge in a direction from the inlet (1A) to the middle portion (12), while preferably broadsides (11B) of the top portion (11) converge in the same direction.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2-5, wherein broadsides (13B) of the bottom portion (13) diverge in a direction from the middle portion (12) to the outlet (1B), while narrow sides (13A) of the bottom portion (13) converge in the same direction, wherein preferably the cross sections of the casing portions (11, 12, 13) have a circumference of generally the same length irrespective of where they are taken along the casing (1).

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein supporting flanges (123) are provided at the lower end of the opening (2) for supporting the cartridge (32), wherein preferably the opening (2) is provided at a bottom end of the middle portion (12).

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the opening (2) includes a recess (121) for a razor handle attachment (31).

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein an inwardly extending flange (10A) is provided at the outlet (1B) arranged to prevent water from splashing sideways therefrom. 10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein stiffening edgings (100) are provided along the corners of the casing (1).

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the casing is divided into at least two parts (10A, 10B), preferably along a vertical extension.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the axial length (L) of the casing (10) is about 30-100 mm, preferably 50-90 mm, and wherein preferably the top portion (11), the middle portion (12), and the bottom portion (13) have axial lengths that relate to one another as about 2-4: 1 : 1-1,5, respectively.

13. A method for rinsing a razor cartridge (32) by a stream of water through a

rinsing device (1), said cartridge (32) having an exterior shaving face (321) with a plurality of blades (322) projecting therefrom and passages (323) extending between said blades (322), providing a rinsing device (1) comprising walls (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) forming a casing (10) having a top portion (11), a middle portion (12), a bottom portion (13), and a through cavity having an inlet (1A) for tap water into the top portion (11) and an outlet (1B) for waste water from the bottom portion (13), said middle portion (12) having an opening (2) arranged to insert a cartridge (32) into and across said through cavity, wherein the cross sectional shape of said middle portion (12) is adapted to the shape of the cartridge (32), including the steps of introducing said cartridge (32) into said opening (2) and positioning said rinsing device (1) in a stream of water (40) to force water passing through the middle portion (12) to pass through passages (323) in the cartridge (32), wherein said walls (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B,

13 A, 13B) form said through cavity arranged to channel said water flow through said casing (1), preferably in the form of a through cavity extending, at least substantially, along a straight line (C) enclosed by but not contacting the casing (1).

14. A method according to claim 14, wherein the cartridge (32) is positioned in said opening (2) having the shaving face (321) facing downstream.

15. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said rinsing device (1) is

positioning at a distance (D) under a stream of water (40), wherein preferably said stream of water (40) comes from a tap (4).