Abstract:
Disclosed is a fingertip mountable shaving device for shaving hair from a body of a user. The shaving device includes a base unit, a shaving unit, an enclosing unit and a top unit. The shaving unit comprises a plurality of blade assemblies and a plurality of elastomeric inserts. Each blade assembly further comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced, equally high and parallel blade members, tilted at a predetermined angle, such that the plurality of blade assemblies intersect in a criss-cross patterned grid. A plurality of elastomeric inserts is provided on each peripheral side of the blade assembly, so as to support the corresponding blade assembly in place to maintain the predetermined angle. The shaving device provides multiple blades and allows safe and close shaving particularly from difficult to access body parts by relying on the sense of feel rather than visibility of the surface to be shaved, and is easy to manufacture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part application of currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/622,880, filed on Feb. 15, 2015, by the same inventor cum applicant, which is a continuation-in-part of issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,060; the entire content of each patent application and issued patent hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
       [0002]    STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
         [0003]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
         [0005]    INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
         [0006]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0008]    The present invention generally relates to a hair shaving device, more specifically to a fingertip mountable and manually operated shaving device. The invention aims to provide a flexible and disposable hair shaving device, which is easy to manufacture, suitable for single use that provides multiple blades and allows safe and close shaving particularly from difficult to access body parts by relying on the sense of feel rather than visibility of the surface to be shaved. 
         [0009]    2. Background Art 
         [0010]    Generally, razors are used for the removal of hair from skin and employ a plurality of individual blades, wherein each blade has a single longitudinally sharpened edge. However, these blades have a tendency to cut the user&#39;s skin and to otherwise cause discomfort during a shaving operation. In an effort to minimize the danger resulting from the exposed cutting edges of these blades, guards have been incorporated into the razor design. The guard generally includes a blunt, often rounded, edge projecting past the cutting edges of the razor blades. In addition to the tendency for the aforementioned razors to cut a user&#39;s skin during a shaving operation, the blades pose a handling problem during razor manufacture. The longitudinal cutting edges require careful and often time consuming, handling as well as a significant amount of processing to achieve the desired edge. 
         [0011]    Further, apart from above-mentioned razors various finger mountable shaving devices used to shave hair from difficult to access body parts such as nostrils or ears are known in prior art. These devices range from manually operated to battery powered devices and may or may not be disposable. Many of these devices are bulky and are not easy to carry or use inside the nose, ears or on wrinkled skin surface. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,356, issued on Feb. 29, 2000, titled, “FINGER PAD SENSOR RAZOR”, discloses a razor mounted on full or partial rings which slide all the way over the fingers to their proximal ends to be used as sensory feed-back means of hair stubble condition. This device is not suitable for shaving intricate body surfaces such as those inside the nose or ears. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,403, issued on Jan. 14, 2003, titled, “HAIR SHAVING DEVICE WITH U-SHAPED RAZOR BLADE STRIP”, provides a manually manipulatable non electric hair trimming device, which is neither flexible nor disposable. 
         [0014]    In the co-pending patent application, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 14/622,880, as well as in issued patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,060, the present inventor disclosed fingertip mountable shaving devices, that overcame the limitations of prior art, but posed certain challenges in manufacturing. The invention presently disclosed in this application provides improvement in shaving performance, enhanced features for safety against accidental cutting of the skin, while greatly improving the ease of manufacturing of the fingertip mountable shaving device. 
         [0015]    None of the previously described prior art references provide a shaving device that is capable of being mounted on a fingertip and is flexible, disposable, small, light in weight, easy to operate, ease to manufacture commercially, non-electric, facilitates shaving by feel, and also provides a safe and close shaving finish while accessing intricate body parts. The present invention satisfies the present and other needs. 
         [0016]    Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    A fingertip mountable body hair shaving device for shaving hair from a body of a user is provided substantially as shown in, and/or described in connection with, at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
         [0018]    According to embodiments illustrated herein, there is provided a fingertip mountable body hair shaving device. The shaving device includes: (a) a base unit having a top surface and a bottom surface, (b) a shaving unit comprising a plurality of blade assemblies and a plurality of elastomeric inserts, (c) an enclosing unit and (d) a top unit. 
         [0019]    The bottom surface of the base unit is coated with an adhesive and covered with a releasably connected protective peel off layer. The bottom surface being present on the opposite side of the top surface across a transversal axis. 
         [0020]    The shaving unit comprises a plurality of blade assemblies and a plurality of elastomeric inserts. Each blade assembly further comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced, equally high and parallel blade members, tilted at a predetermined angle, such that the plurality of blade assemblies intersect in a criss-cross patterned grid. A plurality of elastomeric inserts is provided on each peripheral side of a blade assembly, so as to support the corresponding blade assembly in place to maintain the predetermined angle. 
         [0021]    Each blade member is characterized by a cutting edge and a grooved edge. The grooved edge comprises a plurality of grooves to receive other blades, a plurality of holes. An elastomeric layer is coated or non-removably attached to the front surface of the blade as well as a part of its top surface, thereby forming a protective lip along the cutting edge of the blade. Engaging members provided in the elastomeric layer are inserted through the corresponding holes of the blade member for accurate alignment. 
         [0022]    The shaving unit is non-removably coupled to the base unit through a plurality of slots. The enclosing unit further comprises a plurality of supporting members with means to engage with the base unit and enclose the shaving unit. The top unit comprises a plurality of elastomeric strips running along a vertical peripheral edge and configured to engage with the enclosing unit, such that the top unit is non-removably coupled to the enclosing unit. 
         [0023]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that can safely and closely shave areas that are difficult to see and access such as, within the ear, nostrils, back of the neck. 
         [0024]    A further object is to provide a shaving device that is easy to assemble and manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that facilitates shaving by feel and does not require a visual aid such as a mirror while shaving. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that is flexible and easily conforms to the contours of the skin surface to be shaved as well as the fingertip. 
         [0025]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that is small in size, light in weight, easy to carry and comfortable to use. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that is disposable and suitable for single use. Yet further object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that is not powered by any electrical source and can be conveniently operated manually. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that allows shaving in multiple directions, without risking any cuts to the skin of the user. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shaving device that is self adhesive in nature and does not require additional effort on part of the user to specifically hold in place by the user. 
         [0026]    These and other objects of the present invention are further elaborated in the detailed description of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention and not as to limit the scope of the invention. Applying or modifying the disclosed invention in a different manner can attain many other beneficial results or modifying the invention as will be described. Accordingly, referring to the following drawings may have a complete understanding of the invention. Description of the preferred embodiment is as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the various embodiments of systems, methods, and other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. In some examples, one element may be designed as multiple elements, or multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Further, the elements may not be drawn to scale. 
           [0028]    Various embodiments will hereinafter be described in accordance with the appended drawings, which are provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope in any manner, wherein similar designations denote similar elements, and in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the fingertip mountable shaving device, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates an assembled view of the fingertip mountable shaving device, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates side view of the base unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric view of the base unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top isometric view of a supporting member of the enclosing unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary, top partial cross-sectional view of plurality of blades assemblies placed within the enclosing unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary view of the arrangement of a blade member and the elastomeric layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary, partial, side cross sectional view of the shaving unit along with the base unit and the enclosing unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a blade member, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  illustrates a protective peel off layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  illustrates a plurality of blade assemblies, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  illustrates the top unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  illustrates the enclosing unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  illustrates the side cross-sectional view of the shaving unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  illustrates an exploded view of the top unit, the shaving unit and the base unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0044]      FIG. 16  illustrates an exploded view of the top unit, the enclosing unit, and the shaving unit, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0045]      FIG. 17  illustrates an enlarged view of a blade member, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  illustrates a perspective view of the fingertip mountable shaving device, in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERING 
       [0047]      10  labels a protective peel off layer 
         [0048]      20  labels a base unit 
         [0049]      21  labels a slot in the base unit 
         [0050]      22  labels a top surface of the base unit 
         [0051]      23  labels a bottom surface of base unit 
         [0052]      30  labels a shaving unit 
         [0053]      31  labels a plurality of blade assemblies 
         [0054]      32  labels a blade member 
         [0055]      33  labels a grooved edge of the blade member 
         [0056]      34  labels a cutting edge of the blade member 
         [0057]      35  labels a hole in the blade member 
         [0058]      36  labels an elastomeric insert 
         [0059]      37  labels an elastomeric layer attached to the blade member 
         [0060]      38  labels a protective lip 
         [0061]      39  labels a elastomeric layer alignment member 
         [0062]      40  labels an enclosing unit 
         [0063]      42  labels a supporting member of the enclosing unit 
         [0064]      50  labels a top unit 
         [0065]      51  labels a plurality of elastomeric strips running along a vertical peripheral edge of the top unit 
         [0066]      100  labels a fingertip mountable shaving device 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0067]    The present disclosure is best understood with reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. Various embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the figures are simply for explanatory purposes as the methods and systems may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings presented and the needs of a particular application may yield multiple alternative and suitable approaches to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, any approach may extend beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. 
         [0068]    References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0069]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned herein are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
         [0070]    It is also noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the claims, the terms “first,” “second”, and so forth are to be interpreted merely as ordinal designations they shall not be limited in themselves. Further, the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of any claim element is contemplated. Also, it is contemplated that any element indicated to be optional herein may be specifically excluded from a given claim by way of a “negative” limitation. Finally, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variation(s) described herein may be set forth and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. 
         [0071]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0072]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and plural, unless indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. 
         [0073]    The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value failing within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. 
         [0074]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a fingertip mountable shaving device  100  for shaving hair from a body of a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment. The fingertip mountable shaving device  100  includes a base unit  20 , a shaving unit  30 , an enclosing unit  40 , and a top unit  50 , and a protective peel off layer  10  (shown and explained in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0075]      FIG. 2  illustrates an assembled view of the fingertip mountable shaving device  100  for shaving hair from a body of a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment. The fingertip mountable shaving device  100  includes a base unit  20 , a shaving unit  30 , an enclosing unit  40 , and a top unit  50 , and a protective peel off layer  10  (shown and explained in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0076]    As depicted in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the base unit  20  has a top surface  22  and a bottom surface  23 . The base unit  20  is provided with a plurality of slots  21  on the top surface  22 . The base unit  20  is of curved shape in order to fit on to the fingertip of a user. The bottom surface  23  is coated with an adhesive and covered with a releasably connected protective peel off layer  10  (shown and explained in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0077]      FIG. 5  represents a supporting member of the enclosing unit  40 , denoted by the reference numeral  42 . A plurality of such supporting members  42  comprise of the enclosing unit  40  (as depicted in  FIG. 13 ). The enclosing unit  40  is provided with corresponding engaging members so as to be non-removably coupled to the plurality of slots  21 . Enclosed within the enclosing unit  40 , is the shaving unit  30 . 
         [0078]    The shaving unit  30  is provided within the boundary of the enclosing unit  40  and is non-removably coupled to the top surface  22  of the base unit  20 . The shaving unit  30  comprises of a plurality of blade assemblies  31  and a plurality of elastomeric inserts  36 . Each blade assembly further comprises of a plurality of uniformly spaced, equally high and parallel blade members  32 , tilted at a predetermined angle, such that the plurality of blade assemblies intersect in a criss-cross patterned grid (as shown in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 11 ). Each singularity of blade  32  is provided with a plurality of grooves to receive other blades, and also has a plurality of holes  35 . Each blade member  32  is characterized by a grooved edge  33  and a cutting edge  34 . 
         [0079]    Each blade member  32  is further characterized by an elastomeric protective layer  37 , non-removably attached to its one surface by means of an elastomeric layer aligning member  39  being inserted through the aligning holes  35  of the blade member  32  so as to provide a protective lip  38  of the elastomeric material along the cutting edge  34 . (as shown and depicted in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 14 ). In alternate embodiments, the elastomeric layer  37  may be directly coated on the blade member  32 . 
         [0080]    The protective lip  38  prevents accidental cutting of the skin. Since the blade assemblies form a crisscross pattern, when the motion of shaving is in the X-direction, the blades in the Y-direction are covered by the protective lip  38  so as to prevent slicing the skin, and vice versa when the motion is in the Y-directions, the protective lip cover the sharp edge of the blade members in the X-direction. 
         [0081]    The plurality of elastomeric inserts  36  provided on each peripheral side of a blade assembly  31  is to give support to the corresponding blade assembly to maintain the predetermined angle (as shown and explained in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 17 ). 
         [0082]      FIG. 17  depicts an enlarged view of a blade member  32  having a cutting edge  34 . The elastomeric layer  37  is non-removably attached to the blade member  32  to form a protective lip  38 . 
         [0083]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of blade members  32  and accordingly the corresponding blade assemblies  31  are tilted at a predetermined angle, such that the predetermined angle is in the range of 35 to 60 degrees from the horizontal. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined angle is in the range of 40 to 45 degrees from the horizontal. 
         [0084]      FIG. 12  depicts the top unit  50  comprising a plurality of elastomeric strips  51  running along a vertical peripheral edge and configured to engage with the enclosing unit  40 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 15  illustrates an alternate exploded view of a fingertip mountable shaving device  100  for shaving hair from a body of a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment, depicting a base unit  20 , a plurality of blade assemblies  31  in exploded view, and an enclosing unit  40  along with a top unit  50  in an assembled form. 
         [0086]      FIG. 16  illustrates an alternate exploded view of a fingertip mountable shaving device  100  for shaving hair from a body of a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment, depicting a plurality of blade assemblies  31  in an assembled view, supporting members of an enclosing unit  42  in exploded view, and a top unit  50 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 18  illustrates an assembled view of the fingertip mountable shaving device  100  for shaving hair from a body of a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment. The fingertip mountable shaving device  100  includes a base unit  20 , a shaving unit  30 , an enclosing unit  40 , and a top unit  50 , and a protective peel off layer  10  (shown and explained in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0088]    In accordance with the present invention, the fingertip mountable hair shaving device  100 , comprises
       (a) a base unit having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface coated with an adhesive and covered with a releasably connected protective peel off layer, and the bottom surface being on the opposite side of the top surface across a transversal axis;   (b) a shaving unit further comprising:
           a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly comprising
               a plurality of uniformly spaced, equally high and parallel blade members, tilted at a predetermined angle, such that the plurality of blade assemblies intersect in a criss-cross patterned grid, and   each singularity of blade having a cutting edge and a grooved edge, the grooved edge comprising a plurality of grooves to receive other blades, a plurality of holes, and being characterized by an elastomeric protective layer non-removably attached to one surface of the singularity of blade by means of an engaging member inserted through the aligning holes of the blade so as to provide a lip of the elastomeric material along the cutting edge of the blade,   a plurality of elastomeric inserts on each peripheral side of a blade assembly to provide support to the corresponding blade assembly to maintain the predetermined angle,   
               
           (c) an enclosing unit further comprising a plurality of supporting members with means to engage with the base unit and enclose the shaving unit;   (a) a top unit comprising of a plurality of elastomeric strips running along a vertical peripheral edge and configured to engage with the enclosing unit; wherein the top unit is non-removably coupled to the enclosing unit and the shaving unit is non-removably coupled to the top surface of the base unit.       
 
         [0097]    In accordance with at least one embodiment, the shaving device  100  is of substantially circular in shape. It will be readily known to those skilled in the art that various other shapes such as elliptical, oval or any other geometric pattern may also be used for the shaving device  100  without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0098]    In accordance with at least one embodiment, the overall diameter of the shaving device  100  has a value in the range of 10 to 25 millimeter and preferably 14 to 20 mm. The overall thickness of the shaving device  100  has a value in the range of 3 to 6 millimeters and preferably 3 to 4 millimeters. 
         [0099]    The elastomeric material layer  37 , the elastomeric inserts  36  and the plurality of vertical peripheral strips of the top unit  51  may be made of a material selected from a group consisting of latex based, non-latex based, natural and synthetic fibers. 
         [0100]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between two consecutive blade members is in the range of 1.1 to 2 millimeter. 
         [0101]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of blade assemblies may be in the range of three to six. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of blade assemblies is four. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any number of plurality of blade assemblies may also be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0102]    A blade assembly  31  includes blade members of various lengths. Typically, the blade member in the center is the longest amongst all other blade members. In an embodiment of the invention, the number of blade members in an assembly may range from three to six. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any number of blade members can constitute a blade assembly, without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0103]    Thus the present system provides a shaving device that is capable of being mounted on a fingertip and is flexible, disposable, small, light in weight, easy to operate, non-electric, facilitates shaving by feel, and also provides a safe and close saving finish while accessing intricate body parts. 
         [0104]    No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0105]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms enclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modification, alternative construction, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modification and variation of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.