Abstract:
Apparatus for sharpening and or honing a multi-bladed razor cartridge including a sharpening member, a housing to secure the sharpening member. An aloe vera or soap solution dispenser provides a lubricant to the sharpening member to lubricate the razor and a housing to limit the travel of the razor on the sharpening member. The sharpening and or honing member is made of a mirrored plate glass secured in a channel within the housing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/985,386 filed Nov. 9, 2004 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to apparatus for sharpening a multi-bladed cartridge razor. More specifically, the invention relates to apparatus for use with to sharpen or hone a multi-bladed sharpening razor where multiple blades are retained in a single shaving cartridge. The multi-bladed shaving razor is used for shaving the face, legs, underarm, and other areas of a body where unwanted hair is present. A lubricant comprising of aloe vera gel is utilized to improve the honing process of the blades.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Most safety razors are typically used for shaving the face and other hairy regions of the human body. The razor, consist of a metal and/or plastic handle attached to a multi-bladed cartridge razor head. Generally a multi-bladed razor cartridge is capable of not more than 5 to 10 close shaves before the shaving edges becomes dull and the user must dispose of the cartridge. There is a need for quick and simple means for honing or re-sharpening the blades in order to extend their useful life.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 1,540,078 issued May 23, 1924 to W. R. Long discloses a sharpener for a single flat razor blade. With this invention the user places a single blade in the sharpener, and slides the blade over a sharpening surface that sharpens the blade. While this invention sharpens a single blade, it is not intended for sharpening multiple blades, a cartridge of blades and it abrades the blade surface in addition to just removing oxidation from the edge of the blade.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 1,588,322 issued Apr. 4, 1924 to T. McAdoo discloses a sharpener for a single flat razor blade. With this invention the user places a single blade in the sharpener, and slides the blade over a sharpening surface that sharpens the blade. While this invention sharpens a single blade, it is not intended for sharpening multiple blades, a cartridge of blades and it abrades the blade surface in addition to just removing oxidation from the edge of the blade.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,246 issued Aug. 28, 1925 to H. W. Dechert discloses a scraper sharpener. With this invention the user places a scraper blade in the sharpener, and slides the blade over the surface of a file to sharpen the edge of the scraper. While this invention sharpens scraper, it is not intended for sharpening multiple blades, a cartridge of blades and it abrades the blade surface in addition to just removing oxidation from the edge of the scraper.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,458,257 issued Jun. 25, 1946 to A. E. Donovan discloses a holder and sharpener for a single flat razor blade. With this invention the user places a single blade in the holder/sharpener, and slides the blade over a sharpening surface that sharpens the blade. While this invention sharpens a single blade, it is not intended for sharpening multiple blades, a cartridge of blades and it abrades the blade surface in addition to just removing oxidation from the edge of the blade.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,731 issued Aug. 6, 1991 to Fletcher discloses a Razor Sharpening Device that sharpens a single razor blade. With this invention the user places a single blade in the sharpener, and slides the blade over a honing member that sharpens the blade. While this invention sharpens a single blade, it is not intended for sharpening multiple blades, or a cartridge of blades.  
         [0009]     Published US Patent application 2003/0170198 from Williams published Sep. 11, 2003 discloses a shaving gel using a number of ingredients including aloe vera gel for shaving. While this published application discloses the use of aloe vera gel as a lubricant for shaving there is no disclosure where the shaving gel is utilized to sharpen the shaving razor.  
         [0010]     The prior art discloses examples of apparatus for sharpening blades of a razor, but none providing the combination of features disclosed and claimed herein.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved sharpening device for sharpening the cutting edges of a multi-bladed cartridge razor. Other objects of this invention are to provide apparatus that can rapidly sharpen razor blades mounted in a cartridge, which have no moving parts, is compact and durable.  
         [0012]     Razor blades in general become dull when oxidation occurs to the cutting edge. When the oxidation is removed, the cutting edge can be restored or maintained by first applying a soap or aloe vera film onto the sharpening surface and secondly removing the oxidation by sliding the cutting blade edge along a honing or sharpening surface. When only the oxidation is removed, the cutting blade edge can be maintained as long as the razor blade edge is not altered.  
         [0013]     It is another object of this invention to utilize aloe vera gel to lubricate the glass sharpening surface to remove oxidation from the edge of the razor. The aloe vera gel allows the blade to move along the surface of the glass and not bind. The aloe vera further creates a slurry that spreads along the blade to provide even sharpening or honing of the blade.  
         [0014]     In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is proposed for sharpening the cutting edges of a multi-bladed cartridge razor mounted within a shaving head that is attached to a handle. A liquid aloe vera or soap-dispensing device provides a slurry solution to the sharpening surface to provide lubrication. The sharpening apparatus comprises a housing that holds a sharpening element. The soap or aloe vera dispensing apparatus is a plastic housing with a dispensing end with a cap. The housing includes a substantially elongated flat member. The housing has grooved sidewalls, and an attachment mechanism located along the opposite edges of the bottom member.  
         [0015]     It is another object of the invention to keep the glass or mirror surface exposed to allow the person shaving to utilize the surface to view their reflection while shaving. This give the invention a dual purpose of both providing a sharpening surface and a viewing surface.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment of the invention, a wire or string is attached to eyelet screws to provide a means to store the invention on a showerhead collar or on a wall-mounting bracket.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the multi-blade sharpening apparatus.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the multi-blade sharpening apparatus shown with a blade being sharpened.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the multi-blade sharpening apparatus.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the multi-blade sharpening apparatus as it might hang within a shower.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a simplified version of the multi-blade sharpening apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , there is shown a honing device for a multi-bladed shaving cartridge. In this figure the housing  10  comprises a bottom wall  12 , sidewalls  14  and  16 , end walls  18 ,  20  and top plate  22 . Sharpening element  13  as a substantially planar sharpening surface  15  secured to sidewalls  14  and  16 , end walls  18 , and bottom wall  12 . The configuration of the housing is shown as a flat substantially rectangular shape, but various other configurations of the housing are contemplated including square, triangular, round, elliptical and other shapes, as long as the housing allows for a honing surface that allows for the blades of a multi-bladed cartridge to be honed.  
         [0023]     In the preferred embodiment the honing element  13  is comprised of a smooth glass mirrored surface. Other honing elements are contemplated including diamond surfaces, metals, emery paper, sandpaper, stones, or other surfaces. In the preferred embodiment the honing or sharpening is flat, but the shape may be another shape that follows the contour of the blade that is being sharpened. It is further contemplated that the sharpening element  13  has two sides, where one side is used for sharpening, and the opposite side is a mirror used for visual reflection. This allows a person to sharpen the blade(s) on one surface and view themselves while shaving with the other surface. This two sided embodiment allows for degradation of the reflective properties of the sharpening surface without compromising the reflective properties of the reflective surface. While it has been described that the two surfaces have different functions, the two sides can both be mirror surfaces providing twice the number of reflective and sharpening surfaces.  
         [0024]     The material from which the housing  10  is made is not critical and it may suitably be made from a material such as steel or aluminum, wood, or it may be made from plastic. In the preferred embodiment the housing is molded in a plastic material. The plastic material will not rust, is simple to manufacture and can be manufactured with high repeatability with minimal part cost.  
         [0025]     Prior to sharpening, the sharpening process is facilitated by applying a thin coating of liquid soap or aloe vera solution onto the surface  15  from a dispenser  27  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The aloe vera or soap dispenser can be a variety of liquid dispensers that can be dry soap, liquid soap, aloe vera, or a spray of a thin aloe vera or soap and water solution. The multi-bladed cartridge razor may be honed or re-sharpened by placing the multi-bladed cartridge razor head within the housing  10  holding handle  26  so the cutting edges in the multi-bladed cartridge razor head is parallel to the sharpening surface  15 , and moving the cartridge  24  along the surface  15  pulled toward the end  20 . In this figure the lubricant dispenser is shown as a separate item it is contemplated that the dispenser is an integrated unit with the blade sharpening housing.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 4  that shows the blade-honing device on a wall mounted configuration attached to holder  41  or showerhead  42  mounted methods. The mounting is accomplished with a string, or wire that is secured to one or two eyelet screw attachments  33  and  34  shown in  FIG. 3 . Wall mounting can be attached with a wall-mounting bracket  41 . The bracket can be made of plastic or metal, and secured to a wall with adhesives or anchored to the wall with a screw or other fastener (not shown). The multi-bladed cartridge-honing device may have a hook or loop molded onto one or more sides for attachment or hooking the apparatus onto the head of a shower or the rail of a shower rod.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  that shows the blade-honing device in its simplified form. In this figure the honing or sharpening surface  13  is shown as a substantially flat piece of mirror. An open mounting hook  33  is formed or cut into the mirror. In this embodiment a user will dispense soap, aloe vera or other lubricant onto the top surface if the glass. The user will then bring a multi-bladed cartridge razor in contact with the glass and stroke the razor on the surface of the glass to remove any oxidation on the razor and or hone the edges of the razor. This embodiment shows a simple open hook so the device can be at least temporarily attached to a showerhead or a shower rod. There are a variety of configurations and embodiments that are contemplated between the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0028]     Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a multi-blade sharpening apparatus have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims