Abstract:
A shaver is provided, the shaver includes a handle with an elongated handgrip portion and a mounting portion, a shaver head, the shaver head being attached to the mounting portion, the shaver head having a bottom wall. A removable cartridge is attached to the shaver head through an attaching element provided on the shaver head. An ejection spring provides an ejection force which urges the cartridge away from the shaver head when the cartridge is removed from the shaver head.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/076798, filed on Dec. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to a shaver with interchangeable cartridges, and to cartridges and head and handle assembly for such a shaver. 
         [0003]    More particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a shaver that includes: 
         [0004]    a handle with an elongated body terminating in a mounting portion for retaining a shaver head, 
         [0005]    a shaver head adapted to accommodate an interchangeable shaving cartridge, 
         [0006]    a lock-and-release mechanism to enable the interchangeable shaving cartridge to be loaded and ejected from the shaver head, and 
         [0007]    an interchangeable cartridge containing one or more blades. 
         [0008]    Such a shaver enables the user to replace the cartridge once the blade or blades become worn, while the handle and the shaver head can be kept and reused. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The removal from the shaver head of the interchangeable blade cartridges, such as those disclosed in e.g. EP2195145, usually requires the user to press or pull the cartridge to actually displace the cartridge. This means that to replace the cartridge, the user needs to encounter the cartridge by his/her fingers. Therefore the risk of the injury of the user is increased. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    To this aim, a shaver is provided, the shaver comprises a handle with an elongated handgrip portion and a mounting portion, a shaver head, the shaver head being attached to the mounting portion, the shaver head having a bottom wall, a removable cartridge, the cartridge that  includes at least one blade, the cartridge being adapted to be attached to the shaver head and removed from the shaver head, an attaching element, adapted to attach the cartridge to the shaver head, and a spring provided on the shaver head, wherein the spring provides an ejection force which urges the cartridge away from the shaver head when the cartridge is removed from the shaver head. 
         [0011]    With these features, when the cartridge is to be removed from the shaver head, it is more easily ejected from the shaver head. The user does not have to push or pull the cartridge and the risk of injury of the user is lowered. Moreover, as only the cartridge is replaced when the blades become worn, instead of replacing the whole shaver head, the costs of such shaver are kept lower. As a matter of fact, only the blades are changed every time the cartridge is replaced. Thus, the extra features of the head, like e.g. the lubricating strip or rubber guard bar, may be kept and reused. Further, as only the cartridge is replaced, the shaver is both easier to manufacture and more environment friendly, as the amount of material to be replaced (and disposed of) is reduced. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, one may also use one or more of the following features: 
         [0013]    the shaver head may be attached pivotally to the shaver head, 
         [0014]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall positioned in front of the at least one blade in the direction of shaving, and the ejection spring is attached to the bottom wall, 
         [0015]    the cartridge is ejected in a direction parallel to the direction of shaving, 
         [0016]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall positioned in front of the at least one blade in the direction of shaving, lateral walls, and a spring, and the spring comprises a holding portion, positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the shaver head, the holding portion being adapted to attach the spring to the shaver head, and a pair of symmetrically positioned ejection springs, the ejection springs being provided as elastic wings, the elastic wings extending from the holding portion in a direction towards the lateral walls, 
         [0017]    each of the wings terminates in a bent portion, 
         [0018]    the spring is made of metal, 
         [0019]    the attaching element and the ejection spring belong to the same elastic metal part, the metal part further that includes an elastic body connecting the attaching element to the at least one ejection spring, 
         [0020]    the attaching element and the spring are formed as a one-piece body, and the attaching element and the spring are connected via an elastic body, the elastic body extending from the holding portion of the spring in a direction away from the bottom wall of the shaver head, 
         [0021]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall, the bottom wall being positioned in front of the at least one blade in the direction of shaving, and a guard member, the guard member being positioned adjacent the bottom wall, 
         [0022]    the handle further comprises a slidable button, the button that includes a pusher, the pusher being adapted to encounter the elastic body of the spring and thus release the cartridge, 
         [0023]    the cartridge comprises a holder, and wherein the attaching element and the holder cooperate to attach the cartridge to the shaver head, 
         [0024]    the shaver head further comprises lateral walls, the lateral walls may comprise guide tracks, the cartridge may further comprise lateral walls, the lateral walls that includes guide tracks, and the guide tracks of the cartridge may cooperate with guide tracks of the shaver head. 
         [0025]    In another aspect of the present invention, a cartridge is provided, the cartridge comprises a holder, and the holder has an overall shape of a hook. 
         [0026]    One may also use one or more of the following features: 
         [0027]    the cartridge comprises at least one blade, the at least one blade is mounted movably, 
         [0028]    the cartridge further comprises a top wall and a shaving aid, the shaving aid positioned in the top wall. 
         [0029]    In another aspect of the present invention, a head and handle assembly for a shaver as described above may be provided, the assembly that includes: a handle with an elongated handgrip portion and a mounting portion, a shaver head, the shaver head being adapted to receive a cartridge, the shaver head being attached to the mounting portion, an ejection spring provided on the shaver head, and an attaching element adapted to attach a cartridge to the shaver head, wherein the ejection spring provides an ejection force which urges the cartridge away from the shaver head when the cartridge is removed from the shaver head. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments of the assembly, one may also use one or more of the following features: 
         [0031]    the shaver head may be attached pivotally to the mounting portion, 
         [0032]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall, and the spring is attached to the bottom wall, 
         [0033]    the cartridge is ejected in a direction parallel to the direction of shaving, 
         [0034]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall and lateral walls, and the spring comprises a holding portion, positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the shaver head, the holding portion being adapted to attach the spring to the shaver head, and a pair of symmetrically positioned elastic wings, the elastic wings extending from the holding portion in a direction towards the lateral walls, 
         [0035]    each of the wings terminates in a bent portion, 
         [0036]    the spring is made of metal, 
         [0037]    the attaching element further comprises an elastic body, and the attaching element is provided as a part of the shaver head, 
         [0038]    the attaching element is made of plastic, 
         [0039]    the attaching element and the spring are formed as a one-piece body, and the attaching element and the spring are connected via an elastic body, 
         [0040]    the attaching element and the spring are formed as a one-piece body, and the attaching element and the spring are connected via an elastic body, the elastic body extending from the holding portion of the spring in a direction away from the bottom wall of the shaver head, 
         [0041]    the shaver head further comprises a bottom wall and a guard member, the guard member being positioned adjacent the bottom wall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]    Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of one of its embodiments, provided as a non-limitative examples, and of the accompanying drawings. 
           [0043]    On the drawings: 
           [0044]      FIG. 1   a  shows an overall view of the shaver from the back side 
           [0045]      FIG. 1   b  shows an overall view of the shaver from the front side 
           [0046]      FIG. 1   c  shows a cross-section along a line Ic of the shaver 
           [0047]      FIG. 2   a  shows a front portion of the handle 
           [0048]      FIG. 2   b  shows a front portion of the handle with a cam follower and a spring 
           [0049]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the cartridge and the shaver head upon the insertion of the cartridge 
           [0050]      FIG. 4   a  shows a shaver head without the cartridge as seen from the back 
           [0051]      FIG. 4   b  shows a detail of the shaver head 
           [0052]      FIG. 5   a  is a back view of the cartridge 
           [0053]      FIG. 5   b  shows a cross-section of the cartridge along a line Vb. 
           [0054]      FIG. 6   a  shows an overall view of the spring 
           [0055]      FIG. 6   b  shows a lateral view of the spring 
           [0056]      FIG. 6   c  shows a front view of the spring 
           [0057]      FIG. 7   a  shows a top side of the button 
           [0058]      FIG. 7   b  shows a bottom side of the button 
           [0059]      FIG. 7   c  shows an overall view of the button 
       
    
    
       [0060]    On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0061]      FIGS. 1   a  to  1   c  show an example of a shaver according to the present invention. The shaver comprises a handle  20 , a shaver head  40  and a cartridge  60 , which accommodates one or more blades  63 . On the example shown on the Figures, there are four blades. However, the cartridge may also use more or less of blades. 
         [0062]    The cartridge ( FIGS. 3 ,  5   a  and  5   b )  60  is formed as a frame with a top wall  61 , two lateral walls  62 , bottom wall  67  and a back structure (shown in detail on  FIG. 5   a ). The top wall  61  and the bottom wall  67  are elongated and connected by the lateral walls  62 . The frame of the cartridge  60  may be molded out of plastic; preferably, the frame is one-piece. The blades  63  extend between the lateral walls  62 , parallel to the top wall  61  and the bottom wall  67 . The blades  63  may be made from bent sheet metal, or, preferably, they may be straight and supported with blade supports  63 A. The blades  63  and/or the blade supports  63 A are then accommodated in seats  63 B provided in the lateral walls  62 . Moreover, the blades may for instance be placed movably. The lateral walls  62  may be provided with elastic fingers  64 , extending towards the insides of the cartridge frame, in a direction parallel to the blades  63 , and supporting movably the blades  63 . The blades  63  may be held in the cartridge by a pair of bent metal strips  66 , which encircle the ends of the blades  63  and thus hold them in place. The number of blades may be for example four. In the top wall  61 , lying generally in a plane defined by the blade edges, a shaving aid  61 A may be provided. In other embodiments, the blades may be fixed. 
         [0063]    The handle  20  has an elongated handgrip portion (not shown) which may be provided with features that enhance grip of the user and help prevent slipping, such as ribs, pegs, elastomeric parts and the like. The handle  20  is preferably molded out of a plastic material. The handle  20  is terminated in two yokes  21  extending from the handle, as shown on  FIG. 2 . The yokes  21  end in a mounting portion, which may be provided in a form of shell bearings  22 . The shell bearings  22  then cooperate with complementary depressions  41  provided on the shaver head  40 . The shell bearings  22  and the complementary depressions  41  together enable the shaver head  40  to pivot about an axis parallel to the length of the blades  63 . Alternatively, the shell bearings  22  may be replaced by hinges, pins or other pivoting means; the shaver head  40  may also be attached to the handle  20  without any pivoting means. Here, only the pivoting head will be described. 
         [0064]    The yokes  21  further define a gap  23 , positioned between the yokes  21 . The gap  23  accommodates a cam follower  24 . The cam follower  24  has a bifurcated end; the two branches cooperate with a pair of rests  43 A provided on back wall  43  of the shaver head  40 , therefore enabling the shaver head  40  to be returned to the neutral position. The cam follower  24  is operated by a coil spring  36 , which is preferably made of metal. 
         [0065]    An example of a shaver head  40  is shown on  FIG. 3   FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . The shaver head comprises a front wall  44 , a back wall  43 , a bottom wall  46  and lateral walls  42 . The front wall  44  may include a skin engaging element or a guard (not shown), preferably made in an elastomeric material. The back wall  43  comprises depressions  41 , which accommodate shell bearings  22 , positioned at the end of the handle  20 . On the back wall  43 , there is also a pair of rests  43 A, cooperating with the cam follower  24 . 
         [0066]    The shaver head  40  forms a seating where the cartridge  60  can be accommodated (detail of such seating is shown on  FIG. 4   b ). The cartridge  60  is preferably inserted from the side opposing the bottom wall  46 , as shown on  FIG. 3 , generally in a direction of shaving. The lateral walls  42  include guide tracks  42 A, formed as grooves on the insides of the lateral walls  42 . Once the cartridge  60  is inserted into the shaver head, the guide tracks  42 A are encountered by guide tracks  62 A provided as protrusions on the lateral walls  62  of the cartridge  60  and the cartridge  60  is guided to its seating. The risk of wrong insertion of the cartridge  60  is thus lowered. 
         [0067]    Once the cartridge  60  is inserted into the shaver head  40 , it encounters an attaching element  45 A and at least one ejection spring  45 C. The attaching element  45 A is adapted to attach the cartridge  60  to the shaver head  40 . Preferably, the attaching element  45 A attaches the cartridge  60  to the shaver head  40  by snap-fitting. 
         [0068]    In an example shown on the Figures, the attaching element  45 A is provided as a part of a spring  45 . The spring  45  is positioned in the bottom wall  46  of the shaver head  40 . The spring is shown on  FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c . The attaching element  45 A takes a form of a snap-fitting portion  45 A extending from an elastic body  45 B. The spring  45  may further comprise an ejection spring  45 C. The ejection spring  45 C is preferably provided as a pair of symmetrically positioned elastic wings  45 C. The spring  45  also comprises a holding portion  45 D, which is adapted to hold the spring  45  in its position. On  FIG. 6   b , the elastic body  45 B is shown to extend from the holding portion  45 D in a direction away from the bottom wall  46 . The elastic body  45 B is bent towards the back wall  43  of the shaver head  40  and then back to form a substantially C-shaped strip. The elastic body  45 B, when assembled in the shaver head  40 , is preferably positioned so that the C-shaped part protrudes between the pair of the rest portions  43 A of the shaver head  40 . On the top of the elastic body  45 B, there is a snap-fitting portion  45 A, which forms a small loop that is turned towards the back wall  43  of the shaver head  40 . The wings  45 C extend from the holding portion  45 D generally in a direction towards the lateral walls  42 , preferably in an angle that is more than  15  degrees with respect to the bottom wall  46 . A small portions of the ends  45 E of the wings  45 C are bent towards the bottom wall  46 , thus simplifying insertion of the bottom wall  67  of the cartridge  60  and avoiding its damage. 
         [0069]    In one possible embodiment, the attaching element  45 A, together with the elastic body  45 B, are provided as a part of the shaver head  40 . The attaching element  45 A and the elastic body  45 B may be made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material with elastic properties. The attaching element  45 A and the elastic body  45 B may be provided molded integrally with the shaver head  40 . The ejection spring  45 C may then be provided as a separate component. In such example, the spring  45  comprises the holding portion  45 D, and the wings  45 C. The structure of the holding portion  45 D, the wings  45 C, and the position of the holding portion  45 D and the wings  45 C with regards to the shaver head  40  is similar to the example shown in the Figures. 
         [0070]    Below, only the embodiment with the spring  45  being formed integrally with the attaching element  45 A and the ejection spring  45 C will be described. 
         [0071]    The back structure of the cartridge  60  is provided with a holder  65 , which can be encountered by the snap-fitting portion  45 A of the spring  45 . The holder  65  is preferably formed as a pair of small toward-the-blades oriented hooks, as seen on  FIGS. 5   b  and  5   c ; however, other configurations such as only a single hook are also possible. 
         [0072]    Once the cartridge  60  is inserted, the holder  65  is encountered by the snap-fitting portion  45 A of the spring  45 , the snap-fitting portion  45 A of the spring  45  is held by the holder  65 , and thus the cartridge  60  is retained in its seating in the shaver head  40 . 
         [0073]    The spring  45  is attached to the bottom wall  46  of the shaver head  40  by its holding portion  45 D by a holding portion  46 A of the shaver head. The holding portion  46 A may be for example a screw, a bolt, or the like. The spring  45  is thus permanently attached to the shaver head  40 . The spring  45  is preferably made of metal, therefore being resilient and not easily destroyed, but may be made in any other suitable material, such as plastic or material with elastic properties. 
         [0074]    Once the cartridge  60  is inserted into the shaver head  40 , the cartridge  60  preferably does not perform any movements with respect to the shaver head  40 . The shaver head  40  is attached pivotally to the handle  20 ; preferably, the pivoting means  22 ,  41  are provided on the shaver head  40  and on the handle  20 , but not on the cartridge  60 . 
         [0075]    The above described mechanism, which uses the spring  45  provided on the shaver head  40  and the holder  65  provided on the cartridge  60 , brings about several advantages. The only replaced component is the cartridge  60 , which in itself does not hold any additional features (such as pivoting means and the like). Therefore the price of the cartridge  60  may be lowered and the manufacturing process thereof may be simplified; as the shaver head  40  and the handle  20  are not replaced, they may be manufactured as being more robust while keeping the price reasonable. Especially, the means provided to secure the pivoting attachment of the shaver head  40  to the handle  20 , may be made more reliable. Moreover, the snap-fitting mechanism is both easy to manufacture and easy to operate. Since the shaver head  40  and the cartridge  60  are provided with guide tracks  42 A and  62 A, respectively, the insertion of the cartridge  60  into the shaver head  40  is simplified and the risk of wrong insertion of the cartridge  60  is lowered. The simplified design of the cartridge  60  may be further beneficial with regards to sustainability, as the cartridge  60  may be washed with reduced amount of water. 
         [0076]    When the cartridge  60  is attached to the shaver head  40 , the wings  45 C of the spring are compressed by the cartridge  60 . Therefore, the ends  45 E of the wings  45 C that are bent are preferably so short as to avoid damage of the bottom wall  46  of the shaver head  40 . 
         [0077]    The top part of the handle  20  adjacent the shaver head  40  is also provided with a button  30  (see  FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c ). The button  30  has a front end  30 A and a rear end  30 B. The button  30  is slidable in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle  20 . To ensure sliding of the button  30 , two pair of guides  34  and  37  are provided on the part of the button  30  that is adjacent to the handle  20 . The guides  34 ,  37  encounter the guide trails  27 A,  27 B provided on the front portion of the handle  20 ; preferably, the guides  34 ,  37  are provided with a bent lower portions  34 A,  37 A so as to ensure that they do not disengage from the respective guide trails  27 A,  27 B. In this way, the guides  34 ,  37 , when in cooperation with guide trails  27 A,  27 B, provide the button  30  with sliding in a direction generally parallel to the length of the handle  20 , prevents the button  30  from moving elsewhere, and also prevents the button  30  from disengaging from the handle  20 . 
         [0078]    The button  30  comprises a finger receiving region  32 , provided on the top part of the button  30 . As can be seen on  FIG. 7   a , the finger receiving region  32  may be equipped with features that help to prevent slipping of user&#39;s fingers. Once the user encounters the button  30  with his/her finger, s/he may push the button  30  in a direction towards the shaver head  40 . To return the button  30  to its initial position, the button  30  is provided with a coil rest  35 , which is positioned at the rear end  30 B of the button  30 , adjacent the handle  20 . The coil rest  35  cooperates with the coil spring  36 . When the button  30  is pressed by the user, the coil spring  36  is compressed, and once the button  30  is released, the coil spring  36  returns the button  30  to its original position. 
         [0079]    The button  30  further comprises a pusher  31 . The pusher  31  is located in the front end  30 A of the button, adjacent the shaver head  40 . The pusher  31  takes a form of a projection which extends from the button  30  in a direction of the shaver head  40 . Preferably, the projection of the pusher  31  is located between the two branches of the bifurcated end of the cam follower  24  so that it can easily reach the elastic body  45 B of the spring  45 , which is located between the rests  43 A for the cam follower  24 . In this way, the cam follower  24  and the pusher  31  do not interfere. 
         [0080]    Once the user wishes to replace the cartridge  60 , s/he pushes the button  30  and the cartridge  60  is disengaged. More specifically, the pusher  31  presses the C-shaped part of the elastic body  45 B of the spring  45 . The elastic body  45 B of the spring  45  is then deformed, thus releasing the snap-fitting portion  45 A of the spring  45  from the holder  65 , and the spring  45  no longer holds the cartridge  60  in place. Moreover, the wings  45 C of the spring  45 , which are compressed by the cartridge  60 , tend to return to their initial position. The wings  45 C of the spring  45  urge the cartridge  60  away from its seating, and the cartridge  60  is ejected. In this way, the user does not have to touch the cartridge  60  by his/her fingers and the risk of cutting the user&#39;s fingers with the blades  63  is then reduced. 
         [0081]    Moreover, as can be seen on  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c , the button  30  comprises a pair of safeguards  33 . The safeguards  33  generally take a form of pins protruding downwards from the button  30 . The handle is adapted to receive these safeguards  33  in grooves  26 , carved in the handle  20 . The safeguards  33  can slide back and forth in the grooves  26 , and given the shape of the grooves, they prevent the yokes  21  from being accidentally moved closer together. When the yokes  21  cannot be moved closer together, the risk of the yokes accidentally releasing the shaver head as a whole is reduced, thus reducing risk of injury of the user.