Razor storage case having mating closure members

A wet shaving razor case suitable for storage of a razor having a cartridge and adjoining handle, the case comprises an upper portion comprising a cartridge hold down member disposed at a periphery of said upper portion and a handle-receiving recess; a lower portion joined to the upper portion wherein the lower portion comprises a engagement member positioned along a periphery of the lower portion; and wherein upon closure of the upper portion onto the lower portion the hold down member both secures the cartridge within the case and engages with the engagement member to maintain closure of the upper portion on the lower portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a wet shaving razor case that is suitable for storage of a razor having a cartridge and adjoining handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over the years, consumers have become more mobile in their daily lives. This becomes even more apparent as the goods that are commonly used by consumers are tailored for improved mobility and easy travel by manufacturers that recognize this behavior change. One consumer area that has followed this trend is wet shaving razors in that a number of razors are intended for a relatively limited number of uses (referred to as “disposable”) while others are in the form of systems that comprise a longer term use handle that is joined to a removably disposable cartridge. With respect to both types of razor products, it is becoming more commonplace for such razors to incorporate some mechanism of shaving aid application to reduce frictional drag of the razor across the skin, soften hair, or condition skin. Typical shaving aid mechanisms incorporated within a razor include lubrication strips, indicator strips, soap wings, shave gel bars, and similar shaving aid as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,956,848, 5,998,431, 5,906,834, 6,185,822, 6,298,559, 6,301,785, 6,442,839, 6,944,952, 7,069,658; and US Patent Publications US 2006/0143925 A1, 2006/0080838 A1, and 2007/0110703 A1. As manufacturers strive to present consumers with more of these mechanisms, which tend to be water soluble to a certain extent, it is clear that there is a need for a razor case that is suitable for storage of such razors when they are used at home or away from home, e.g., while traveling or even at a gym. In particular, there is a need for a razor storage case that is suitable for 1) storing the razor in a manner that protects a consumer from unintended contact with the cutting edges of the blades during transport, 2) protecting the cutting edges of the blades from dulling by contact with unintended contact during such transport and/or storage, and 3) preserving the remaining shaving aid on the razor cartridge when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the wet shaving razor case suitable for storage of a razor wherein the razor includes a cartridge and adjoining handle and wherein the case comprises an upper portion comprising a cartridge hold down member disposed at a periphery of the upper portion and a handle-receiving recess; a lower portion joined to the upper portion wherein the lower portion comprises a engagement member positioned along a periphery of the lower portion; and wherein upon closure of the upper portion onto the lower portion the hold down member both secures the cartridge within the case and engages with the engagement member to maintain closure of the upper portion on the lower portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, there is shown a wet shaving razor case10suitable for storage of a razor having a cartridge and an adjoining handle. The case comprises an upper portion20and a lower portion30joined to the upper portion. The upper portion20comprises a handle-receiving recess22. The lower portion30comprises a engagement member32that is disposed along a periphery of the lower portion30. The embodiment ofFIG. 1further illustrates the inclusion of a lower spacing member32that may be situated between a front end and a rear end of the case10. The lower spacing member32provides clearance between a razor cartridge and an interior surface of the lower portion30of the case10. This clearance allows for potential drying of any shaving aid that is integrated within the cartridge and is also useful in preventing unnecessary wear of a cutting edge of a shaving blade that is likely included in the razor cartridge. Additionally, inFIG. 1, an x-direction is shown which is transverse to a y-direction. The x-direction represents the lateral (widthwise) span of the case, while the y-direction represents a front to rear span of the case. There is a cartridge centering guide28that is disposed on the lower portion. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, there is shown an additional centering guide on an opposing side to provide increased stability of a cartridge.

The front end of the case is indicated by the presence of the forward stabilization guide34and the rear of the case merely opposes the front end. InFIG. 1, the lower spacing member32, the forward stabilization guide34and the cartridge centering guide28may cooperate to minimize movement of a razor cartridge in the x-direction when the upper portion20and the lower portion30are closed upon one another. In an embodiment that is not shown, the forward stabilization guide34may further comprise a retaining lip. This lip m act to engage and retain a leading edge of a cartridge that is being inserted into the case10. As there may be one or more forward stabilization guides34at the front end of the case, there may be retaining lip(s) on one or more of the forward stabilization guides34.

InFIGS. 1-3, optional vent(s)40disposed in the upper portion20and the lower portion30is shown. One or more vents40may be particularly useful for inclusion into the case of the present invention to aid in evaporation and/or drainage of water or additional fluids used during a shaving experience. The ability of the case to “breathe” may also extend the life of any shaving aid that is integrated with a stored razor cartridge. It is likely that the usefulness of the cartridge will be extended due to an absence of undue pressure on the razor cartridge's shaving aid when not in use. It is believed that the lower spacing member32prevents contact between a front leading surface of a razor (which typically includes a large portion of a shaving aid's skin contacting surface). The optional vent40may act in cooperation with the lower spacing member32in facilitating airflow through the case when in a closed position. One or more vents40may be present in various positions on the lower and/or upper portion20,30of the case10.

Furthermore, it is also envisioned that the lower spacing member32ofFIG. 1may be multiplied so that there is a plurality of lower spacing members32along the x-direction of the case to provide even more support to a cartridge that is placed in the case. For instance, where there is an additional lower spacing member32disposed along the x-direction, the first lower spacing member32may be disposed toward right side of the case while the additional member32is disposed toward the left side of the case. Alternatively, the lower spacing member32may have an increased width from that shown inFIG. 1such that the width of a single lower spacing member32spans greater than about 5%, 15%, 25%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75%, or even greater than about 80% of the width of the case. The lower spacing member32also has a length that spans the y-direction. The length of the lower spacing member32may vary corresponding to the spans detailed above relative to the width. There may also be additional lower spacing members32disposed in the y-direction to provide improved clearance of a cartridge within the case. That is, a plurality of lower spacing members32may be spaced serially (from end to end) along the y-direction. Conversely, this same configuration may be used in the x-direction of the case.

The upper portion20of the case10is joined to the lower portion30in the present invention. In the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1-3, the joinder between the two portions results from the presence of a hinge42. This hinge42may present itself in the form of a living hinge, a multi-component cooperating hinge (e.g., with parts from the upper portion interlocking with parts from the lower portion). There may also be a pinning member present that slides through the interlocking parts of the lower and upper portions and that acts to maintain contact between the respective parts and serves as a center of axis for the hinged joint.

Applicant has found that the present invention addresses the need of not only securing a razor cartridge within a storage case but additionally securely closing the case with a combined securing/closing system. This system involves cooperation between a cartridge hold down member44that is disposed at a periphery of the upper portion and a engagement member55that is positioned along a mating periphery of the lower portion30. The engagement member55has an active restraining surface56that engages with a rear notch49that comprises a snap surface57. The cooperation occurs as a razor cartridge is inserted into the lower portion30. A user then closes the upper portion20down upon the lower portion30thereby pushing the cartridge hold down member44down over an edge (may be a front or rear edge depending on placement of the cartridge hold down member within the interior of the case) of the razor cartridge and locking the cartridge hold down member44down upon the cartridge by engagedly slipping over a front notch45of the cartridge hold down member44. A hold down surface51comprised within the front notch45serves to apply downward pressure to the cartridge. As consistent downward pressure is applied by the user down upon the upper portion20or upward pressure from below onto the lower portion30to effect closure of the case, the engagement member55is forced to engagedly slip into a rear notch49on the rear of the cartridge hold down member44. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the cartridge hold down member44additionally comprises a secondary front notch58that is disposed below the first front notch45on the cartridge hold down member44. This optional secondary front notch58may serve as a clearance point for the cartridge to ensure that the cartridge is engaging with the upper portion20while the first front notch45then retains the engagement. In certain embodiments, there may be a plurality of cartridge hold down members44on the lower portion30or on the upper portion20to improve securing of the closure between the two portions. It may be preferred for the upper portion20to comprise a plurality of cartridge hold down members44to heighten the security of the razor cartridge within the case upon closure. For instance, there may be a pair of cartridge hold down members44at the front end of the case or at the rear end of the case or both.

Additionally, the case comprises a handle-receiving recess22in the upper portion20. This recess22provides an area of clearance for a razor handle that protrudes from the case while a razor cartridge portion of a razor is being stored in the case. When the upper portion20is closed upon the lower portion30, an enclosure46is formed by the handle-receiving recess22and a handle rest48, which is disposed toward the rear of the lower portion30.

The upper portion may comprise an opening tab50to facilitate a user in releasing the upper portion from the lower portion in preparation for shaving. The opening tab50may be disposed adjacent the handle-receiving recess22and may be present on both sides of such recess22.

FIG. 5shows a top plan view of the lower portion with a razor cartridge placed in it. The placement of the razor cartridge makes it clear how the components within the lower portion work together to stabilize the cartridge.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3and5, the interior components of the upper and lower portions are integrally molded with the portions. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 1, each of the cartridge hold down member, the cartridge centering guide, the lower spacing member, the front stabilization guide, and the engagement member are integrally molded into their respective upper and lower portions. In another embodiment, it is required that at least one component selected from the group consisting of the cartridge hold down member, the cartridge centering guide, the lower spacing member, the front stabilization guide, and combinations thereof are integrally molded with the lower portion or even the upper portion (where appropriate).