MULTIPLE BLADE SAFETY RAZOR

Abstract: A manual razor comprises a shaving head (12) and a handle (10) that extends therefrom. The shaving head (12) includes at least two pairs (14, 14a) of dual razor blades (16, 18, 16a, 18a), each blade having a single shaving edge (20, 22, 20a, 22a). The dual blade arrangements (14, 14a) are fixedly mounted on the shaving head (12) in a substantially longitudinal manner in order that the shaving edges (20, 22, 20a, 22a) of all blades are exposed in a common plane. A skin engaging surface (30) is provided between the dual blade arrangements (14, 14a) in order to provide a closer shave.

Description: This invention relates to razors and more particularly to manual safety razors for wet shaving. The document GB 1,591,095 describes a razor comprising a shaving head with three or more blades arranged parallel to each other, said razor blade being fixedly mounted to the shaving head and extending longitudinally thereon. The shaving edges of all the razor blades are exposed in a common plane but this razor does not achieve a closer shave. The document US 4,501,066 cited by the Examiner discloses a dual headed razor system having a handle supporting a pair of separately detachable razor heads, each with one or two razor blades. The orientation of each head is not parallel relative to the other. Also, this razor does not achieve a closer shave. It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved manual razor designed for giving a closer shave. It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a manual razor having a shaving head and a blade arrangement designed for a better overall shave thereof. It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a manual razor having a blade arrangement characterized by a skin-engaging surface between at least two of the blades in the blade arrangement for providing a closer shave. The razor as claimed comprises a shaving head and a handle extending therefrom, with a plurality of blades arranged parallel to each other, said razor blades being fixedly mounted to the shaving head and extending generally longitudinally thereon, the shaving edges of all the razor blades being exposed in a common plane. In accordance with the present invention, the razor comprises at least two razor blade arrangements, each including two closely spaced razor blades, the two arrangements being separated by a low-friction skin-engaging surface which is substantially located in said common plane. Preferably, the transverse dimension between an upper edge of said shaving edges of one of said arrangements and a successive lower edge of said shaving edges of another of said arrangements ranges between 7 and 11 mm. Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the manual razor; FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the manual razor; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the shaving head of the manual razor along lines 3-3 of Figure 2. Referring mainly to Figure 1, a razor R includes a handle 10 and a shaving head generally shown as 12, mounted to the handle 10 at one end thereof. The handle 10 and the shaving head 12 are made of a hard moulded plastic, such as polystyrene. The shaving head 12 comprises first and second dual-blade arrangements 14 and 14a respectively. The dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a each comprise a pair of razor blades 16 and 18 and 16a and 18a respectively, as shown in Figure 1. The razor blades 16, 16a, 18 and 18a respectively include a shaving edge 20, 20a, 22 and 22a made of chromed platinum or the like. The dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a are longitudinally mounted in the shaving head 12 between end walls 24 and 26 thereof. The razor blades 16, 16a, 18 and 18a are fixedly mounted in a parallel manner to the general body of the shaving head 12, in order that the respective shaving edges 20, 20a, 22 and 22a, aside from being parallel, are exposed in a common plane, as best seen in Figure 3. Mounting of the dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a will be further described hereinafter. Referring mainly to Figures 1 and 2, the shaving head 12 also includes first, second and third low friction skin-engaging surfaces 28, 30 and 32 respectively, which extend longitudinally between the end walls 24 and 26 of the shaving head 12 and transversely on each side of each of the dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a. The skin engaging surfaces 28, 30 and 32 are disposed substantially in a same plane, as best seen in Figure 3, slightly inwardly of the common plane of the shaving edges 20, 20a, 22 and 22a. The first skin-engaging surface 28 prepares the skin and the whiskers for a shaving action from the first dual blade arrangement 14, whereas the second skin-engaging surface 30 prepares the same for shaving action from the second dual blade arrangement 14a. It has been found that a closer shave is achieved if the transverse extent, that is the distance between blade edges 20a and 22, is between 7 and 11 mm. The second skin-engaging surface 30 may allow the skin and the whiskers to return after the shaving action of the first dual blade arrangement 14 to a relaxed position thereof before encountering the shaving action from the second dual blade arrangement 14a. It is thus suggested that the second skin-engaging surface 30 may allow the unsevered whiskers to return to a substantially upstanding position relative to the skin before going through the second shaving action provided by the second dual blade arrangement 14a. Nevertheless, a closer shave is achieved. Now referring to Figure 3, each of the dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a is mounted to the shaving head 12 by way of respective rivets 34 and 34a which are respectively part of body portions 36 and 37 of the shaving head 12, which body portions respectively bear the second and third skin-engaging surfaces 30 and 32. Spacers 38 and 38a respectively separate the blades of each of the dual blade arrangements 14 and 14a, also providing parallelisms between each group of blades. Further body parts 40 and 42 of the shaving head 12, in conjunction with body portions 36 and 37 and rivets 34 and 34a, assist in maintaining in a parallel way the blades 16, 16a, 18 and 18a, and in providing the common plane for the shaving edges 20, 20a, 22 and 22a. As seen in all figures, first and second slots 44 and 44a are defined in the shaving head 12 respectively under shaving blades 16 and 16a for receiving and temporarily storing a certain amount of a mixture containing severed whiskers, lather and water. Such slots or passages are well known in the art. A first and second set of baffles 46 and 46a, which are part of the shaving head 12, are respectively provided transversely within the slots 44 and 44a. Consequently when shaving, the first skin-engaging surface 28 positions the skin for a first shaving carried out by the first dual blade arrangement 14, as severed whiskers, lather and water are temporarily stored in the first slot 44. Afterwards, the skin and the unsevered whiskers return to the normal position thereof when reaching the second skin-engaging surface 30 and are thus prepared for a second shaving which is now performed by the second dual blade arrangement 14a; thereagain, severed whiskers, lather and water are stored in the second slot 44a. It is necessary to run the shaving head 12 under a faucet or to agitate it in water for clearing the slots 44 and 44a in order to continue producing a close shave and to avoid irritation of the skin from the trapped severed whiskers. A further embodiment, not shown in the drawings, proposes a shaving head that is removably mounted to a handle, whereas, in the illustrated embodiment, as described hereinabove, the whole razor is disposable. In a still further embodiment of the present invention, which is also not shown in the illustrations, a shaving head is pivotally mounted to a handle, whereby a pivoting shaving head is produced which is also disposable.

Claims: 1. A razor comprising a shaving head (12) and a handle (10) extending therefrom, with a plurality of blades (16, 18, 16a, 18a) arranged parallel to each other, said razor blades being fixedly mounted to the shaving head (12) and extending generally longitudinally thereon, the shaving edges (20, 22, 20a, 22a) of all the razor blades being exposed in a common plane, characterized in that the razor comprises at least two razor blade arrangements (14, 14a), each including two closely spaced razor blades, and that the two arrangements (14, 14a) are separated by a low-friction skin-engaging surface (30) which is substantially located in said common plane. 2. A razor according to claim 1 characterized in that the transverse dimension between an upper edge (22) of said shaving edges of one of said arrangements (14) and a successive lower edge (20a) of said shaving edges of another of said arrangements (14a) ranges between 7 and 11 mm. 3. A razor according to claim 1 characterized in that slots (44, 44a) are longitudinally defined in said shaving head (12) adjacent said arrangements (14, 14a) for temporarily receiving a mix of severed whiskers, lather and water. 4. A razor according to claim 3 characterized in that the shaving head (12) comprises baffles (46, 46a) transversely extending in said slots (44, 44a) from said shaving head towards an internal surface of a lower blade (20, 20a) of each of said arrangements (14, 14a). 5. A razor according to claim 1 characterized in that the shaving head (12) and the handle (10) are made of a molded plastic. 6. A razor according to claim 5 characterized in that the molded plastic is polystyrene.

Inventors: ELTIS, MIREL
Applicants: ELTIS, MIREL
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B26B21
IPC codes: B26B21