RAZOR

Abstract: A twin blade razor (10) has an upper blade (32) which is movable from a first position in which the two blades (28, 32) are parallel to a second position in which the cutting edges (30, 42) of the blades (28, 32) are spaced apart to facilitate easy cleaning between the blades (28, 32).

Description: RAZOR This invention relates to a razor with at least two blades . Twin blade razors are well known in the art. A second blade is set above and back from a first blade in the razor head . When in use the second blade should shave any hair which is missed by the first blade. These twin blade razors tend to be more efficient than single blade razors , but suffer from the problem in that debris shaven hair collects between the two blades and is difficult to remove. The razor head is therefore difficult to clean . The present invention has been made from a consideration of this problem . According to the present invention there is provided a razor comprising a razor head and a handle for the razor head, said razor head comprising two spaced apart blades , one of the blades being set above the other blade in the razor head , at least one of the blades being movable from a first position in which blades are substantially parallel to a second position in which at least a part of the blades are further spaced apart to enable easier cleaning between the blades . The razor may be disposable in which case the handle may be integral with the razor head . Alternatively the handle may be separable from the razor head in which case the razor head may be discarded when the blades are no longer sufficiently sharp and the handle may be retained for use with a new razor head. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cutting edges of the blades are moved apart in order to enable cleaning . The movable blade is preferably the upper blade and the lower blade is preferably fixed in position . The said movable blade is preferably movable about a pivot. The movable blade may be mounted on a mounting body which is movable relative to the razor head . The pivot may be provided on the mounting body behind the cutting edge of the movable blade. Ribs may be provided to the sides of the movable blade or on the sides of the mounting body, or alternatively on the internal side walls of the razor head for engaging channels in the internal face of the side walls of the razor head or channels in the sides of the movable blade or mounting block therefor respectively . The ribs may be slidably movable in the channels to allow movement of the movable blade . A locking means such as a ridge may project into each channel to restrain movement of the movable blade in a certain direction such as towards the front of the razor head . Resilient means may be provided for urging the movable blade in a certain direction such as towards the rear of the razor head. In order that the invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a razor of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the razor of figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section of the razor of figure 2 along line Ill-Ill; Figure 3A is a magnified view of Detail DIIIA of figure 3. Figure 4 is a front elevation of the razor of figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows both an end elevation and a rear elevation of the upper blade and its mounting of the razor of figures 1 to ; Figure 6 is an elevation on internal face of side wall 16; and Figure 6a is a magnified view of Detail DVIA of figure 6. In the drawings the razor is symmetrical about <|_ Referring to the drawings a razor 10 comprises a handle 12 and a razor head 14. The razor head 14 may be integral with the razor handle 12 so as to provide a disposable razor 10. Alternatively the razor head 14 may be separable from the handle 12 such that the handle 12 may be used on a new razor head. The razor head 14 comprises two side walls 16, 18 the fronts of which are connected by transversely extending joint 20 and the lower portions of which are joined by base 22. The joint 20 and the front of base 22 are connected at intervals by longitudinally extending supports 24, 26. The rear part of lower blade 28 is secured via pins 29 to the base 22 , whilst leading cutting edge 30 of the lower blade 28 extends clear of base 22. The lower blade 28 is not free to move once fixed in position . A second upper blade 32 is secured via pins 34 to a mounting block 38. The front edge 40 of the mounting block has an angle of inclination similar to that of the leading edge 42 of the upper blade 32. Ribs 44, 46 extend from both sides of the mounting block 38. The first rib 44 is provided adjacent the lower side face 35 of the mounting block 38 towards the leading edge 42 thereof. The second rib 46 is provided adjacent the lower side face 35 of the mounting block 38 towards the rear thereof. Similar ribs (not illustrated) are provided on the opposite side of the mounting block 38. When located in the razor head 14 the ribs 44 , 46 engage in a channel provided in the inwardly directed face of the adjacent side walls 16 , 18. The channels only one of which 48 is shown extend from the rear of side walls 16 , 18 of razor head 14 parallel to and above base 22 to a position 51 above the mid position or thereabouts of lower blade 28. So from this position 51 the channels 48 are inclined so as to rise towards the front edge of the razor head 14. A ridge 50 is provided in either channel 48 adjacent position 51 . I n use this ridge 50 engages the forward rib 44 and releasably prevents forward movement of the upper blade beyond the ridge 50. Second ridges 64 similar to first ridges 50 are provided towards the rear of channels 48. These second ridges prevent the mounting block 38 from sliding out of the channel 48 when the razor 10 is in use. A pivot joint 54 is provided in the top rear most corner 56 of each side of the mounting block 38. These pivots 54 are received in corresponding sockets 58 provided in the internal faces of sidewalls 16, 18 , the sockets being shaped to permit the pivots 54 to enter then with a snap fit. Two transversely directed slits 60 are provided through the mounting block 38 adjacent and forward of pivots 54. These slits 60 act as a resilient spring means for urging the upper blade 32 towards the rear of the razor head 14 owing to the inherent elastic 5 nature of the material of manufacture of mounting block 38. A lip 62 extends inwardly from upper end of each side wall 16 , 18. The lips 62 extend over the top of mounting block 38 and act as a restraining mechanism for the mounting block 38 and upper blade 32 while in the shaving position . The lips 62 are adapted to 1 0 allow free movement of the mounting block 38 through the arc defined by channels 48. In use when the razor 10 is in the shaving position ribs 44 are located behind respective ridges 50 and forward movement of both the mounting block 38 and the upper blade 32 is restricted . The 15 slits 60 are seen to be substantially closed . Once the user has finished shaving or should the razor need cleaning during shaving, a forwardly directed force is applied on the top of the mounting block 38 which causes each rib 44 to pass its respective ridge 50 and move towards its forward most position 20 53 in the channel 48. The razor 10 is then washed under a tap . Once the razor 10 is clean the user releases the forward directed force on mounting block 38 and slits 60 urge both the upper blade 32 together with the mounting block 38 to its original shaving position . With the razor of the present invention the debris collects between the blades as the razor sweeps across the skin. The gap between the blades acts as a temporary store for the debris which extends from the blade tips through to the rear of the razor head. This stored debris can be removed as desired by moving the two blades apart and flushing with water as previously described. With known twin blade razors the debris between the blades can compact as the free flow of debris between the blades is prevented. In effect this compacted debris renders the upper blade useless resulting in inefficient shaving. In order to overcome this poor efficiency a higher force is required to glide the razor across the skin, thereby increasing the risk of injury. In contrast to this the debris cannot compact between the blades of the razor of the present invention. A more efficient safer smoother shave is therefore provided. It is to be understood that the above described embodiment is by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible. For example it will be appreciated that both blades may be movable or the lower blade may be movable and the upper blade fixed in position. Also it will be appreciated that a channel may be provided in each side of the mounting block for the movable blade or on each side of the movable blade which are engaged by ribs extending from the internal faces of side walls 16,18 rather than the arrangement described previously. Holes may be provided through base 22. When the blades are moved apart in order to facilitate cleaning the water passing between the blades will flush the debris collected between them out through these holes.

Claims: CLA I S 1 . A razor comprising a ' razor head and a handle for the razor head, said razor head comprising two spaced apart blades, one of the blades being set above the other blade in the razor head , wherein at least one of the blades is movable from a first position in which the blades are substantially parallel to a second position in which at least a part of the blades are further spaced apart to enable cleaning between the blades. 2. A razor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the blades has a cutting edge and the part of the blades which are spaced apart comprises the cutting edge of the blades . 3. A razor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the blade set above the other blade is the movable blade. 4. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein said other blade is fixed in position . 5. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the movable blade is mounted on a mounting body. 6. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein the movable blade is movable about a pivot. 7. A razor as claimed in claim 6 as appendent on claim 5 , wherein the pivot is provided on the mounting body. 8. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein at least one of the blades or mounting body comprises at least one rib and the razor head comprises at least one channel , at least one of the ribs being adapted to engage at least one of the channels. 9. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein at least one of the blades or mounting body comprises at least one channel and the razor head comprises at least one rib, at least one of the ribs being adapted to engage at least one of the channels. 10. A razor as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 , wherein a locking means is provided in each channel to restrain movement of the movable blade in a certain direction . 1 1 . A razor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking means is adapted to restrain forward movement of the blade beyond a certain position . 1 2. A razor as claimed in claim 10 or claim 1 1 , wherein the locking means is adapted to restrain rearward movement of the blade. l S . A razor as claimed in claim 12 as appendent on claim 5 , wherein the locking means is adapted to restrain rearward movement of the mounting body. 14. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein resilient means are provided for urging the movable blade in a certain direction . 15. A razor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the resilient means urges the movable blade towards the rear of the razor head . 1 6. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein the handle is not separable from the razor head . 1 7. A razor as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein the handle is separable from the razor head. 18. A razor head for use with the razor as claimed in claim 17. 1 9. A razor as substantially herein defined with reference to the drawings .

Inventors: BRADSHAW STUART MITCHELL, BRADSHAW, STUART, MITCHELL
Applicants: BRADSHAW STUART MITCHELL, BRADSHAW, STUART, MITCHELL
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B26B21
IPC codes: B26B21