Shaving systems with rinse passages

Abstract: There is disclosed a shaving system (10) comprising a razor (50) having a razor mechanism (70) for releasably attaching a razor head (50) to the razor. The razor mechanism includes at least one passage (80) therethrough for directing a rinse fluid through the razor mechanism (70). Preferably, the razor also includes at least one passage (44,45) therethrough.

Description: The present invention is directed to shaving systems having improved rinsability and, more particularly, to shaving systems having one or more rinse passages extending through a portion of a razor. Shaving systems which comprise a razor that releasably attaches to a razor head have found widespread use for providing close and comfortable shaves. Safety razors comprise a guard, a seat blade, a cap blade, and a cap. Each of these elements is typically disposed in skin-engaging contact during shaving. Many razors typically comprise a razor mechanism having metal prongs or forks which engage the razor head so that the razor head can move relative to the razor in one or more directions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that shaving debris such as shaving aids, soap, hair, skin cells, etc., can adversely affect the operation of the razor mechanism which generally comprises movable elements, e.g., slidable levers, springs, etc., and thus can affect the ability of the shaving system to operate as intended. Some designs attempt to protect razor mechanisms from shaving debris by enclosing the mechanism in a housing of the razor. To enhance proper functioning of the razor mechanism after extended exposure to shaving debris, greater clearances are required between the elements of razor mechanisms. Greater clearances lead to less control over the razor head and negatively influence the resulting shave. Attempts to better seal the razor mechanism within a housing of a razor have only been partially successful and have left small openings which allow shaving debris to contact and accumulate within the razor mechanism over time. Doument US-5-5,265,337 discloses a shaving system comprising a razor adapted to selectively support a razor head comprising a housing, a base, a cap and a blade, said razor comprising: a at least one member for engaging a razor head, wherein the razor comprises a rinse passage extending therethrough for dislodging shaving debris from the razor head, the rinse passage extending substantially perpendicular to the base of the razor head, the razor further comprising a body portion. According to the invention there is provided a razor as defined in Claim 1. In Claim 1 "relatively moveable elements" includes but is not limited to two or more elements that are moveable relative to one another. An advantage of the invention is to provide shaving systems or apparatuses which comprise one or more rinse passages through which water can pass for removing shaving debris from the razor mechanism. Preferred features of embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Various embodiments of the present invention provide shaving systems which comprise a razor head and a razor comprising a handle portion, means for releasably attaching the razor head to the razor and, at least one passage for directing a fluid, e.g., water, to the releasable attaching means for cleaning and/or reducing the rate of accumulation of shaving debris within the razor mechanism. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide razor mechanisms for shaving systems in which the razor mechanism comprises a top cover and a bottom cover connected to said top cover with a rinse passage extending between the covers to allow rinsing of the razor mechanism. The various embodiments of the present invention comprise at least one rinse passage extending through a razor for directing rinse water through at least a portion of the razor and to the razor mechanism. The embodiments comprise shaving systems having a razor mechanism with a rinse passage. The various embodiments of the present invention are useful with razor heads having rinse passages. As used herein, the term "razor head" is meant to include cartridges adapted to be connected to a separate razor as well as the operative cutting portion of a disposable razor wherein the handle and cutting portion are formed as a single unit. There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shaving system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the shaving system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the razor mechanism shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the razor head shown in FIG. 1. One preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in PIGS. 1 and 2 wherein a shaving system 10 comprises a razor 20, a razor head 50, and a razor mechanism 70 (FIG. 5) which is disposed within razor 20 for releasably attaching razor head 50 via prongs 72 (FIG. 1). This illustrated embodiment of the present invention provides passages for directing water through a portion of the razor and preferably through the razor mechanism for removing and/or reducing the rate of accumulation of shaving debris. With reference to FIG. 3, razor 20 comprises a chamber 30 for housing a razor mechanism 70 shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, chamber 30 is disposed in an upper portion 22 of razor 20 and comprises an opening 32 through which razor mechanism 70 is received so that prongs 72 extend outwardly from the upper portion 22 of razor 20 (shown best in FIG. 4) and are selectively movable for attaching/detaching a razor head, as well as in response to shaving forces if the particular design so requires. From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the razor mechanism can take different forms in order to provide proper attachment and dynamics for a particular application provided that the razor mechanism comprises at least one rinse passage, as described in greater detail below. In addition, the illustrated razor 20 comprises at least one passage 40 extending therethrough for directing a fluid, e.g., water from a sink faucet or forced air, to chamber 32 and razor mechanism 70. Specifically, passage 40 has a discharge outlet 42 which opens into chamber 30, and an inlet 44 which opens onto a rearward, upper surface 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of razor 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a support 46 is disposed generally in the middle of razor 20 which provides additional stability particularly to upper portion 22, and separates a second passage 41 from passage 40. Preferably, passage 40 and second passage 41 taper inwardly from the rearward portion of razor 20 toward the forward (razor head engaging) portion in order to facilitate acceleration of the fluid flowing through the passages for more effective debris removal. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the entrances of passages 40 and 41 are provided with chamfered surfaces 47 and 48, respectively, to allow easy rinsing and to provide proper entrance for pressurized fluid, e.g., running water from a sink faucet, as well as to minimize splash. Desirably, passages 40 and 41 of razor 20 are disposed along a substantially straight path with chamber 30 and are generally perpendicular to base 51 of razor head 50, as illustrated in FIG. 1. From the present description, it will be appreciated that the razor, although shown as being fabricated from a solid member, can comprise several parts or elements, e.g., first and second housing members which can be snap fit, thermally or adhesively joined. The razor is most preferably formed of a thermal plastic material known in the art and, alternatively, can be fabricated out of another water-resistant material. The illustrated razor mechanism 70, as shown in FIG. 5, generally comprises a top cover 74 and a bottom cover 76 connected via connecting pins 75. Prongs 72 are linked to a spring-biased slide 78 which is operable to cause prongs 72 to move toward and away from each other in a manner known in the art. Razor mechanism 70 comprises a passage 80 comprising an inlet 82 and a discharge outlet 84 (best shown in FIG. 5). Although the razor mechanism is illustrated as comprising a top cover and a bottom cover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a razor mechanism can comprise a single cover, e.g., either a top or bottom cover, or not have a cover. As shown in FIG. 6, the illustrated razor head 50 generally comprises a cap 52, a guard 54, a cap blade 56, a seat blade 58, and base 51. Razor 20 (FIG. 1) further comprises an actuation member 26 which attaches to spring-biased slide 78 of razor mechanism 70 (FIG. 5) so that the base 51 of the razor head 50, which has prong-receiving indents, can be engaged by prongs 72. Alternatively, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a razor head which is also adapted for improved rinsability. By placing shaving system 10 in a fluid stream, e.g., under running water during shaving, fluid will enter inlets 44 and 45, as illustrated by arrow A in FIG. 1, travel through passages 40 and 41 to razor mechanism 70, and then exit discharge outlet 84 (FIG. 4) carrying away shaving debris. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, by running water through passages 40 and 41 as described above, the water will advantageously rinse debris from all movable parts of the razor. The razor mechanism rinse path is substantially perpendicular to the passages between the blades, cap and base of the razor head which also commonly requires rinsing. This substantially perpendicular arrangement is designed to minimize the amount of debris that could be rinsed from the razor mechanism and enter open spaces of the razor head, and vice-versa. From the present description it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by providing a shaving system comprising rinse passages, the elements of a razor mechanism can be constructed with greater tolerances while reducing the likelihood that the razor mechanism will malfunction or not operate as intended.

Claims: A shaving system (10) comprising a razor (20) adapted to selectively support a razor head (50) comprising a housing (30), a base (51), a cap (52) and a blade (56; 58), said razor comprising: a razor mechanism (70), said razor mechanism comprising at least one member for engaging a razor head, characterised in that the razor mechanism comprises relatively moveable elements and said razor mechanism further comprises a rinse passage (80) extending therethrough for dislodging shaving debris from said razor mechanism, the rinse passage extending substantially perpendicular to passages defined between the blade (56: 58), cap (52) and the base (51) of the razor head, the razor further comprising a body portion (20) connected to said razor mechanism and a body passage (40; 41) extending through said body portion, and wherein said body portion is in fluidic communication with said rinse passage (80) of said razor mechanism. A shaving system according to claim 1 wherein the razor mechanism (70) comprises means (72) for connecting the razor head to the body portion. A shaving system according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means (72) releasably connects the razor head to said body portion. A shaving system according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said body portion (20) comprises a forward portion proximate said razor mechanism and a rearward portion, and wherein said body passage (40: 41) extends from said rearward portion to said forward portion. A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said razor comprises a chamber (30) which receives at least a portion of the razor mechanism. A shaving system according to claim 5 wherein said body passage (40) comprises an inlet (44) which opens onto an outer surface of said razor and a discharge outlet (42) which opens into said chamber. A shaving system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said razor is provided with two body passages (40, 41) therethrough for directing a fluid to said razor mechanism. A shaving system according to claim 7 wherein said razor comprises a brace (46) disposed between said body passages. A shaving system according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said body passages (40, 41) widen as they open onto an outer surface of said razor. A shaving system according to claim 9 wherein a portion (47, 48) of said razor adjacent each of said body passages is chamfered. A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a discharge outlet (84) of said rinse passage (80) is disposed adjacent attachment of said razor head. A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said razor (20) further comprises an actuation member (78) attached to said razor mechanism to activate said connecting means to connect to said razor head. A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a razor head which comprises a guard (54). A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims furrther comprising a razor head which comprises at least two blades (56, 58). A shaving system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said razor mechanism (70) comprises a top cover (74) and a bottom cover (76) spaced therefrom, and a spring-biased slide (78) operably attached to at least one of said covers to operate a pair of prongs which attach to said razor head.

Inventors: ALTHAUS WOLFGANG, SCHWARZ MICHAEL, ALTHAUS, WOLFGANG, SCHWARZ, MICHAEL
Applicants: WARNER LAMBERT CO, WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B26B21
IPC codes: B26B21