Abstract:
A wet shave razor is provided that includes (a) a handle having a hollow head; (b) a cartridge having a body, the body having a surface for engaging the skin of the user and having at least one blade mounted therein; (c) an interconnect member, joined to the cartridge, constructed to pivotably and removably mount the cartridge to a distal end of the handle; and (d) an ejecting mechanism operatively connected to the handle to allow a user to disengage the interconnect member from the distal end of the handle, the ejecting mechanism including an actuator. The razor provides a vibrating function, and thus further includes a vibrating mechanism. A resilient element is positioned between the actuator and the handle, to damp vibration of the actuator in response to the vibration signal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to oscillating razors, and more particularly to oscillating razors for wet shaving.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Vibrating shaver elements have been known for some time. Traditional electric razors, also known as dry shavers, are used without water, soap or shaving cream. Although such dry electric shavers provide a satisfactory shave many believe that the shave provided by an electric razor is not as close as a wet shave.  
         [0003]     Wet shavers traditionally use soap and water or shave cream to soften the individual hairs of the beard of the user. The water and soap soften the individual hairs of the beard to make them much easier to cut.  
         [0004]     There have been many attempts to provide an oscillating wet shaver, so as to combine the beard softening action of a wet shave with the oscillating cutting element of the traditional dry electric shaver. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,354 describes an oscillating wet shave razor that includes a miniaturized motor and a battery in a handle, the motor rotating an eccentric element within a head portion of the handle to provide oscillation at the blades of the razor. Other vibrating razors are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,046,249, 5,794,342 and 6,481,104, and in WO 2004/073940. The complete disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,046,249, 5,299,354, 5,794,342 and 6,481,104, and WO 2004/073940 are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0005]     Vibration at the surface of the razor blade cartridge is desirable because such vibration has a tendency to massage the skin and isolate the facial nerves from the discomforts of shaving. Moreover, the vibration imparted to the cartridge has the tendency to reduce the coefficient of friction between the cartridge and the face of the user to facilitate shaving comfort.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the invention features a wet shave razor that includes (a) a handle having a hollow head; (b) a cartridge having a body, the body having a surface for engaging the skin of the user and having at least one blade mounted therein; (c) an interconnect member, joined to the cartridge, constructed to pivotably and removably mount the cartridge to a distal end of the handle; and (d) an ejecting mechanism operatively connected to the handle to allow a user to disengage the interconnect member from the distal end of the handle, the ejecting mechanism including an actuator. The razor provides a vibrating function, and thus further includes a vibrating mechanism.  
         [0007]     The vibrating mechanism is constructed to impart vibration to the cartridge, and may include, for example, a motor, a shaft extending from the motor, and an eccentric element fixedly connected to the shaft and disposed for rotation within the hollow head. In this case, the motor is configured to be operatively connected to a power source and to rotate the eccentric element to provide a vibration signal, which is transmitted to the cartridge body to cause the cartridge body to vibrate. Other suitable vibrating mechanisms include electrical and mechanical mechanisms, and vibrating mechanisms that include piezoelectric crystals.  
         [0008]     A resilient element is positioned between the actuator of the ejecting mechanism and the handle, to damp vibration of the actuator in response to the vibration produced by the vibrating mechanism. The inventors have found that, by providing this resilient element, undesirable noise resulting from the use of the vibrating function can be minimized. Thus, the razor provides a quiet, aesthetically pleasing shaving experience.  
         [0009]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are, respectively, perspective views of a razor taken from the front and back.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away side view of a portion of the razor of  FIG. 1 , showing the oscillating mechanism of the razor.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of a front portion of the handle of the razor of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4A  is further exploded view of the same portion of the handle.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 5 and 5 A are, respectively, an enlarged perspective view and an enlarged top plan view of a resilient washer shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4 A.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged end view of the button shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4 A. 
     
    
       [0015]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shaving razor  10  includes handle  12  and replaceable shaving cartridge  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , cartridge  14  is removable from handle  12 . Cartridge  14  includes housing  16 , which carries blades  18 , guard  20  and cap  22 . Cap  22  provides a lubricous shaving aid and is received in slot  66  at the rear of housing  16 . Cap  22  may be made of a material comprising a mixture of a hydrophobic material and a water leachable hydrophilic polymer material, as is known in the art and is described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,585 and 5,454,164, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Guard  20  includes a finned elastomeric unit mounted at the front of housing  16  to engage and stretch the user&#39;s skin; other skin engaging protrusions, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,712, which is hereby incorporated by reference, can be used.  
         [0017]     Cartridge  14  also includes interconnect member  24  on which housing  16  is pivotally mounted about pivot axis  302 . Interconnect member  24  includes base  27 , which removably and fixedly attaches to asymmetrical extension  26  on handle  12 , and two arms  28  that pivotally support housing  16  at its two sides.  
         [0018]     Clips  68  are secured at the sides of housing  16  to retain blades  18  within housing  16  and to locate the cutting edges of the spring-biased blades at a desired exposure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , clips  68  also wrap around the bottom of housing  16  and prevent the removal of pivotal support ends of arms  28  of interconnect member  24 . Base structure  27  of interconnect member  24  has an opening (not shown) at the top through which spring-biased plunger  44  of the handle passes to act on a cam surface (not shown) on the bottom of housing  16 .  
         [0019]     Razors having the structure described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,354, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0020]     Razor  10  provides a vibrating function. As discussed above, reciprocating, vibrating, or oscillating motion razors, referred to collectively herein as “vibrating razors,” are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,046,249, 5,299,354, 5,794,342 and 6,481,104. The vibrating mechanisms described in any of these patents may be used in the razor described herein, if desired. An example of a suitable vibrating mechanism is shown diagramatically in  FIG. 3 . As indicated in  FIG. 3 , the razor may include a rotary motor M powered by a battery B, and an eccentric element E for imparting oscillating motion. Motor M, e.g., an electric motor, is housed within the handle and has an output shaft (not shown) on which is mounted the eccentric element E, e.g., an eccentric weight. Energization of the motor results in high speed rotation of the eccentric weight and thereby vibration of the razor and the blade unit in particular. The eccentric weight may be rotated at a speed of, for example, from about 5,000 rpm to about 10,000 rpm, causing the cartridge body to vibrate with an amplitude of about 0.002 inches to about 0.01 inches. The motor may be energized by a user by deflecting actuator  13  and thereby actuating a switch mechanism S.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 4 A, handle  12  includes a cartridge support structure  42  that extends from the distal end  11  of the handle. Support structure  42  includes a trapezoidal extension  26 , and houses the plunger  44  and spring  46  that provide biasing of housing  16  relative to interconnect member  24 . Cartridge support structure  42  also houses a U-shaped ejector and carries a button  50  that together provide for ejection of cartridge  14  from handle  12 .  
         [0022]     U-shaped ejector  48  is received within recess  49  of cartridge support structure  42 . Ejector button  50  is received in opening  52  on the top surface of support structure  42  and has bottom extensions  54  that are received within rectangular region  56  at the back narrow portion of ejector  48 . Rectangular region  56  at narrow portion  82  of ejector  48  is normally aligned with opening  52  at the upper surface of support structure  42  when the button  50  is in its rest position. Rectangular region  56  is movable with respect to opening  52 , along the long axis of handle  12 , as ejector  48  is pushed forward by ejector button  50 , out of recess  49  and into the base  27  of the interconnect member  24 . Thus, pushing ejector button  50  forward in this manner causes ejector  48  to push against an inner surface of the interconnect member  24 , ejecting the cartridge  14  from handle  12 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , button  50  includes a pair of downwardly extending extensions  54 . Each extension  54  of ejector button  50  has an outwardly directed groove  84  that slides on a respective track (not shown) within opening  52  of support structure  42 . The upper surfaces  85  defining grooves  84  slide on upper surfaces of the tracks, and the lower surfaces  91  defining groves  84  effect capture on or abut lower surfaces of the tracks. Extensions  54 , and the manner in which they cooperate with support structure  42  are described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,354, incorporated by reference above. Extensions  54  push against surfaces  94  of ejector  48  when ejector button  50  is pushed toward the distal end  11  of handle  12 , causing the ejector  48  to move forward as discussed above. Spring  46  ( FIG. 4A ) extends through the space between extensions  54 .  
         [0024]     The button  50  can tend to rattle against the upper surface  17  of handle  12  when the vibrating function is activated. To prevent this from occurring, a resilient washer  19  is provided between the lower surface of button  50  and surface  17 . As shown in detail in  FIGS. 5 and 5 A, resilient washer  19  includes a pair of elongated openings  21 . Openings  21  are shaped to receive extensions  54  of button  50 , and to allow the extensions to slide along the tracks in support structure  42  as discussed above. Generally, openings  21  are rectangular, as shown. The washer may be substantially ovoid, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5 A, or generally egg-shaped (oval at one end, tapering to an arcuate portion having a greater radius of curvature at the other end). If an egg-shaped washer is used, the narrower end is generally positioned closer to the cartridge  16 . This shape tends to prevent the washer from wrinkling or buckling under the button as the button slides back and forth.  
         [0025]     Resilient washer  19  may be formed of any desired material that will damp noise and vibration, while allowing the button to slide along the tracks without excessive friction. Suitable materials should also resist tearing as the button is moved back and forth over the life of the razor. Suitable materials include elastomers, and low friction polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene. In some implementations, the resilient washer  19  includes a top layer, adjacent the lower surface of button  50 , formed of an elastomer, e.g., SEBS, and a bottom layer, adjacent surface  17  of handle  12 , formed of a low friction material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene. In this case, the elastomer provides cushioning and vibration damping, while the polytetrafluoroethylene provides a low friction sliding surface. Preferred elastomers are sufficiently soft so as to damp vibration, yet sufficiently hard so as to be non-tacky. Some preferred elastomers have a hardness of from about 30 to 70 Shore A. It is generally preferred that the top layer be thicker than the bottom layer, the relative thicknesses being selected to provide the desired balance of vibration dampening and durability of the low friction surface. The two layers may be provided using any suitable manufacturing process, e.g., comolding or coextrusion. It is not necessary that the two layers be adhered or laminated to each other; if desired the two layers may be assembled into the razor simply by laying one layer on top of the other. Alternatively, the resilient washer may be formed entirely of a single polymer that provides both properties, e.g., a resilient grade of polytetrafluoroethylene. It is generally preferred that the washer  19  be as thin as possible, while still providing good vibration/noise damping and durability of the washer.  
         [0026]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0027]     For example, in addition to the shapes discussed above, the washer may have any other desired shape. It is generally preferred that the washer be shaped to conform to the shape of the button, so that it is not visible to the user.  
         [0028]     It is not necessary that the resilient element be a discrete component. In some cases, the resilient element may be integral with the button. For example, the button may include an upper layer, e.g., of rigid plastic, defining the shape of the button, and a lower layer, adjacent the surface  17  of handle  12 , of a resilient, low friction material such as the materials discussed above. The lower layer may be disposed directly beneath the upper layer, like the washers discussed above, or may be positioned in other manners, e.g., extending downwardly from the edge of the upper layer.  
         [0029]     In other embodiments, the resilient element may be a portion of the ejecting mechanism. For example, extensions  54  of button  50  may be formed of a resilient material, e.g., an elastomer.  
         [0030]     Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.