Abstract:
In a razor including a shaving aid applicator, a reservoir is coupled to a razor body and defines an interior area adapted to retain a quantity of shaving aid therein. An actuator associated with the reservoir is movable between a non-dispensing and dispensing position to selectively cause an amount of shaving aid contained in said interior area to flow therefrom. At least one discharge opening is associated with the razor body to allow the shaving aid to flow therefrom onto a user&#39;s skin during a shaving operation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in Provisional Patent Application No. 60/446,863 filed on Feb. 12, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is generally related to razors used in shaving operations, and is more specifically directed to a razor incorporating a shaving aid dispenser.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    As used herein, the term “shaving aid” is to be broadly construed to include shaving creams, soaps, gels, and foams, as well as any other pre-shaving or post-shaving skin preparations, such as, but not limited to, lotions, aftershaves, perfumes, balms, or other medicinal skin applications.  
           [0004]    Shaving aids are usually applied either pre- or post-shaving for various reasons. For example, shaving soap, gel, cream, or foam is almost always applied by a user prior to a shaving operation to soften the hair to be cut and to lubricate the skin. Lotions, balms, and other medicinal skin applications are often applied to relieve irritation caused by shaving. Perfumes and other scented aftershaves can usually be applied post-shaving.  
           [0005]    In all instances where a shaving aid is used, a separate container, usually the container the shaving aid was purchased in, must be on hand. Moreover, where the user travels, these containers must be carried from place to place where they can be forgotten. These containers can be heavy, and, in the case of aftershaves and perfumes, are often made of glass which is subject to shatter.  
           [0006]    Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a compact, lightweight, shatterproof convenient manner in which to store, transport and apply a shaving aid.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed in one aspect to a razor having a razor body with a shaving aid applicator coupled thereto. The shaving aid applicator includes reservoir means defining an interior area adapted to retain a quantity of shaving aid therein. Actuating means are also provided for selectively causing a portion of the shaving aid to flow out of the interior area upon movement of the actuating means between a non-dispensing and a dispensing position. When the actuating means are moved to the dispensing portion, dispensing means facilitate the transference of the shaving aid from the reservoir means onto a user&#39;s skin.  
           [0008]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir means includes a receptacle integral with the razor body, and the actuator means includes a manually depressible button sealingly coupled to the receptacle so that repeated movement of the button between the non-dispensing and the dispensing positions causes an increase of pressure within the interior area, thereby forcing a portion of the shaving aid residing therein to flow from the dispensing means onto the user&#39;s skin. However, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the shaving aid can also be stored in the interior area under pressure.  
           [0009]    When the interior area of the receptacle is pressurized, a check valve is provided and extends from an outer surface of the receptacle and is in fluid communication with the interior area. The quantity of pressurized shaving aid in the receptacle can be replenished through the check valve from a likewise pressurized source of shaving aid. Where the receptacle is not pressurized, the shaving aid can be replenished through an aperture extending form the outer surface into the interior area. Once replenished a cap or plug sealingly engages the aperture, thereby retaining the shaving aid therein.  
           [0010]    The dispensing means can assume various different forms and can be positioned at various locations on the razor. For example, the dispensing means can take the form of a discharge nozzle or array of apertures, preceding or following the razor cartridge mounted on the razor body. The dispensing means can also be located between the blades of a multi-bladed razor cartridge.  
           [0011]    In addition to the previously described button, the actuator means can also assume different forms. In one embodiment of the present invention, the actuator means includes a normally closed valve that can be moved to an open position via movement of the razor cartridge from an extended to a compressed position such as when the cartridge is pressed against a user&#39;s skin. When in the compressed position, the shaving aid flows through an outlet located on the razor cartridge.  
           [0012]    The present invention also resides in a method for applying the shaving aid, using the above-described razor, to the user&#39;s skin during a shaving operation. As the razor, and thereby the razor cartridge, is drawn in a shaving direction across the user&#39;s skin, the actuator is manipulated into the above-described dispensing position, causing a quantity of the shaving aid onto selective areas of the user&#39;s skin. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a side elevational partly cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the razor of the present invention showing a reservoir containing a quantity of shaving aid, the reservoir being integral with the razor.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevational partly cross-sectional view of the razor of FIG. 1 showing an aperture extending into the reservoir and a plug in the aperture, thereby allowing the shaving aid contained in the reservoir to be replenished.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevational partly cross-sectional view of the razor of FIG. 1 showing a check valve extending into the reservoir, thereby allowing the shaving aid contained therein to be replenished under pressure.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the razor of FIG. 1 wherein the reservoir is removable.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the razor of FIG. 1 showing a shaving aid dispensing nozzle following the razor cartridge.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the razor of FIG. 5 showing an array of discharge holes instead of a dispensing nozzle.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a side elevational partly cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the razor of the present invention whereby shaving aid is dispensed between two blades of a multi-blade razor cartridge. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As shown in FIG. 1, a razor generally designated by the reference number  10  includes a razor body generally referred to by the reference number  12  upon which is attached a shaving cartridge  14  containing one or more blades (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the razor body  12  defines a reservoir  15  integral therewith and having an interior area  16  adapted to retain a quantity of shaving aid  20  therein. A discharge nozzle  22  extends outwardly from the razor body  12  adjacent to the razor cartridge  14 . An actuator  24  is located on an outer surface  26  of the razor body  12  and is manually manipulable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position. When the actuator  24 , shown in the illustrated embodiment as a button, is moved to the dispensing position, a quantity of the shaving aid  20  located in the interior area  16  is dispensed through the discharge nozzle  22 .  
         [0021]    The shaving aid  20  can assume any one of a number of different forms. For example, the shaving aid  20  can be a liquid, foam, gel, lotion, perfume or other medicinal skin application. In addition, the shaving aid  20  can reside in the interior area  16  at atmospheric pressure, or the shaving aid can be pressurized. If the shaving aid  20  is at atmospheric pressure, the actuator  24  and the nozzle  22  will function in much the same manner as the common non-aerosol pump bottles employed today. In other words the actuator  24  must be pumped between the non-dispensing and the dispensing positions, thereby causing pressure to build in the interior area  16  that in turn causes shaving aid  16  to be dispensed from the discharge nozzle  22 .  
         [0022]    Depending on several factors, amongst which is whether the above-described razor will be configured as a disposable razor or will incorporate means for releasably retaining disposable razor cartridges, the interior area can be pre-filled with shaving aid with no means for replenishing the shaving aid, or, as shown in FIG. 2, can be refillable.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 2, the reservoir  15  is defined in part by an exterior surface  26  that includes an aperture  28  extending therethrough and in fluid communication with the interior area  16 . A cap or plug  30  is releasably and sealingly engageable with the aperture  28 , thereby allowing the reservoir  16  to be refilled with shaving aid  20  upon removal of the plug. While a plug  30  frictionally engaged with the peripheral walls that define the aperture  28  has been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other manners of releasably securing the plug within the aperture  28 , such as by employing threads or a snap fit, can be substituted without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. Moreover, the plug  30  can also be tethered to the reservoir  15 , thereby preventing it from becoming lost.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 3, instead of a plug  30 , a check valve  32  can be positioned in the aperture  28 , thereby allowing the interior area  16  of the reservoir  15  as well as the shaving aid  20  resident therein to be pressurized. In the illustrated embodiment, the check valve  32  is shown schematically; however, the check valve is of the type adapted to mate with a pressurized container, in the instant situation, one containing shaving aid, such that the shaving aid can be transferred from the container to the interior area  16  of the reservoir  15  in much the same manner as a butane-type cigarette lighter is refilled. In a razor configured in this manner, the actuator  24  is in communication with the discharge nozzle  22  such that moving the actuator to the dispensing position will cause shaving aid  20  to flow under pressure through the discharge nozzle  22  so long as the actuator is held in the dispensing position.  
         [0025]    A second embodiment of the razor of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4, is generally designated by the reference numeral  110 . The razor  110  is similar in many respects to the razor  10  described above, and therefore like reference numerals preceded by the number  1  are used to indicate like elements. The razor  110  differs from the razor  10  in that the reservoir  115  is detachable from the razor body  112 . This allows a user to remove the reservoir  115  from the razor body  112  for easy refilling, or if the user employs different shaving aids, the user can have several reservoirs each filled with a different shaving aid. The reservoir  115  is shown in the illustrated embodiment incorporating a plug  130 ; however, the present invention is not limited in this regard as a check valve (as detailed above) or other type of closure known to those skilled in the pertinent art to which the present invention pertains, can be substituted.  
         [0026]    Still referring to FIG. 4, the reservoir  115  includes tabs  134  that engage mating recesses  136  (shown in dotted lines) in the razor body, thereby releasably retaining the reservoir  115  thereon. The reservoir  115  includes an outlet  138  which retains the shaving aid in the interior area until the actuator  124  is moved from the non-dispensing to the dispensing position. The outlet  138  is adapted to sealingly mate with a portion  140  of the discharge nozzle  122  so that during operation, shaving aid can be transferred from the reservoir  115  and through the discharge nozzle  122 . While tabs  134  and recesses  136  have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other means for mounting the reservoir to the razor body, such as via fasteners or adhesives, may be substituted without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0027]    As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and  6 , the discharge nozzle  22  can be positioned in different locations relative to the razor cartridge  14 . For example and as shown in FIG. 1, the discharge nozzle  22  trails the razor cartridge  14  when the razor  10  is moved along a user&#39;s skin in a shaving direction labeled “S”. Conversely, and as shown in FIG. 5, the discharge nozzle  22  can also be located so as to precede the razor cartridge  14  relative to the shaving direction “S”. In addition to the different nozzle locations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the nozzle  22  can also assume different configurations. For example, the nozzle could be formed from a single opening, or could be in the form of a plurality of individual apertures extending through the razor body into the interior area  16 .  
         [0028]    A third embodiment of the razor of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4, is generally designated by the reference numeral  210 . The razor  210  is similar in many respects to the razor  10  described above, and therefore like reference numerals preceded by the number  2  are used to indicate like elements. The razor  210  differs from the razor  10  in that instead of the actuator  24  of FIG. 1 being in the form of a button, and the discharge nozzle  22  being positioned adjacent to the razor cartridge  14 , the razor cartridge  214  itself forms part of the actuator. In the illustrated embodiment, the razor cartridge  214  includes a pair of razor blades  240  spaced apart relative to each other and defining a gap  242  therebetween. A shaving aid outlet  244  is positioned within the gap. A normally closed valve  232  is positioned between the outlet  244  and the interior area  216  of the reservoir  215 . In the illustrated embodiment, the shaving cartridge  214  is movable between the above-described non-dispensing and dispensing positions.  
         [0029]    Accordingly, during a shaving operation, pressure applied via the user pressing the razor cartridge against his or her skin causes the razor cartridge to move to the dispensing position. This in turn causes the normally closed valve  246  to open, resulting in the shaving aid  220  stored in the interior area  216  to flow out of the outlet  244  onto the user&#39;s skin. While a double-bladed razor cartridge  214  has been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as a razor cartridge employing a single razor blade with the outlet adjacent thereto, or multiple razor blades, can be substituted without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0030]    While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, one skilled in the pertinent art to which the present invention pertains will immediately recognize that various modifications and substitutions may be made. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example, and not by limitation.