Abstract:
A razor blade cartridge containing two or more blades includes an electric circuit with a battery power source for controlled direction of current flow through the blades in order to heat the blades. The blades are connected by at least one blade connector having electrically conductive contacts for electrically connecting the blades in a series arrangement, wherein flow of the electric current through the blades causes the blades to be heated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to razors for shaving and, more particularly, to a battery powered system in a razor having blade contacts to produce a contact pattern than facilitates a series connection for controlled heating of the blades of the razor. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    It is known that the cutting edge of a razor blade cuts hair more effectively when it is warm or hot. It is also common practice to place the razor blades under hot running water in order to heat the blades just prior to stroking the blades over the skin in order to cut the hairs. However, the heat cutting performance of the blades lasts only a short time during the beginning of the shaving stroke. Within seconds, the temperature of the skin surface, hairs and blade are quickly reduced due to exposure to the ambient air. Ideally, it is best to maintain the blades, including the cutting edges of the blades, heated to a warm temperature throughout the shaving process to achieve better performance and increased shaving comfort. 
         [0005]    One particular prior art blade heating invention, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,101 B1 to Bohmer, provides a shaving system with a continuously heated blade cartridge throughout the shaving stroke. Heating the blades is attained by applying a measured amount of electric current to the blade cartridge by means of conductors connected to each side of the blade cartridge and extended in the form of contacts at the connection of the blade cartridge to a razor handle. Electric current is provided by a primary battery contained in a compartment in the razor handle. Current provided by the battery renders optimum heat generation in the blades of the cartridge and the degree of heat can be adjusted by means of resistors connected in series with the blades and the blade cartridge. A switch closes the circuit. 
         [0006]    The present invention improves upon the shaving system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,101 B1 by providing a more efficient and effective blade connection means with conductive contacts that achieve an electrical contact pattern between the blades, and particularly a series connection for controlled direction of current flow through the blades. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    In a razor containing a plurality of conductive blades, a system is provided for selectively heating the blades to a controlled temperature range. The blade heating system includes an electric circuit with a battery power source and insulated blade contacts for controlled direction of current flow through the blades in order to heat the blades. The insulated blade contacts produce a contact pattern than facilitates a series connection with the blades and battery power source. The electric circuit further includes an on/off switch. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a blade heating system for a razor having insulated blade contacts to produce a contact pattern than facilitates a series connection between the blades and a battery power source. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blade heating system in a razor the efficiently heats the blades secured in the blade cartridge. 
         [0010]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration showing the electric circuit of the razor with a blade cartridge having a blade heating system of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view showing the blade cartridge having a blade heating system of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view showing the blade cartridge having a blade heating system of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a segmented contact blade connector for securing the one or more blades in the blade cartridge and serving as a conductor for directing controlled electric current flow through the one or more blades; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate front views and a side view of the segmented contact blade connector showing a conductive contact and an extended conductive connector; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate front views and a side view of the segmented contact blade connector illustrating a conductive contact and a conductive connector; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a general schematic diagram showing one embodiment wherein three blades are electrically connected in series and the positive and negative terminal conductor contacts are on opposite sides, i.e., opposite blade connectors; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a general schematic diagram showing another embodiment wherein six blades are electrically connected in series and the positive and negative terminal conductor contacts are on opposite sides, i.e., opposite blade connectors; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top side view of the blade cartridge illustrating another embodiment wherein six blades are electrically connected in series and the positive and negative terminal conductor contacts are the same side, i.e., the same blade connector; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating six blades having right angle extensions place sequentially. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    Referring to the several views of the drawings, the razor blade cartridge having a blade heating system of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a razor  10  having a handle  12  is shown with a blade cartridge  20  having a blade heating system attached thereto. The blade cartridge  20  may be affixed to a handle  12  in a manner wherein the entire razor  10  is disposed of after several uses for shaving. Alternatively, the blade cartridge  20  may be removably attachable to a handle  12  wherein the blade cartridge  20  is separated from the handle  12  and discarded after several uses when the blades  22  begin to dull. Thereafter, a new blade cartridge  20  can be attached to the handle  12 . A battery power source  14  in the handle  12  or blade cartridge  20  provides an electric current flow through the circuit of the blade heating system, including conductive wires  16 , segmented contact blade connectors  50 , and blades  22 . 
         [0025]    The razor  10  includes an ON/OFF switch  18 , such as a slide switch, on the handle  12  or the blade cartridge  20  for activating and deactivating the blade heating system. Subsequent movement of the ON/OFF switch  18 , in the same action, serves to open the circuit, thereby deactivating the blade heating system. The ON/OFF switch  18  also may be a push button type switch or other type of switch that can be easily and conveniently operated between the ON/OFF conditions. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , blade connectors  50  are attached to opposing sides of the blade cartridge  20 . The blades  22  are secured to the blade connectors, which wrap around the blades  22  to keep the blades  22  correctly aligned for shaving. 
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  4  and  5 A- 5 C, a first embodiment of a segmented contact blade connecter  50  is shown. Each blade connector  50  is made of a moldable (i.e., bendable) material, which may be conductive or non-conductive, and includes a central zone  51  and side flaps  52 . The side flaps  52  on each blade connector  50  fold over the blades  22  to secure the blades  22  in place within the blade cartridge  20 . Each blade connector  50  further includes an insulated contact pattern having an extended conductive connector  54  and an isolated conductive contact  56 . If the blade connector  50  is made of a conductive material, a non-conductive film insulator  58  is provided between the blade connector  50  and conductive connectors and contacts  54  and  56 . Embodiments of the blade connector  50  wherein the material(s) used to form the central zone  51  and side flaps  52  are non-conductive would not require a non-conductive film insulator  58 . The conductive connectors  54  and conductive contacts  56  are positioned to be electrically connected in series with the blades  22 , and a battery power source  14 . Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6C , a second embodiment of the segmented blade connector  50  is shown, wherein the conductive connector  54  does not extend beyond the perimeter of the blade connector  50 . As with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the conductive connectors  54  and conductive contacts  56  shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C  are positioned to be electrically connected in series with the blades  22 , and a battery power source  14 . 
         [0028]    Electric current flow through the blades  22  is achieved by connecting one end of the conductive wiring  16  to the conductive connectors  54  on the segmented contact blade connector  50  and the opposite end to the positive and negative terminals of the battery power source  14  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Conductive contacts  56  on opposite sides of the segmented contact blade connector  50  provide electrical connection points for continuing the series between the separate blades  22 . The segmented contact blade connecter  50  and resulting electrical series connection provides a more efficient system for heating multiple razor blades than conventional parallel methods and, therefore, requires smaller and less expensive battery sources  14 . 
         [0029]    Examples of the series blade connections in the circuit are shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , as described in more detail hereinafter. The blade heating system circuit may further be provided with a timer or other device (e.g., a tilt switch) for opening the circuit, thereby deactivating (i.e., turning off) the blade heating system, in the event the user forgets to turn the blade heating system off by deactivating the system using the ON/OFF switch  18 . In this instance, the circuit will be opened, thereby turning off the blade heating system, after a predetermined period of time has lapsed or by some other action (e.g., a tilt switch) that is normally performed when a user has completed the shaving process. As further illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , a temperature control switch  36  may be included for adjusting the heated temperature of the blades  22 . The resistance of each of the conductive contacts  56  can be selectively adjusted to alter the flow of electric current through the blades  22  for regulating the temperature of the blades  22 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example wherein three blades  22  are electrically connected in series and the positive and negative terminal conductor contacts are on opposing sides, i.e., opposite blade connectors  50 . As shown, the circuit may be closed using the slide switch or pressure actuated switch  18 , thereby directing controlled electric current flow through the three blades  22  electrically connected in series. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment wherein six blades  22  are electrically connected in series and the positive and negative terminal conductor contacts are on opposing sides, i.e., opposite blade connectors  50 . The blade heating system having segmented contact blade connecters  50  can be utilized with an odd number of blades  22  ( FIG. 7 ) or even number of blades  22  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a further embodiment of the blade heating system wherein both conductive connectors  54  of the series are on the same side, i.e., the same blade connector  50 . 
         [0033]    While each of the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9  shows the conductive contacts  56  in contact with the end of a blade  22 , the contacts  56  may alternatively be in contact with the blade  22  at a location in between the end and the middle of the blade  22 , thereby making the conductive contacts  56  on opposing sides of the blades  22  closer together. 
         [0034]    Use of the segmented contact blade connecter  50  in combination with blades  22  for producing a series connection to direct current flow from the end (or some point) of one blade to the beginning (or some point) of the next blade (in whichever series configuration is desired) is a more efficient way of heating multiple blades than conventional parallel methods. Consequently, smaller and less expensive disposable batteries, which are an ideal power source for disposable plastic razors and disposable/replaceable blade cartridges, provide a suitable battery power source  14  for heating the blades  22 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , modified blade shapes are used to produce a series circuit with a simple non-conductive staple.  FIG. 10  illustrates six blades  122  forming a series connection at locations  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  119  and  120  wherein the right angle extension tab meets the straight end of the subsequent blade  122  to produce a six blade series circuit with connections for power at locations  118  and  121 . 
         [0036]    While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which are not to be limited except as defined in the following claims as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents.