Abstract:
A razor having a base, a ceramic blade installed in the base, a plurality of ceramic rollers installed in the base at two sides of the ceramic blade. The base has a lid having a slit allowing an edge of the blade to extend through and a plurality of openings allowing portions of the rollers to extend through. The rollers are supported by at least one resilient member such that the exposed portions of the rollers can be pressed inwardly for shaving and retrieved to the original height when the pressing force is relieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to a razor structure, and more particularly, to a razor made of ceramic material that is durable, non-rusty and easily cleaned.  
         [0002]     There are two types of razors (shavers), including the typical manual razor and electric razor. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the conventional manual razor comprises a handle a, a blade set b connected to one end of the handle a, and tilted multiple blades c installed in the blade set b.  
         [0003]      FIG. 15  shows a conventional electric razor that includes a handle d and a blade set e mounted to one end of the handle d. The handle includes a power source, a driving motor and a gear f, and the blade set e includes a metal blade g driven by the gear f The blade set e further comprises a mesh cover h.  
         [0004]     Both of the manual and electric razors as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  both is provide shaving effect. However, the manual razor is difficult to clean since the shaved beard or hair is easily stuck between the blades c, while the electric razors are often lack of water-proof structure for the power source and the driving motor, so that the user can only clean it by using brush. Further, as the mesh cover h is required for attaching the electric razor to the skin of the user, the mesh cover h is easily worn out for frequent use. In addition, the blades c and g are both made of metal which will be rusted and blunted to scratch the user or cause pain during shaving.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     To resolve the above drawbacks, a razor made of ceramic material is provided. The razor is durable and easily cleaned. In addition, the razor will not be oxidized even under a humid environment.  
         [0006]     The razor as provided includes a base, a ceramic blade installed in the base, a plurality of ceramic rollers installed in the base at two sides of the ceramic blade. The base has a lid having a slit allowing an edge of the blade to extend through and a plurality of openings allowing portions of the rollers to extend through. The rollers are supported by at least one resilient member such that the exposed portions of the rollers can be pressed inwardly for shaving and retrieved to the original height when the pressing force is relieved. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will be become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a razor;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a razor;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   a  is a top view of  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows an application of the razor as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  shows another application of the razor as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view showing the application status of the razor as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of another embodiment of a razor;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of another embodiment of a razor;  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  shows a conventional manual razor; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  shows a conventional electric razor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     FIGS.  1  to  6  show several embodiments of razors provided by the present invention. In each embodiment, the razor includes a base  1 , a blade  2 , a cover  3  and a plurality of bearings  4 . The razor is made of ceramic material which provides the durable, non-rusted and easily cleaned features.  
         [0026]     The base  1  includes a long slot  11  extending along an elongate direction thereof, and a plurality of cavities  12  along each side of the slot  11 . The cross sections of the cavities  12  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Alternatively, the cavities is  12  may also be replaced by a plurality of spaces  12   a  defined by a plurality of positioning plates  13  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0027]     The blade  2  is inserted into the slot  11  of the base  1 . The blade  2  is preferably fabricated from ceramic material.  
         [0028]     The cover  3  is mounted on top of the base  1 . The cover  3  has an elongate slit  31  and a plurality of openings  32  aligned with the slot  11  and the cavities  12  or the spaces  12   a.  Preferably, the edge of the blade  2  inserted in the slot  11  extends over the cover  3 , and the diameter of the openings  32  is smaller than that of the cavities  12  or the spaces  12   a.    
         [0029]     Each of the cavities  12  or the spaces  12   a  is filled with a roller or ball bearing  4  made of ceramic material. In one embodiment, a resilient member  41  such as a spring, a sponge or a silicone gel is installed under each roller  4 . The diameter of each opening  32  is smaller than that of the rollers  4 , such that only a portion of the rollers is exposed over the cover  3 . Preferably, the height of the exposed portion of the rollers  4  is higher than the exposed edge of the blade  2  without external force.  
         [0030]     The numbers of the blade  2 , the rollers  4  can be varied according to the dimensions of the base  1   a  and the cover  3   a.    
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the razor can be mounted to a handle  5  or  5   a  with the exposed blade edge  2  and rollers  4  distal to the handle  5  or  5   a,  such that the user can hold the handle and attached the exposed blade edge  2  and rollers  4  to the skin area for shaving. Before pressing the razor towards the skin area, the exposed portion of the rollers  4  outstands the exposed edge of the blade  2 , such that the blade edge  2  is not in contact with the skin area. By pressing the razor towards the skin area, the rollers  4  are pressed towards the skin portion as shown in  FIG. 9 , such that the user can shave the skin area along its curve.  
         [0032]     As the blade  2  and the rollers  4  are made of ceramic material, a smooth surface for pushing the razor is obtained. The hardness of ceramic material provides great durability of the blade  2  and the rollers  4 . In addition, the razor can be washed by water without the risk of being oxidized.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in another embodiment, a razor includes a base  6 , in which an elongate slot  61  extends along an elongate axis thereof, so as to define two elongate recesses  62 .  
         [0034]     A blade  7  made of ceramic material is inserted in the slot  61 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the sharp edge of the blade  2  extends over slot  61 .  
         [0035]     The base  6  is covered by a cover  8  in which an elongate slit  81 , is formed and aligned with the blade  7 , such that the sharp edge of the blade  2  can extend over. At two sides of the elongate slit  81 , a plurality of openings  82  is formed. Extending from the openings  82  are a plurality of receptacles  83  in the form of bushings.  
         [0036]     A plurality of rollers  9  made of ceramic material is filled in the receptacles  83 . Each of the receptacles  83  also includes a resilient member  91  supporting the rollers  9 . The diameters of the openings  81  are slightly smaller than those of the rollers  9 , such that a portion of each roller  9  is exposed over the cover  8 . Preferably, the height of the exposed portions of the rollers.  9  is higher than that of the exposed tip of the blade  2 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in another embodiment, the razor includes a base  6   a,  an elongate slot  61   a  extending in the base  6   a  along an elongate axis thereof. The slot  61   a  defines two elongate spaces  62   a  in the base  6   a.  The base  6   a  is covered by a lid  8   a  that has an elongate slit  81   a  aligned over the slot  61   a,  such that when a blade  7   a  is inserted in the slot  61   a,  the tip of the blade  7   a  extends over the lid (cover)  8   a.  The razor further comprises a plurality of receptacles  83   a  extending under the openings  82   a  of the lid  6   a  for accommodating a plurality of rollers  9   a  therein. The diameters of the receptacles  83   a  and the rollers  9   a  are larger than those of the openings  82   a,  such that only portions of the rollers  9   a  are exposed above the lid  6   a.  Preferably, the exposed rollers  9   a  stand higher than the exposed tip of the blade  7   a.    
         [0038]     The blade  7   a  and rollers  9   a  are preferably fabricated from ceramic materials that will not be oxidized in air and water. The razor further includes a bed of resilient member  91   a  disposed in the base  6   a  around the slot  61   a.  Therefore, the rollers  9   a  can be supported by the resilient bed  91   a.    
         [0039]     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art the various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.