Abstract:
A safety razor provided with an elongate handle and first and second blade supports at opposite ends of the handle, one of the blade supports being substantially smaller than the other blade support to allows shaving patterns of small contours into a beard. In one embodiment, one of the blade supports is provided with a slide mechanism for moving relative to the handle between idle and operative positions.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/161,525 filed 3 Jun. 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention, in general, relates to a safety razor of the kind provided with razor blades and, more particularly to a safety razor suitable for producing shaved patterns or contours of small surface area.  
           [0004]    2. The State of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Many different safety razors are known with an approximately rectangular, oval or circular external configuration of the blade head. In most cases, these known safety razors are provided with one of more blades disposed in parallel with respect to each other in a rigid or hinge-mounted blade head with an appropriate skin engagement surface. Blade structures of annular cutting edge formations disposed in various usually round or oval blade mounting heads are known as well.  
           [0006]    For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,614,321; 3,465,436 and 3,702,026 as well as European Patent EP 0,759,836 describe razors with round or oval blade mounting heads. WO 02/07935 A1 discloses a wet razor the blade mounting head of which is provided with a skin engaging surface of approximately rectangular configuration with strongly rounded corners. A special shaving head for razors is described in German patent specification DE 44 05 576 C2. Its skin engaging surface, seen in the shaving direction, is concavely bulged such that during shaving the skin in the area of the concave skin engagement surface is convexly curved.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,124 discloses a safety razor for trimming beards. It is provided with at least one rigidly mounted shaving head with a blade and, furthermore, with a retractable miniature shaving head and blade. The miniature shaving head is longitudinally moveable between two members forming a handle. In a first position, the miniature razor head is retracted behind a stationary razor head and, in a second position, it is disposed in front of the razor head. The drawback of this arrangement is that during use of the miniature head the razor head is not sufficiently far removed and is in fact interfering with the operation of the miniature head. Moreover, the guide constituted by the handle is in adequate while it is not possible so to structure the members as would be necessary to provide a functionally safe razor.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,078 discloses another razor provided with first and send handles. At one end, the two handles are connected by a hinge; at its other ends each handle is supporting a razor head. The two razor heads are of different sizes. When in use and unfolded, the handles form an elongate haft at each end of which there is provided a razor head. Its disadvantage is that in use, the two handles may deviate from their extended disposition so that the non-used razor head may cause injuries. Also, the miniature razor head is unprotected and is thus subject to damage.  
           [0009]    The disadvantage of the razors disclosed by the latter two U.S. patents is that they do not provide a secure grip and may thus render shaving rather difficult and, possibly, hazardous.  
           [0010]    The disadvantage of all known safety or wet razor devices is that the dimensions of their skin engaging surfaces, relative to desired beard contours, are rather too large. Moreover, they suffer from the drawback that as a rule their direct cutting surfaces are of rectangular configuration with a wide margin between blades and outer contour of the blade head. Another significant disadvantage of those razors is that special contours in a beard necessitate the use of another razor.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    An object of the invention is to eliminate the difficulty encountered by a bearded person seeking to shave defined and, more particularly, small contours into or out of the surface of his beard in consequence of the unavailability of suitable safety razors. With conventional safety razors, such contours can only be cut at the risk of cuts, particularly in the area of the lower lip.  
           [0012]    A further object is to provide a razor with an additional miniature razor head the construction of which would satisfy the functional requirements necessary to provide a safe grip and stability for safe handling, i.e. a safe grip and stability.  
           [0013]    Yet another object is to provide a miniature razor head which can be exposed in a simple and convenient manner only when it is needed, but which is sheltered or hidden by the components of the razor when not in use.  
           [0014]    Furthermore, It is an object of the invention to provide a razor having two razor heads which do not interfere with each other when in use in a way which may cause injury.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    In accordance with the invention, a safety razor is being proposed combining a conventional safety razor at one end of its handle with a small or miniaturized razor of a diameter in the order of the handle disposed at its opposite end. The miniaturized razor disposed at the opposite end of the handle is provided with a small blade unit with a skin engaging surface which is smaller than the skin engaging surface of the conventional blade head at the other end of the handle. The geometric configuration of the small blade unit of the safety razor in accordance with the invention is different from the blade head at the other end of the handle of safety razor. The blade units are configured to conform to individually desired beard contours and are provided with a round, oval or polygonal skin engaging surface. One or more blades may be arranged in the blade unit. They may be provided with wedge-shaped cutting edges at one side or both sides. The blades are supported in a frame in a conventional manner and, depending upon their shape and size of the blade unit, they are centered on a point of support.  
           [0016]    In a particular embodiment the skin engaging surface and the blades of the blade unit are convexly bulging in the direction of a surface to be shaved. The blade unit may be fixedly or removably mounted on the handle. Alternatively, the blade unit may be mounted on the handle by a hinge. In order to conform to individual desires in respect of a beard contour and to shave even very small contours, the blade unit is of a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the handle. In accordance with a further embodiment, the blade unit is covered by a protective hood snap-fitted to the handle by a grooved edge.  
           [0017]    In yet another embodiment, the objects are accomplished by a razor having first and second supports provided at one end with means for connecting a razor head and provided at their other ends with a slide moveably mounted in a guide and provided with fasteners for supporting a miniature razor head for longitudinal movement. The supports are provided with grip shells. Preferably, the supports engage each other in a surface-abutting relationship and are structured for receiving a guide. In an advantageous embodiment, the supports and the grip shells are provided with recesses for receiving a miniature razor head. Preferably, the supports and slide are provided with latching means. The razor head and the miniature razor head are disposed at an angle relative to the supports such that they face in opposite directions. Advantageously, the slide is provided with a handle and the grip shells are removably mounted on the supports.  
           [0018]    The advantage of this arrangement is that grip shells may be attached on the supports regardless of the slide and the miniature razor head formed thereon. The shells may thus be given an ergonomically and esthetically conditioned shape. The slide is securely retained between the supports and carries the miniature razor head on relatively short and, hence, securely positioned fasteners. On the one hand, the miniature razor head may be sufficiently moved outwardly for a perfect shave, and on the other hand, it may be completely hidden within the supports and the grip shells. When the miniature razor head is being used, the razor head is directed away from the body thus rendering injuries impossible. The structure is such that its few components may be assembled easily. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, in respect of its structure, construction and lay-out as well as manufacturing techniques, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of preferred embodiments when read in connection with the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 depicts a beard with contoured lines;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lower portion of a handle of a safety razor;  
         [0022]    FIGS.  3 - 9  are schematic representations of blade units for contour shavings;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the lower portion of the handle of a safety razor and a protective cover; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 depicts a conventional safety razor with a small blade unit in accordance with the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 depicts two views of a further embodiment of the razor in accordance with the invention with retracted miniature razor head;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 depicts the razor with one of its grip shells separated;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 shows a detail of the razor of FIG. 13;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 depicts the razor with one of its grip shells separated and showing the extended miniature razor head;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a detailed view of the extended razor head; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a detailed view of the slide arrangement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 depicts the lower facial section of a man who likes to have his beard shaved in fancy individually determined contours. The desired ideal contour is indicated by a contour line  1 . With conventional safety razors, such contours may either be shaved only with great difficulty or, more likely, not at all, and in the event not without great risk of cuts, particularly in the area of the lower lip.  
         [0032]    In order to avoid the necessity of several different safety razors, the invention proposes to arrange an additional blade unit  3  at the other end of a handle  2  of a conventional safety razor. The blade unit  3  is dimensionally structured such that it either substantially corresponds to the diameter of the handle  2  or, depending on special configurations of the handle  2 , has a diameter which is approximately identical to that of the handle  2 . This blade unit thus ensures that even the smallest contours, more particularly rounded configurations, may be shaved out of a beard. For cleaning the blade unit  3 , shavings and residual lather are simply rinsed off by a water jet from a faucet. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the blade unit  3  may be unscrewed from the handle  2  for cleaning.  
         [0033]    In the case of throw-away razors  2  which are discarded once the blades have become dull, the blade unit  3  will be fixedly connected to the handle  2 . Safety razors with a replaceable conventional blade head  12  will be provided, at the opposite end of their handle  2 , with a releasable and replaceable blade unit  3 .  
         [0034]    FIGS.  3 - 9  schematically depict, in top elevation, several different geometric structures of blade units  3  with one or more blades  4 . Depending upon the geometric external contour of the handle  2 , the blade units  3  may be selected to be of circular, elliptical or polygonal configuration. The blades  4  are mounted in a frame  5  which is preferably made of a polymeric material. The blades  4  may either be glued to the frame  5 , or they may be injection-molded into it. In a particular embodiment, the blades  4  are fixed to a centrally disposed mounting and support point  6 . Such mountings by means of a mounting and support point  6  are of particular use in the case of somewhat larger blade units  3 .  
         [0035]    As is well known, the blades  4  of the blade unit  3  are provided, for preferably circular shaving motions, with wedge-shaped cutting edges  7  and are structured as single (FIGS.  3  and-  6 ) or multiple blade (FIGS. 4, 5,  7 - 9 ) arrangements. In accordance with the invention, both margins of the blades  4  may be provided with wedge-shaped cutting edges  7 ,  8  to yield particularly advantageous shaving effect. So-called tandem blades as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be applied. The blades  4  may be straight or curved and arranged as singles, parallel, crossed, in a star-like configuration and/or in different planes.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 depicts a special embodiment of the end of a handle  2  with a blade unit  3  in accordance with the invention and a schematically shown protective cover  9  adapted to be seated on the handle by snap-fitting into grooves or a grooved margin  10  above a bulge  11  in the handle.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 shows a conventional safety razor with a blade head  12  at the upper end of its handle  2  structured as an inventive combination device provided with a blade unit  3  at the lower end of the handle  2 . Following large surface shaving with the blades in blade head  2 , the user may use the blade unit  3  to shave individualized contours in his beard (FIG. 1) by rotary shaving motion of the blade unit  3 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 12 shows a razor provided with first and second supports  13 ,  14  and two grip shells  15 ,  16 . It also depicts a replaceable razor head  17  and an actuator  18  of a slide  19  (FIG. 14).  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show the same razor with one of its grip shells  15  separated and a detailed view of the supports  13 ,  14  and of the slide  19  disposed therebetween. As shown, the slide  19  and a miniature razor head  20 , which is replaceable as well, are partially retracted into a cavity formed by the grip shells  15 ,  16 . A guide  21  within the supports  13 ,  14  and correspondingly shaped protrusions  22  on the slide  19  ensure a straight linear movement of the slide  19  and of the miniature razor head  20  within the confines of an opening  28 . Within the opening  28 , the miniature razor head  20  can be moved to and fro.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 also show the razor with one of its grip shells  15  separated to render visible, in the detailed view of FIG. 16, the supports  13 ,  14  with a completely extended slide  19  and the miniature razor head  20 . By pushing the actuator  18  along the handle formed by the supports  13 ,  14  and the grip shells  15 ,  16 , the slide  19  may be moved from its retracted position to its shown extended position where it is arrested by locking means  26  (FIG. 17) provided in the supports  13 ,  14  and slide  19 . In this position, the slide  19  extends beyond its guiding and securing supports  13 ,  14  only by the mounting bracket  29  of the miniature razor head  20 . In this manner, the miniature razor head  20  is maintained in a stable position while it is being used. In FIG. 15 the miniature razor head  20  is shown to be separated from its mounting bracket  29  for exchanging its blades or the entire miniature razor head  20 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 17 offers a detailed view of the two supports  13 ,  14  and the slide  19  with its actuator  18  moveably disposed between the supports  13 ,  14 . As may be seen, both supports  13 ,  14  are structured to received the slide  19  thus forming a section of reduced material strength. The supports  13 ,  14  are provided with recesses  24 ,  25  which form the opening  28  for receiving the miniature razor head  20  in its retracted position. The slide  21  and the section  23  of reduced thickness are dimensioned such that the slide  19  and the miniature razor head  20  are received completely within the cavity formed by the supports  13 ,  14  and grip shells  15 ,  16  and the recesses  24 ,  25  formed therein. The locking means  26  on the supports  13 ,  14  extend into openings  27  of the slide  19  to retain the latter in a secure position.  
         [0042]    The construction of the razor in-accordance with the invention makes it possible to shape the grip shells  15 ,  16 , regardless of the arrangement of the slide  19 , in an ergonomic and esthetic manner. The construction in accordance with the invention also provides for securing the slide  19  within the supports  13 ,  14  when the miniature razor head  20  is in its operative position and thus makes possible a perfect shave. The miniature razor head  20  can be extended sufficiently far to ensure a perfect shave and may be retracted far enough into the handle to be completely hidden and protected. When one of the two razor heads  17 ,  20  is being used, the other one faces into a direction away from the body. In this manner, accidental injuries are prevented. By removable mounting the grip shells  15 ,  16  on the supports  13 ,  14 , the razor may be cleaned in a convenient manner. The few structural components of the razor in accordance with the invention may be assembled in a simple manner either manually or automatically.  
         [0043]    Within the ambit of the invention the miniature razor head  20  may be of oval or circular configuration. In other words, by appropriately shaped openings in the grip shells  15 ,  16  at one end thereof and by a corresponding shape of the recesses  24   25  in the supports  13 ,  14  it is possible alternatively to utilize rectangular and oval and circular miniature razor heads.