Abstract:
A combination razor and razor brush is disclosed. The brush for cleaning the razor during and after use of the razor is releasably retained inside a hollow handle of the razor so that the brush is always readily accessible.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/095,780, filed Sep. 10, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to razors and, more specifically, to a razor having an integrated brush for cleaning of the razor during and after use. 
         [0003]    Razors are in wide use for personal grooming. The majority of such razors have a handle to one end of which is attached a head member which holds one or more razor blades. Often, the head member is releasably attached to the handle so that replacement heads with fresh razor blades can be substituted when the existing blades become dull. A problem that exists with these razors is that hair, skin cells, soap or shaving cream used in the shaving process, and other materials that may be present on the skin, become trapped on the razor blades or in the head member resulting in reduced effectiveness of the razor and perhaps shortening the useful life of the razor or head member. 
         [0004]    One solution to removing the hair and other materials from the head member and razor blades is to displace the hair and other materials by passing a brush over the head member and razor blades. Known brushes are separate articles from the razor and therefore must be purchased separately from the razor, are stored separately so that the brush may not always be accessible when the razor is used, and may become permanently separated, for example if the brush is misplaced or forgotten. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention consists of a combination razor and brush personal care product wherein the brush is retained when not in use inside the handle of the razor component. The brush component consists of a handle on one end of which is mounted a brush head. The handle of the razor component is hollow and the brush component is sized to slide longitudinally inside the handle of the razor component where it is releasably retained until withdrawn by a user to clean the razor component after use with the brush component. In a preferred embodiment, the brush component is releasably secured to a base member that has screw threads for engagement corresponding screw threads on the end of the handle of the razor component opposite the end with the razor head member so that the brush component can be extracted from the razor component by unscrewing of the base member. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide a replacement product packaging that includes new razor head member and/or blades combined together with a new brush component so that a user can easily and conveniently maintain the razor and brush combination product of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an embodiment of the razor and brush combination of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, detail cross-sectional view showing the structure of a preferred embodiment for releasably attaching the brush component to a base member. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a package of replacement blades and brush component of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1 , generally at  10 , is a razor and brush combination product of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The combination product  10  includes a handle  12 , a razor head member  14  attached to a first end of the handle  12 , and a base member  16  releasably attached to a second end of the handle  12 . Preferably, the exterior of the handle  12  has a plurality of recesses  18  to provide for comfortable and secure grasping of the combination product  10  by a user. 
         [0012]    A brush component  20  is releasably retained inside the handle  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The brush component  20  includes a brush handle  22  and a brush head  24  mounted on a first end of the brush handle  22 . The base member  16  is removable attached to the handle  16  by a cooperating set of screw threads  26  and  28  on the interior or the base member and the exterior of the handle  16 , respectively. The brush component  20  is releasably secured to the base member  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the main, central section of the brush handle  22  has a round profile for comfortable grasping by a user. The second end of the brush handle  22  includes a reduced profile, generally at  30  ( FIG. 3 ). A corresponding recess  32  is formed in the base member  16  so that the second end  30  of the brush handle  22  can be inserted and retracted from the base member  16 . In a preferred embodiment, a detent ridge  34  is formed in the recess  32  and a corresponding detent depression  36  is formed in the second end  30  of the brush handle  22 . The detent ridge  34  and detent depression  36  cooperate to allow a user to push the brush handle  22  into the base member  16 , forcing the detent ridge  34  into the detent depression  36  whereupon the brush handle  22  is releasably attached to the base member  16 , but can be readily detached by a user by forcefully separating the brush handle  22  from the base member  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the second end  20  may have a non-circular profile so that it does not rotate inside the base member  16 . 
         [0013]    In use, a user will shave with the combination product  10  and then use the brush component  20  to clean the razor component. Access to the brush component  20  is made by unscrewing the base member  16  from the handle  12  and then retracting the brush component  20  from inside the handle  12  by withdrawing it longitudinally. Once the cleaning process in complete, the brush component is returned inside the razor handle  12  by inserting it longitudinally and then screwing the base member  16  onto the handle  12 . It is preferred that the bush head  24  be received inside the handle  12  in a close fit so as to limit movement and rattling of the brush component  20  inside the handle  12 . Obviously, the fit should not be so close that the brush component  20  is difficult to insert or withdraw and also should not be so close that the force required to withdraw the brush component is greater that the force required to retract the brush handle  22  from the base member  16 . 
         [0014]    The brush head  24 , as well as the razor head member  14 , will wear with use and need to be replaced. A convenient package for maintaining the combination product  10  is illustrated generally at  38  in  FIG. 4 . It includes in a single package replacement razor head member  40  and a replacement brush component  42 . 
         [0015]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.