Abstract:
A razor assembly has a shaving head and a handle. The handle has a first handle section attached to the shaving head, and a second handle section pivotably coupled to the first handle section, the second handle section having a length that is adjustable. The second handle section is pivoted in a first direction to a first retracted position adjacent the first handle section, and pivoted in a second direction to a second extended position with respect to the first handle section.

Description:
RELATED CASES  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No. 11/392,243, filed Mar. 28, 2006, which is based on Provisional Specification No. 60/719,540, filed Sep. 21, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference as though set forth fully herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]      1 . Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to razors, and in particular, to a razor that includes an extendable handle to assist the user in reaching areas of the back that cannot be reached with a normal sized razor.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     It is often desirable to be able to shave body hair from one&#39;s back, and at the same time it is very difficult to do so. This problem has been considered in the prior art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,645, which discloses a foldable razor with an extendable handle. Another aspect for razors includes the ability to alter the angle of the shaving head relative to the handle to facilitate the shaving of different parts of the face and body, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,955,136 and 4,879,811.  
         [0006]     However, none of these prior art attempts disclose a razor that can be easily used to shave one&#39;s back.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks set forth above.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a razor that can be easily used to shave one&#39;s back.  
         [0009]     In order to accomplish the above-described and other objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a razor assembly that has a shaving head and a handle. The handle has a first handle section attached to the shaving head, and a second handle section pivotably coupled to the first handle section, the second handle section having a length that is adjustable. The second handle section is pivoted in a first direction to a first retracted position adjacent the first handle section, and pivoted in a second direction to a second extended position with respect to the first handle section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is a side plan view of a razor according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in the folded configuration.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1   b  is a front plan view of the razor of  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0012]      FIG. 1   c  is a side plan view of the razor of  FIG. 1   a  shown in the unfolded or fully extended configuration.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1   d  is a bottom plan view of the razor of  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0014]      FIG. 1   e  is a rear plan view of the razor of  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0015]      FIG. 2   a  is a side plan view of the razor of  FIG. 1   a  shown in the partially folded or partially extended configuration.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   b  is a sectional perspective view of a portion of the extendable handle of the razor of  FIG. 1   a  showing the locking mechanism.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2   c  is a sectional perspective view of a portion of the extendable handle of the razor of  FIG. 1   a  showing the locking mechanism being actuated. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   e  and  2   a - 2   c  illustrate a razor  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The razor  10  includes a head  12 , one or more blades  14  removably secured to the head  12 , a first handle section  16  connected to the head  12 , and a second hinged handle section  18  extending from the first handle section  16 . In particular, the top end of the second handle section  18  is pivotably connected to a connector  34  along a pivot axis defined by a pivot pin  28 , and the bottom end of the first handle section  16  is pivotably connected to the connector  34  along a pivot axis defined by another pivot pin  36 . The second handle section  18  includes a first portion  20  that is hingedly connected to the connector  34 , and a second portion  22  that is slidably mounted on the first portion  20  for varying the length of the second handle section  18 . The second portion  22  can be retained at a selected one of a plurality of positions along the length of the first portion  20  by a detent button  24  that operates as a locking mechanism, as explained in greater detail below.  
         [0020]     The head  12  can be formed as part of the first handle section  16  if the razor  10  is an electric razor, and the head  12  can be pivotably connected to the first handle section  16  if the razor  10  is a manual razor. In addition, the first handle section  16  can optionally include a compartment  26 . The compartment  26  can be used to hold extra blades  14  if the razor  10  is a manual razor, or used as a battery compartment if the razor  10  is an electric razor.  
         [0021]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connector  34  and the second handle portion  18  include opposing engageable surfaces  30  and  32 , respectively, at the bottom end of the connector  34  and the top end of the second handle portion  18 , respectively (see  FIG. 2   a ). When the handle portions  16  and  18  are pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin  28 , the surfaces  30  and  32  abut (see  FIG. 1   c ) to prevent further rotation of the first handle portion  16  in the clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 1   c ), thereby positioning the first handle portion  16  at a maximum angle A relative to the second handle portion  18 . Referring to  FIG. 1   c,  the angle A can be about 135 degrees to 150 degrees, which the inventor believes to be ideal for enabling a user to reach and effectively place the shaving head  12  and the blade  14  on the hard-to-reach areas of the back. This range of angles allows the user to place the head  12  against the skin on the back without unusual or uncomfortable contortions of the user&#39;s wrist or arm. Although the present invention describes the use of 135-150 degrees for the angle A, angle A can be any angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees, depending upon the related variables, such as the body type or height of the user, the shaving locations on the back, etc.  
         [0022]     As best shown in  FIG. 1   a , the first handle portion  16  can be pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin  36 , and the first handle portion  16  can be further pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin  28 , to align the handle portions  16  and  18  side-by-side in parallel with each other to obtain a compact configuration that allows the razor  10  to be conveniently packed or stored.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c , the first portion  20  of the second handle section  18  has an elongated slit  40  that leads into a channel  42  inside the first portion  20 . The channel  42  has a wall  44  that extends along the length of the channel  42 . The slit  40  has wavy edges that define notches  46 , with opposing notches  46  defining an opening. The detent button  24  has a generally circular body with a groove  48  extending around the body. The button  24  extends through an opening in the second portion  22  (see  FIG. 2   b ) and then through the slit  40 , and rests on top of a plate  50 , with an elastic member  52  (e.g., a spring plate) seated inside the channel  42  against the wall  44 . The plate  50  is normally biased by the elastic member  52  against the wall of the wavy edges to prevent the button  24  from being ejected from the slit  40 . The diameter of the body of the button  24  is sized to fit snugly inside the opening of an opposing pair of notches  46  in the slit  40 , so that the button  24  is adapted to be secured inside any of the selected openings. The button  24  has a reduced diameter at the groove  48 , so that the button  24  can be moved along the slit  40  when the button  24  is depressed against the bias of the elastic member  52  to the level where the wavy edges of the slit  40  are received in, and travel along, the groove  48 . When the button  24  is not depressed, the natural bias of the elastic member  52  will push the button  24  back through the slit  40  so that the body of the button  24  is received and secured in the selected opening of an opposing pair of notches  46 .  
         [0024]     Thus, the user can adjust the length of the second handle section  18  by pressing on the button  24  to the level where the wavy edges of the slit  40  are received in the groove  48 . The user then moves the button  24  (and the second portion  22  carried by the button  24 ) along the slit  40  until the combined length of the portions  20  and  22  are at the desired length. The user then releases his pressing force on the button  24 , so that the natural bias of the elastic member  52  will then push the button  24  back through the slit  40  so that the body of the button  24  is received and secured in the selected opening of an opposing pair of notches  46 . When the user wishes to adjust the length of the second handle section  18  again, the user presses the button  24  and repeats the steps set forth above. As part of the adjustment, the user can even insert the entire length of the first portion  20  inside the hollow interior of the second portion  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1   a , to facilitate folding and storage of the razor  10 .  
         [0025]     The razor  10  can be manufactured from any material, and non-limiting examples include metals, polymeric materials, or the like. For example, the first and second handle sections  16  and  18  can be formed of a thermoplastic material.  
         [0026]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.