Patent Publication Number: US-2005138814-A1

Title: Shaving apparatus with shaving aid material dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/533,701 filed on Dec. 30, 2003 and 60/533,700 filed on Dec. 30, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to shaving devices and, is more particularly directed to shaving devices having apparatus for dispensing a flowable shaving aid material.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventional safety razors typically include a disposable razor cartridge mounted in a reusable handle, or a handle and cartridge combined into a unitary disposable unit. Most razor cartridges include a frame, at least one razor blade, and a strip of shaving aid attached to the frame. Shaving aid materials include, but are not limited to lubricating agents, drag reducing agents, depilatory agents, cleaning agents, medicinal agents, and the like that enhance the shaving process.  
      The strip of shaving aid material is typically attached to the razor cartridge adjacent to the razor blade(s). Very often, flowable shaving aid material (e.g., a shaving cream) is also used with the razor assembly. Traditionally, the flowable shaving aid material is applied to the surface to be shaved independent of the shaving process. Applying a uniform layer of non-solid shaving aid material to a surface is not easily done and often creates an undesirable mess.  
      Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a shaving apparatus that is operable to apply a substantially uniform layer of flowable shaving aid material in a desirable manner.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, a shaving aid material dispenser includes a reservoir for storing a non-solid shaving aid material and a dispenser head. The dispenser head includes a housing and one or more rollers. Each roller is positioned in an opening in the housing. Each roller is pivotable about an axis and is selectively in fluid communication with the contents of the reservoir. The roller(s) are operable to distribute shaving aid material from the reservoir when rotated.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, a shaving apparatus handle includes the shaving aid material dispenser described above mounted on a grip portion.  
      According to a further aspect of the present invention, a shaving apparatus includes the shaving apparatus handle described above and a razor cartridge having a length, a width, and one or more razor blades. The razor blade cartridge is mounted on the shaving apparatus handle such that the axis about which the roller rotates extends substantially parallel to the length of the razor cartridge.  
      An advantage of the present invention is that the shaving apparatus of the present invention is operable with a variety of non-solid shaving aid materials, such as, for example, liquids, creams, and gels.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is that the shaving aid material dispenser does not require the user to operate an independent mechanism to dispense the shaving aid material from the dispensing device.  
      A further advantage of the present invention is that shaving aid material can be applied from the present invention “on demand”.  
      The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the present invention and accompanying drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shaving apparatus incorporating the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the shaving apparatus of  FIG. 1  along line  2 - 2 .  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser wherein the one or more rollers is an oblate spheroid.  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser showing a barrel shaped roller and a reservoir in the form of a flexible pouch.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser having a biasing member shown in the closed position.  
       FIG. 5A  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser having a biasing member shown in the open position.  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser having a slide valve shown in the open position.  
       FIG. 6A  is a sectional view of an embodiment of a shaving aid material dispenser having a slide valve shown in the closed position.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shaving apparatus having a grip portion that includes a razor cartridge support.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a shaving apparatus wherein the razor cartridge leads the one or more rollers during shaving.  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a shaving apparatus wherein the razor cartridge leads at least one of the rollers and trails at least one of the rollers during shaving.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a shaving device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a shaving aid dispenser in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 11A  is a sectional view along line  11 A- 11 A of  FIG. 11  depicting a shaving aid dispenser.  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the shaving aid dispenser of the present invention having cylindrical rollers.  
       FIG. 12A  is a sectional view along line  12 A- 12 A of  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the shaving aid dispenser of the present invention having oblate spheroid rollers.  
       FIG. 13A  is a sectional view along line  13 A- 13 A of  FIG. 13 .  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the shaving aid dispenser having rollers of various shapes.  
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view depicting the shaving aid dispenser with a selectively removable cover.  
       FIG. 16  is a sectional view depicting the shaving aid dispenser having a selectively removable lid. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , a shaving aid material dispenser generally designated by the reference number  10  includes a reservoir  12  (as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) and a dispenser head  14 . The dispenser head  14  includes a housing  22  and one or more rollers  24 . In some embodiments, the shaving aid material dispenser  10  also includes a razor cartridge  20 . Although the present invention is discussed primarily herein as a shaving aid material dispenser  10 , the embodiment in  FIG. 1  shows a shaving apparatus  16  that incorporates the shaving aid material dispenser  10 , as well as a grip portion  18 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , each roller  24  is rotatably positioned in an opening  26  in the housing  22 . In addition, each opening  26  may include connectors  28  to facilitate rotatably positioning a roller  24  therein.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the one or more rollers  24  rotate about an axis  30 . Each roller  24  may have a smooth surface (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), or a textured surface (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) and may be of any shape that is rotatable about an axis  30 . Common roller shapes include, but are not limited to, cylinder (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), oblate spheroid (i.e., an ellipse rotated on its polar axis, as shown in  FIG. 3 ), or “barrel” (i.e., an oblate spheroid having flattened ends, as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The cylindrical roller and the oblate spheroid roller shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively, are rotatable around the axes  30  generally indicated by the centerlines “A-A” and “B-B”, respectively.  
      In the illustrated embodiment, each roller  24  is positioned in an opening  26  such that a portion  32  of each roller  24  extends outwardly from the opening while another portion  34  of each roller is in fluid communication with the reservoir  12 , and thereby with the contents contained therein. In some instances, the portion  34  of the roller extends directly into the reservoir  12  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). In other instances, the portion  34  of the roller  24  is in fluid communication with the reservoir  12  via a fluid inlet  36 . The rollers  24  are operable to distribute the flowable shaving aid material  48  from the reservoir when rotated.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each roller  24  may include connectors  38  to facilitate rotatably positioning the roller  24  in an opening  26 . The connectors  38  are typically sized and shaped to compliment the connectors  28  positioned in the opening  26 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the connectors  38  attached to the roller  24  form a male portion and the connectors  28  in the opening  26  form a female portion. However, numerous styles of complimentary connectors  28 , 38  may be utilized to facilitate rotatably positioning the one or more rollers  24  within the opening(s)  26 .  
      The one or more rollers  24  are sized such that a gap  44  (as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1, 7  and  8 ) is defined between each roller  24  and a peripheral surface that at least in part defines the opening  26  in which the roller is positioned. The gap  44  facilitates the passage of a thin layer of flowable shaving aid material  48  therethrough. The actual size of the gap  44  depends on such parameters as the desired flow rate, the viscosity of the shaving aid material  48 , and the shape of the rollers  24 . In some embodiments, the positions of the roller  24  and the opening  26  relative to one another is fixed. Consequently, the gap  44  therebetween remains constant. In other embodiments, as will be discussed below, the roller  24  is urged into the opening  26 , so that the roller and the surfaces defining the opening cooperate to form a valve assembly  54 . As a result, the gap  44  is eliminated under certain conditions, and present under others.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser head  14  includes a razor cartridge support  50  for mounting a razor cartridge  20  thereon. The razor cartridge support  50  is positioned on the dispenser head  14  such that the razor cartridge  20  mounted thereon is adjacent the one or more rollers.  
      A variety of different razor cartridges  20  can be used with the present shaving apparatus, including those that are intended to be disposable. Therefore, in some embodiments, various different replacement razor cartridges may be used with the present invention. The present invention is not, therefore, limited to any particular type of razor cartridge. Preferably, the razor cartridge  20  is mounted on the shaving aid material dispenser  10  such that the razor cartridge  20  in a longitudinal direction along the length  51  of the razor cartridge is substantially parallel to the axis  30  about which the one or more rollers  24  rotate. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the razor cartridge  20  is disposed aft of the one or more rollers  24  as those elements would be encountered during a normal shaving stroke. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the razor cartridge  20  may also be disposed forward of the one or more rollers  24 , or rollers  24  can be disposed forward and aft of the razor cartridge  20  as can be seen in  FIG. 9 .  
      Referring back to  FIGS. 2-4 , a flowable shaving aid material  48  is stored in the reservoir  12 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the reservoir  12  can take the form of a collapsible pouch  52 . In alternative embodiments, the reservoir  12  may be formed within the dispenser head  14  (see  FIG. 3 ) or in the grip portion  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). In all embodiments, the reservoir  12  is disposed within the shaving aid material dispenser  10  such that the contents of the reservoir  12  are in fluid communication with the one or more rollers  24 . Flowable shaving aid material  48  contained within the reservoir  12  is selectively disposed in contact with the second portion  34  of the one or more rollers  24 .  
      In embodiments where the portion  34  of a roller  24  extends directly into the reservoir  12  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), the flowable shaving aid material  48  may be in constant contact, or brought into direct contact by tipping the dispensing head  14 , with the second portion  34  of the roller  24 .  
      In other embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the reservoir  12  may be in fluid communication with the second portion  34  of the one or more rollers  24  via a fluid inlet  36  disposed between the rollers  24  and the reservoir  12 . The fluid inlet  36  is sized to permit flowable shaving aid material  48  to pass therethrough. The fluid inlet  36  can be sized to advantageously meter flow therethrough. In some embodiments, potential energy devices (not shown) are used to selectively collapse the reservoir  12 . Common potential energy devices include, but are not limited to, creep-rollers, pressure pads, and roll-up springs. The potential energy devices are operable to collapse the reservoir  12 , thereby forcing the flowable shaving aid material  48  to exit the reservoir, pass through the fluid inlet  36  and contact the second portion  34  of the rollers  24 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5, 5A ,  6  and  6 A, the dispenser head  14  can also include a valve assembly  54 . The valve assembly  54  is operable to selectively dispense flowable shaving aid material from the dispenser head  14 . Typically, the valve assembly  54  is operable to selectively dispense flowable shaving aid material from the reservoir  12  to the one or more rollers  24 , or out of the one or more openings  26 . Numerous types of valve assemblies  54  may be effectively utilized. The shaving aid material dispenser  10  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6 A, for example, may include a slide valve  56 . The slide valve  56  is operable to move from an open position  58  to a closed position  60 , thereby selectively opening/closing the fluid communication between the second portion  34  of the one or more rollers  24  and the contents of the reservoir  12 . In embodiments including a fluid inlet  36 , the slide valve  56  may obstruct passage through the fluid inlet  36  by, for example, substantially covering one end of the fluid inlet  36 . Or, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the slide valve  56 , in the closed position  60 , may pinch the sides of the fluid inlet  36  shut.  
      Alternatively, and now referring to  FIGS. 5 and 5 A, the valve assembly  54  may prevent flowable shaving aid material  48  from exiting the shaving aid material dispenser  10  by selectively closing the gap  44  between the roller(s)  24  and the opening(s)  26 . In these embodiments, the valve assembly  54  includes a biasing member  62 . For example, each roller  24  can be rotatably positioned between an opening  26  and a biasing member  62 . When the biasing member  62  is extended to a closed position  64 , the gap  44  between the roller  24  and the opening  26  is eliminated, as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the biasing member  62  is compressed into an open position  66 , (e.g., when the one or more rollers  24  are pressed against the surface being shaved), the gap  44  is created between the roller(s)  24  and the opening(s)  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . In these embodiments, the travel of the roller  24  is limited to a maximum predetermined magnitude. Consequently, the gap  44  can vary between the maximum predetermined magnitude and the closed position  64 . The variable gap  44  also permits the flow rate of the shaving aid material  48  to be varied.  
      As mentioned, a flowable shaving aid material  48  is disposed in the reservoir  12 . Flowable shaving aid materials include, but are not limited to, lubricating agents, drag reducing agents, depilatory agents, cleaning agents, medicinal agents, and the like that enhance the shaving process. Common forms of flowable shaving aid materials  48  include liquids, gels and creams.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the shaving apparatus  16  includes the shaving aid material dispenser  10  described above mounted on a handle or grip portion  18 . The grip portion  18  may be of any practical shape and size. In some embodiments, the grip portion  18  includes an interior cavity  70  that, for example, receives and conceals the reservoir  12 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the grip portion  18  also includes a razor cartridge support  72  for mounting a razor cartridge  20  thereon. The razor cartridge support  72  is positioned such that the razor cartridge  20  is adjacent the rollers  24 . Preferably, the razor cartridge  20  is parallel in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the cartridge length  51  to the axes  30  about which the rollers  24  rotate when the razor cartridge  20  is mounted on the shaving apparatus  16 .  
      In operation, the portion  34  of the roller  24  is coated with flowable shaving aid stored in the reservoir  12 . The user then brings the shaving apparatus  16  in contact with the surface being shaved. As the user moves the shaving apparatus  16 , friction between the first portion  32  of the rollers  24  and the surface being shaved causes the one or more rollers  24  to rotate within the housing  22 . As the rollers  24  rotate, the flowable shaving aid material  48  is transferred from the reservoir  12 , through the gap  44 , and to the point of discharge  74 . As the flowable shaving aid material  48  reaches the point of discharge  74 , the flowable shaving aid material is dispensed on the surface being shaved. Simultaneously, as the shaving apparatus  16  is moved, the razor cartridge  20  shaves the undesired hair from the area being shaved. In those embodiments utilizing valve assemblies  54  consisting of rollers  24  biased into openings  26 , the rollers  24  are displaced from the openings  26  when the dispenser head  14  is placed in contact with the surface to be shaved. The displacement creates the gap  44  through which the shaving aid material is dispensed.  
      Another embodiment of the shaving aid material dispenser of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 10-16  and is generally designated by the reference number  100 . The shaving aid material dispenser  100  includes a dispenser head having a body  112  and a number of rollers  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, a shaving device generally designated by the reference number  116  includes the shaving aid material dispenser  100 , a handle  118  and a razor cartridge  120 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 11 A, the body  112  includes a contact surface  122  and defines at least one reservoir  124 . In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface defines an aperture  126  extending therethrough. The aperture  126  is adapted to receive the razor cartridge  120  therein. While the body  112  is shown as being oval-shaped, the present invention is not limited in this regard and the body can be any practical shape and size without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. The contact surface  122  may be substantially smooth or textured. A flowable shaving aid material  128  is disposed in the reservoir  124 . Flowable shaving aid materials  128  include, but are not limited to, lubricating agents, drag reducing agents, depilatory agents, cleaning agents, medicinal agents, and the like that enhance the shaving process. The shaving aid material within the reservoir  124  is typically pressurized (e.g., by mechanical means) to force the shaving aid material from the reservoir  124  toward the one or more rollers  114 . In some embodiments, the mechanism which is used to pressurize the shaving aid material within the reservoir  124  can be selectively controlled by a switch. A selectively operable switch may also be disposed between the reservoir  124  and the rollers  114 .  
      Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 11 and 11 A, each of the rollers  114  is rollably positioned in an opening  130  defined by the contact surface  122 . A first portion  132  of each roller  114  extends from the contact surface  122  and a second portion  134  of each roller  114  extends into the reservoir  124 . The second portion  134  of each roller  114  is in fluid communication with the contents of the reservoir  124 . In other words, the second portion  134  of each roller  114  is positioned in, or adjacent the reservoir  124  such that it can be coated by the flowable shaving aid material  128  located in the reservoir. In some embodiments, the shaving aid material dispenser  100  may need to be positioned to cause gravity to cause the flowable shaving aid material  128  in the reservoir  124  to flow into direct contact with the second portion  134  of the roller  114 . In other embodiments, the flowable shaving aid material  128  is in constant contact with the second portion  134  of the roller  114 . Each of the rollers  114  is operable to deliver the flowable shaving aid material from the reservoir  124  to a point of discharge  136  when the roller  114  is rotated.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , the rollers  114  may be any practical shape, including but not limited to, a sphere (as shown in  FIG. 11 ), a cylinder (as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 12 A), or an oblate spheroid (i.e., an ellipse rotated on its polar axis, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 13 A). In embodiments where the roller  114  is a sphere, the sphere rolls within the opening  130  in any direction, without a fixed axis. In other embodiments, where the roller  114  is not a sphere, the roller  14  rolls on a substantially fixed axis within the opening  130  in the contact surface  122 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 13A , the cylindrical roller  114  and the oblate spheroid roller  114  are rollable substantially around the fixed axes indicated by the centerline “A-A” and “B-B”, respectively. Referring to  FIG. 14 , the shaving aid material dispenser  100  can have different rollers  114  having various shapes and sizes.  
      Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 11-13 , the rollers  114  are sized to roll within the opening  130  defined by the contact surface  122 , such that a gap  138  is created between the roller  114  and the opening  130 . Conversely, the opening  130  is shaped and sized to maintain the general position of the roller  114  placed therein, while still allowing the roller to rotate. For example, in  FIG. 11A , the gap  138  extends substantially around the spherical rollers  114 , whereas in  FIG. 12 , the gap  138  extends substantially along either side  139  of the cylindrical rollers  114 . The gap  138  is sized to allow a thin layer of flowable shaving aid material  128  to pass therethrough. The gap  138  may be sized to adjust the rate at which the shaving aid material  128  is dispensed; e.g., to a desired rate for a given flowable shaving aid material  128  viscosity, temperature, and the shape of the roller  114 .  
      According to another aspect of the invention, and now referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a portion  140  of the body  112  is selectively removable. For example, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the top portion  141  of the body  112  is selectively removable to provide access to the reservoir  124 . Alternatively, the selectively removable portion  140  can be a removable lid  142 . In these embodiments, the body  112  includes a second opening  144  that is substantially covered and sealed, when in place, by the selectively removable lid  142 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . In both embodiments, the selectively removable portion  140  of the body  112  can be removed and additional flowable shaving aid material  128  disposed in the reservoir  124 .  
      Referring back to  FIG. 10 , the shaving device  116  includes the shaving aid material dispenser  100  described above, the handle  118 , and the razor cartridge  120 .  
      Handles  118  used with shaving devices  116  are well known in the art and may be of any practical shape and size. Preferably, the handle  118  is contoured to allow it to be gripped comfortably by the user, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Typically, the handle  118  is attached to the shaving aid material dispenser  110  such that it is not intended to be removed during normal use. However, the handle  118  may be removably attached to the shaving aid material dispenser  110 .  
      Razor cartridges  120  includes at least one razor blade  146  having a cutting edge  148 . The razor cartridge  120  can be fixedly or pivotally attached to the handle  118 . A variety of different razor cartridges  120  can be used with the present shaving device  116 , including those that are intended to be disposable. The present apparatus is not, therefore, limited to any particular type of razor cartridge  120 .  
      In operation, the shaving device  116  is brought into contact with the surface being shaved. As the shaving device  116  is moved along the surface being shaved, friction between the first rollers  114  and the surface being shaved causes the rollers to roll within the opening  130  in the contact surface  122 . The flowable shaving aid material  128  in the reservoir  124  coats the rollers  114 . As the rollers roll, the flowable shaving aid material  128  is delivered from the reservoir  124 , through the gap  138  between each roller  114  and the opening  130 , and to the point of discharge  136 . As the shaving aid material  128  reaches the point of discharge  136 , the flowable shaving aid material  128  is dispensed on the surface being shaved. Simultaneously, as the shaving device  116  is moved, the cutting edges  148  of the shaving cartridge  120  shave the undesired hair from the area being shaved.  
      Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.