Patent Publication Number: US-2010107415-A1

Title: Combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/193,159, filed Oct. 31, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to disposable shaving implements and shaving lubricants, and, in particular, to a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With a conventional disposable hand razor, a razor blade is mounted in a shaving head portion of the hand razor that is carried on an end of a handle, with the handle being grasped by the shaver during shaving. During the shaving operation, the shaver conventionally applies lather-forming shaving lubricant to a body portion, such as the face, to be shaved. The lathers, creams, gels and the like, are applied to the face or body portions, and are typically supplied in large, relatively heavy multiple serving plastic and/or metallic containers. These large containers are okay for home use. 
     But when traveling or otherwise away from home, it is often desirable to shave before an important meeting or social occasion. It is inconvenient for most individuals to carry a separate shaver and shaving cream dispenser both before and after use. In addition, it is often impossible to anticipate that such items will be necessary when leaving the home or office. Furthermore, no one likes to carry excess weight on a trip. The cans are bulky and difficult to store, especially where luggage space is limited. Cans and lotion bottles can leak in the luggage, especially at low pressure in airplane baggage compartments. Thus, it makes little sense to carry the razor, and shaving lubricant can on an overnight or 2-day trip. 
     A number of disposable type razors that include a supply of shaving lubricant in the handle have been developed. But these razors suffer from several drawbacks. For example, some razors do not provide enough lather, the reservoir having been overly used. Some razors are not in an airtight seal causing the shaving lubricant to dry out prior to use. Other types require the handle to be flexible in order to squeeze out the shaving material. These disposable razors have the shaving lubricant exiting out the butt of the handle. This results in a dangerous situation because the razor gets touched and, usually, the shaver&#39;s hand is cut. Some disposable razors have the shaving lubricant exiting from the razor head. The problem with these is that, when shaving lubricant is being applied to the face, the razor can cut the face, due to the manipulation of the razor. Still, other disposable razors are so complex with a piston-type of device forcing out the lubricant that they are easily damaged when dropped. Additionally, many of these available disposable razors require the shaver to “re-learn” how to shave when applying the shaving lubricant or favor the right hand over the left or vice versa. 
     Thus, a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser includes an elongated rectangular handle defining a cavity holding shaving lubricant. The handle has a butt end and a razor head. The razor head securely holds at least one razor and has an arcuate wall. The elongated rectangular handle has a top side and a bottom side. The cavity extends from nearly the butt end to the arcuate wall. The topside has an open slider track exposing the cavity, and the bottom side has an opening near the arcuate wall for dispensing the shaving lubricant from the cavity. A cube-shaped pusher is movably positioned in the cavity. The pusher is for pushing the shaving lubricant from the cavity, out the opening and through the bottom side of the body. A slider is connected to the pusher and positioned on the top side of the elongated rectangular handle over the slider track and outside the cavity. The slider is for moving the pusher in a direction from the butt end towards the arcuate wall. 
     A ball is movably positioned in the cavity between the pusher and the arcuate wall. The ball is for moving the shaving lubricant from the cavity out the opening in the bottom side. The arcuate wall guides the ball into the opening in the bottom side of the elongated rectangular body. A tab member is attached to the opening in the bottom side of the elongated rectangular handle. The tab member is removed prior to movement of the slider for exposing the opening in the bottom side during the dispensing of the shaving lubricant. 
     One embodiment includes a permeable bladder that holds the shaving lubricant. The bladder is positioned in the cavity of the elongated rectangular body. In another embodiment, the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser has a sealing material that covers the slider track in order to keep the shaving lubricant fresh. The sealing material is removed prior to moving the slider towards the arcuate wall of the second solid section. 
     A still further embodiment of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser includes an elongated hexagonal handle that defines two tubular cavities. Each of the cavities is adapted for holding shaving lubricant. The handle has a hexagonal butt end and a razor head. The razor head has a solid portion, and the handle has six sides, including a topside and a bottom side. The two tubular cavities extend from the butt end to the solid portion. Two of the sides next to the topside have a slider track, and two of the other sides next to the bottom side have an opening near the solid portion. The openings are adapted for dispensing the shaving lubricant from either one of the cavities. 
     The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser of this embodiment has two pushers, each cavity having one of the pushers slidably disposed therein. Each pusher is independently operable to push the shaving lubricant from its corresponding cavity through one of the openings in the side next to the bottom side. Each pusher has a slider connected thereto. The sliders are positioned on one of the sides next to the top side of the handle over the respective slider track and outside the respective cavity. The sliders move the corresponding pusher from the butt end towards the solid portion to eject shaving lubricant from the cavity. The dispenser has a tab member releasably covering each opening on the side next to the bottom side of the handle. Each tab member is removed to permit dispensing shaving lubricant from the corresponding cavity. 
     In this embodiment, the dispenser has two permeable straw-shaped bladders. Each of the straw shaped bladders is adapted for holding the shaving lubricant and is positioned in each of the handle cavities. Each of the pushers has an arcuate wedge-shaped member for pushing on the respective bladder to force the shaving lubricant towards the solid portion and out the respective opening. Each of the straw-shaped bladders has a flexible end having a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the openings to form a friction fit securing the flexible end of the bladder into the respective opening. The other end has a flexible, semi-conical shape forming a ramp-like member to facilitate movement of the corresponding pusher. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , is a combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser that is generally indicated by number  10 . The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10  includes an elongated rectangular handle  11 . The handle  11  has two ends, a butt end  12  and a razor head  14 . The butt end  12  is securely attached to a first solid section  15  of the handle  11 . This first solid section  15  serves to provide weight to the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 , as well as support during use. The razor head  14  securely holds at least one razor blade. As is common, disposable shavers have a razor blade or steel cutting edge. To achieve higher shaving efficiency, disposable shavers may have one, two or more inline cutting edges. Thus, the number of razor blades in the razor head  14  can be one or more. 
     The handle  11  has an elongated rectangular body  16 . The body  16  has a topside  17 . The topside  17  has an open slider track  18  that permits movement of a slider  19  from the butt end  12  toward the razor head  14 . This movement dispenses shaving lubricant  20  through a dispensing hole  21  located on the bottom side  22  of the body  16 . The bottom side  22  is 180° opposite the topside  17 , the slider track  18  and the slider  19  being located on the bottom side  22 . The shaving lubricant  20  may be any type of shaving lubricant, such as, but not limited to, shaving creams, lathers, foams or gels. The shaving lubricant  20  is dispensed into a free hand  23  of the shaver. From there, the shaving lubricant  20  is applied to an area to be shaved in a manner consistent with how one would apply similar shaving lubricant. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a first embodiment of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10  is described. Along the slider track  19  is a pull tab  24  that is attached to a sealing sheet of plastic  26  or some similar airtight material. The body  16  of the handle  11  includes a cavity  28 . The cavity  28  holds or stores the shaving lubricant  20  prior to the shaving lubricant  20  being dispensed through the dispensing hole  21  and the hand  23 . The cavity  28  extends from nearly the first solid section  15  to an arcuate wall  30  of a second solid section  32  that is securely attached to the razor head  14 . The pull tab  24  and sealer sheet  26  are affixed to the slider track  18  creating an airtight or quasi-airtight seal that protects the integrity of the shaving lubricant  20  until pulled off. Pulling the tab  24  reveals the slider track  18  and allows the slider  19  to travel along the track  18 , thereby dispensing the shaving lubricant  20  through the dispensing hole  21 . Thus, the bottom side  22  has the dispensing hole or opening  21  near the arcuate wall  30  of the second solid section  32  for dispensing the shaving lubricant  20  from the cavity  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and also in a second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a cube-shaped pusher  34  is movably positioned in the cavity  28  for pushing the shaving lubricant  20  from the cavity  28  out the opening  21  in the bottom side  22 . The pusher  34  is securely connected to the slider  19  that is positioned on the topside  17  of the elongated rectangular body  16  over the slider track  18  and outside the cavity  28 . The slider  19  moves the pusher  34  in a direction from the first solid section  15  towards the arcuate wall  30  of the second solid section  32 . A ball  36  is movably positioned in the cavity  28  between the pusher  34  and the arcuate wall  30  of the second solid section  32 . The ball  36  moves and rotates in tandem with the pusher  34  and the slider  19 . 
     The pusher  34  is of a height and width equal to that of the inside dimensions of the cavity  28  so that edges of the pusher  34  act as scraping devices to collect shaving lubricant  20  that gets pushed aside by the ball  36  in the sliding process. Also, the ball  36  that is positioned at a center point of the pushing block  34  has a radius equal to one-half the width of the pusher  34 . In either the first or second embodiments, shown  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the ball  36  pushes the shaving lubricant  20  through the cavity  28 , and the remnant lubricant is collected by the edges of the pusher  34 . The shaving lubricant  20  is thus pushed through the cavity  28  towards the dispensing hole  21 . The arcuate dispensing wall  30  is the offset image of one-quarter dimension of the ball  36 , so that the shape of the arcuate wall  30  will seed into the ball  36  and the ball  36  will have a final resting place, when the slider  19  has been fully deployed, abutting the arcuate wall  30  and covering the dispensing hole  21 . 
     A tab member  37  is attached to the dispensing hole or opening  21  in the bottom side  22  of the elongated rectangular body  16  for removal prior to the movement of the slider  19  to expose the opening  21  in the bottom side  22  of the elongated rectangular body  19  for the dispensing of the shaving lubricant  20 . 
     In the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , to prevent the shaving lubricant  20  from oozing out the top of the slider track  18 , the slider track  18  can have a very narrow bead separating the top of the pusher  34  and the slider  19 . The shaving lubricant  20  is not loaded under pressure, so one would have to turn the combo disposable razor and dispenser  10  upside down to get the shaving lubricant  20  to ooze out the slider track  18 . 
     Alternatively, should the slider track  18  be too wide and allow shaving lubricant  20  to ooze or seep, the slider track  18  can be sealed in the cavity  28  just to the front of the pusher  34  and the slider  19  with the same sealing material as the sealing sheet of plastic  26 . Thus, the connection between the slider  19  and the pusher  34  would cut through the material, which would keep the lubricant  20  from dispensing through the slider track  18 . 
     The second embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , augments cavity  28  with the malleable bladder  38  being sufficient to keep the shaving material enclosed, but of a nature that will allow the bladder  38  to puncture when the pusher  34  and ball  36  move the bladder  38  over toward the dispensing hole  21  after the tab  37  is removed. 
     A third embodiment of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser is shown in  FIGS. 5-9 . This embodiment of the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser is somewhat different than the first and second embodiments, and is thus indicated by the number  50 . 
     The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  50  has an elongated, six-sided polygonal or hexagonal handle or body  51 . The handle  51  has two ends, a butt end having end cap  52  and a swivel razor head mount  54 . A solid, arcuate neck  55  joins the swivel razor head mount  54  to the body  51 , and a razor head  56  is removably attached to the head mount  54 . The neck  55  serves to provide weight to the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  50 , as well as support during use. The cartridge  56  securely holds at least one razor blade. The head  56  is removable so that the head  56  can be readily replaced when the blade(s) is dull. As is common, disposable shavers have a razor blade or steel cutting edge. To achieve higher shaving efficiency, disposable shavers may have one, two or more inline cutting edges. Thus, the number of razor blades in the razor head  56  can be one or more. 
     The end cap  52  at the butt end is hexagonal and, in the preferred embodiment, is securely attached to the hexagonal body or handle  51  by fusing or by pressure fit. The end cap  52  can also be removable, using a snap-type fitting or hinge-type fitting in order to detach it and access an inner portion  58  of the handle  51 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the inner, solid portion  58  of the body  51  has two elongated, parallel cavities, bores, or channels  60 ,  62  that open at the butt end of the body  51 . The body  51  has an elongated rectangular top face  64  that extends from the butt end to the neck  55 . Near the neck  55  on the top face  64  is a non-slip ridged or knurled portion  66 . The non-slip portion  66  provides a bearing surface for a finger of the user to support the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  50  when shaving or removing the head  56 . The non-slip portion  66  can be either a separate component attached to the topside  64 , or merely a number of grooves or diagonal patterns cut into or extending away from the topside  64 . In either case, the non-slip portion  66  has ridges that protrude from the topside  64 . It is also contemplated that a joint  67  is formed adjacent the non-skip portion  66  at the junction of the body  51  and the neck  55 . The joint  67  may be fused so that the neck  55  is solidly and securely connected to the handle body  51 , or may be hinged to permit access into the cavities  60 ,  62 . 
     Two open slider tracks  68 ,  70  are cut into the cavities  60 ,  62  along the faces  72 ,  74  that extend from opposite sides of the top face  64  of the hexagonal body  51 . The slider tracks  68 ,  70  are slit-like openings and extend nearly the entire length of the respective hexagonal faces  72 ,  74 . The slider tracks  68 ,  70  guide sliders  76 ,  78 . The slider tracks  68 ,  70  permit independent movement of the sliders  76 ,  78  from the butt end of the body  51  towards the neck  55 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the sliders  76 ,  78  are distinctly different than the ball  36  and cube-shaped pusher  34  of the first two embodiments. Each of the sliders  76 ,  78  has a rectangular finger tab  80 ,  82 . The finger tabs  80 ,  82  have ridged faces  84 ,  86  that provide a frictional bearing surface for the user&#39;s finger to individually push the sliders  76 ,  78  away from the butt end of body  51  toward the neck  55 . The finger tabs  80 ,  82  are each connected to a pusher  88 ,  90 . Each of the pushers  88 ,  90  is a lobular rod connected to it corresponding finger tab  80 ,  82  by a flange  92 ,  94 . The flanges  92 ,  94  are eccentrically mounted to the rod-shaped pushers  88 ,  90 , which are substantially cylindrical with an arcuate segment of the cylinder removed to form the lobular shape. The lobular shape of the pushers  88 ,  90  provides a close tolerance between the pusher and the upper portion of the cavities  60 ,  62 , but leaves a small gap between the pushers  88 ,  90  and the lower portion of the cavities  60 ,  62  opposite the flanges  92 ,  94  so that the pushers  88 ,  90  ride over the scoops  104 ,  106 , as described below. 
     Prior to affixing the end cap  52  to the body  51 , a pair of straw-shaped tubes  96 .  98  are slide into cavities or channels  60 ,  62 . The tubes  96 ,  98  hold the shaving lubricant and comprise permeable bladders. As discussed with the other embodiments, the shaving lubricant may be any type of shaving lubricant, such as, but not limited to, shaving creams, lathers, foams or gels. The tubes  96 ,  98  have flexible bellows or bending portions  100 ,  102  at one end and guides or scoops  104 ,  106  at the ends opposite the bellows  100 ,  102 . The scoops  104 ,  106  facilitate movement of the respective pushers  88 ,  90 , the pushers  88 ,  90  riding above the scoops  104 ,  106  to center the pushers  88 ,  90  behind each tube  96 ,  98  of lubricant. The bellows  100 ,  102  of each tube  96 ,  98  slide into the cavities  60 ,  62  and mate with corresponding dispensing holes  108 ,  110 . The dispensing holes  108 ,  110  are made through the body  51  into the cavities  60 ,  62  near the neck  55  on the faces  112 ,  114  of body  51  that extend downward from the faces  72 ,  74  having the slider tracks  68 ,  70  defined therein, the bottom face  116  extending between faces  112 ,  114 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Tab members  118 ,  120  are removably attached over each of the dispensing holes  108 ,  110  to seal the holes  108 ,  110  and keep the tubes  96 ,  98  holding the shaving lubricant airtight. To move or dispense shaving lubricant through one of the dispensing holes  108 ,  110 , the corresponding tab member  118 ,  120  is removed. This unseals one of the dispensing holes  108 ,  110  that has received the bellows portion  100 ,  102  of the corresponding tube  96 ,  98 . The bellows  100 ,  102  has a diameter that is slightly smaller than a diameter of the dispensing hole  108 .  110 , and is held there with a pressure fit in the dispensing hole  108 ,  110 . The corresponding slider  76 ,  78  is moved forward toward the solid neck  55 . The corresponding pusher  90 ,  92  moves over the respective scoop  104 ,  106 , forming a bulldozing type of pushing mechanism and flattening the tube  96 ,  98 , pushing the shaving lubricant by pressure out the respective dispensing hole  108 ,  110 . The shaving lubricant is dispensed into the free hand of the shaver. From there, the shaving lubricant is applied to an area to be shaved in a manner consistent with how one would apply similar shaving lubricant. 
     The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  makes the traditional “home” shave portable by providing both razor and the shaving lubricant  20  in one unit, thereby saving space and weight while traveling or at remote locations. The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  easily fits in a shirt pocket or sleeve compartment in a purse or brief case, and includes everything but water for the shaving experience. The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  obtains a “normal” shave while traveling or on the go without having to pack cartridge replacement blades or bulky cans of shaving material. The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  additionally allows an opportunity to shave during travel, such as long flights, without having to rearrange carry-on-luggage or carry a shaving kit into an airline bathroom. The amount of the shaving lubricant  20  is also less than a stated amount of permissible liquids allowed on board by TSA. The combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  is ideal for traveling or outdoors sports, such as hunting and fishing, in remote locations. Also, hotels can use the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  for those that may have forgotten to pack their shaving items. It is further contemplated that the combo disposable razor and shaving lubricant dispenser  10 ,  50  be made of biodegradable material, so that it is readily disposable for those situations where storage space is at a premium, such as on ships or other types of water vessels. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.