Patent Publication Number: US-11660769-B2

Title: Shaving aid delivery systems for razors

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/069163, filed on Jul. 16, 2019, now published as WO2020016253 and which claims priority from European Application No. EP18184277.4, filed on Jul. 18, 2018. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is related to shaving aid delivery systems, and more particularly the disclosure is related to razor heads incorporating such shaving aid delivery systems. 
     PRIOR ART 
     A razor head typically includes one or more blades mounted within a housing including a guard bar (at the lower end of the cartridge) and a cap at the top of the cartridge. The guard bar and the cap may include various implements such as skin lubricants, beard softeners, hair stretchers, etc., with a goal of improving a shaving experience for a user. 
     The shaving aids commonly used for shaving are gels, creams or lotions that either cannot be incorporated in a razor head or they require more auxiliary means on a razor head to support their application (e.g. channels, dispensing containers, pumps, rollers). Regarding the shaving aids that can be incorporated in razor heads, it is common to use lubrication strips that are attached to a razor head. Another approach is also the use of shaving aid in film form or as a coating applied unitarily or partially on the razor head. 
     These existing means for applying shaving aid affect the shaving performance of the razors and in circumstances can reduce the comfort of the shaving experience. The lifecycle of the shaving aids is sometimes not coordinated with the life of the razor blades such that the shaving aid supply is typically exhausted before the razor blades wear out (i.e., become too dull to shave efficiently), or, alternatively, the blades may be dulled before the shaving aid supply is exhausted. In addition, the user may be deprived of the opportunity to use the razor multiple times and to determine whether the lubricating means is sufficient for use or if the razor head should be disposed of. 
     EP 1615751 discloses a razor cartridge having a shaving aid dispensing system that includes a housing that defines a cavity in which a supply of a shaving aid film is disposed. At least one razor blade is positioned within the housing and has an at least partially exposed cutting edge. The supply of shaving aid film is positioned in the cavity and is used to transfer shaving aid to the user&#39;s skin during a shaving operation. An applicator is coupled to the housing adjacent the cutting edge of the razor blade. Means are also incorporated in the cavity to provide a path for drawing the shaving aid film from the supply till the applicator. The shaving aid film deposits via the applicator at least a portion of the shaving aid provided thereon, onto the user&#39;s skin when contact is made therewith. 
     It still remains desirable to extend the user-friendly life of a razor head by providing a system that is compact, simple-to-operate, and easy-to-manufacture. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the disclosure provide for a razor head. The razor head includes a housing comprising one or more cutting elements, a first window and a second window. A substrate-based shaving aid delivery system is provided therein, comprising: a shaft comprising a first reel that is rotatably mounted about a shaft. An actuator operationally coupled with the shaft is also provided, wherein at least part of the actuator protrudes externally from the housing via the first window. Also, a substrate carrying a shaving aid on its external surface is provided, wherein a first end of the substrate is attached to the first reel, a second end of the substrate is attached to a portion of the shaft at a different position than the first reel and a first length of the substrate is wound onto the first reel such that upon rotation of the actuator, rotation of the shaft exerts a pulling force to unwind a corresponding portion of the first length of the substrate from the first reel and to wound it about the shaft, wherein at least part of the portion of the first length of the substrate is externally exposed from the housing via the second window. 
     In some examples, a second reel coaxial with, and fixedly attached to the shaft is provided, wherein the second end of the substrate is attached to the second reel such that the second reel exerts the pulling force. 
     The fact that the shaving aid is unwound from one reel at the same time as it is wound about another portion of the shaft or about a second reel leaving a portion of the shaving aid exposed through a window provides the razor head with the ability to deliver additional shaving aid e.g. once a first supply of shaving aid has been depleted. 
     By providing such razor heads, the shaving performance is improved due to consistent and controllable application of shaving aid. Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure allow for adaptable/customizable lubrication of skin as desired by a user. In other words, the user decides if the available lubrication strip is sufficient and whether to keep the current strip, or change the strip by actuating the actuator to cause a new length of unused shaving aid to be exposed in the second window. 
     Based on the limited components in the delivery system, simple manufacturing and compact design of razor head is also achieved. The mechanism may be concealed in the back of or at the bottom of a razor head, and only one central rolling device is provided to work as both a take-up and supply component for the shaving aid. 
     The shaft may include a spacing member arranged about the shaft between the first reel and the portion of the shaft carrying the second end of the substrate, to separate wound lengths of the substrate. 
     The first reel may include first meshing elements configured to be engaged with meshing elements, such as a stop element or cogs. One of the first reel and the actuator may comprise cogs configured to be engaged with a stop element provided on the other of the first reel and the actuator, wherein the stop element is configured to pass from one cog to the subsequent cog thereby tensioning and controlling motion of the substrate. 
     In some examples, the second reel may share a periphery with the shaft. 
     The second window may expose a support of the housing, the support being configured to maintain the substrate in a substantially flat position when the substrate is being externally exposed. 
     The first window may be positioned at a lower area of the housing and near a guard bar of the razor head. 
     The second window may be positioned on a cap of the razor head parallel to the shaving plane, so as to cause the substrate to trail the cutting elements when the razor head is in use. 
     In some examples, the stop element may be a pawl. 
     In some examples, an interior surface of the substrate may include a plurality of teeth configured to engage meshing portion provided on the first reel. 
     The razor head may include guiding elements configured to guide and maintain a predetermined tension of the substrate. 
     In some embodiments, the first reel may be biased towards the actuator via a spring so as to add tension to the substrate. 
     In some embodiments, the guiding elements may be selected from the group consisting of rollers, fixed bumpers, resilient members or pins. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, a razor comprising the razor head substantially as described above and a handle connected to the razor head is provided. 
     In some embodiments, the handle may be removably attached to the razor head. 
     It is intended that combinations of the above-described elements and those within the specification may be made, except where otherwise contradictory. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. 
         FIG.  1    shows an internal view of a razor head according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    shows an external view of the razor head shown at  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3 A  shows a supply and take-up system of a shaving aid delivery system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 B  shows a cross-section viewed along the plane B shown in  FIG.  3 A ; 
         FIG.  4 A  shows a supply and take-up system of a shaving aid delivery system according to further embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  4 B  shows a cross-section viewed along the plane B shown in  FIG.  4 A ; 
         FIG.  5    shows a modified tensioning/guiding system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS.  6 A-D  show an exemplary razor head according to further embodiments of the disclosure 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a razor head with a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture shaving aid delivery system enabling a user to determine when it has become desirable to expose unused shaving aid material at a window present on the razor head. 
       FIG.  1    shows in schematic an internal view of a razor head  2  according to embodiments of the present disclosure, while  FIG.  2    shows an external view of the shaving razor head shown at  FIG.  1    with housing  10  intact. 
     Razor head  2  comprises a housing  10 , comprising a cap  20  and a guard bar  15 , one or more cutting elements  25 , and one or more windows  27 ,  33 , among others. 
     Housing  10  of razor head  2  and its constituent parts may be fabricated from any suitable material, for example, a plastic, and more particularly a thermoplastic material. For example such materials may include high impact polystyrene (HIPS), Polypropylene (PP), a blend of Polystyrene with Polyphenelyne Oxide, Polyethylene (PE) and/or grades with low, medium or high density of PE (e.g. LDPE, MDPE, HDPE) and more specifically acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer. 
     Housing  10  is configured to house and support various elements associated with embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, housing may contain elements of the shaving aid delivery system of the present disclosure, including one or more tensioners/guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70 , windows  27 ,  33 , reels  22 , shaft  14 , etc. 
     In addition, housing  10  may be configured to maintain cutting elements  25  at a predetermined spacing and in a desired position relative to the shaving plane of the razor head  2 . For purposes of the present disclosure, the “shaving plane” is defined by a tangent line intersecting the front surfaces of the guard bar  15  of the housing  10  and the cap  20  of the housing  10 . A front face of the guard bar  15  and cap  20  is the surface for each one of them that is intended to contact the surface of the user to be shaved, regardless of the presence of intervening elements (e.g., lubricant strips, skin stretchers, etc.). In addition, the term “exposure” as used herein is intended to mean the perpendicular distance from the cutting edge of a cutting element  25  to the shaving plane. For a person skilled in the art the exposure is typically considered positive when the cutting edge is disposed above this tangent line and is considered negative when the cutting edge is positioned below this tangent line, when the razor head is at rest position. 
     Cutting elements  25  are configured to cut hair present on a surface to be shaved, and may be provided in any suitable number equal or greater than 1. For example, a cutting element  25  may comprise a razor blade, and one or more cutting elements  25  may comprise at least two blades, at least three blades, at least four blades, or even, for example, five blades or more. 
     Cutting elements  25  may be movably mounted within housing  10  of razor head  2  such that cutting elements  25  may move toward and away from the shaving plane, or cutting elements may be fixed (not movable) within housing  10 . 
     Cutting elements  25  may comprise any suitable material which may be honed or otherwise sharpened to a fine edge suitable for cutting hair, the materials comprising for example, steel and alloys thereof. 
     Cap  20  and guard bar  15  may be unitarily molded with housing  10 , for example by injection molding, and may form portions of housing  10  configured to be at or near a surface of the shaving plane during operation of a razor  1 . In addition, cap  20  and guard bar  15  may include various elements known in the art such as, for example, skin stretching features, hair-raising features, etc. Such elements may be affixed to guard bar  15  and/or cap  20  via adhesives or any other suitable method. In addition, guard bar  15  and/or cap  20  may include such elements as heating and/or cooling features, among others. 
     In some examples, the cap  20  and/or guard bar  15  may include a plateau, or otherwise a support functioning as a plateau configured to assist in maintaining a substrate  40 ,  41  at a desired location (e.g., parallel to a shaving plane and trailing or leading cutting elements  25 ). Such plateau being formed, e.g., flat, sloped, as a wedge, etc., on razor head  2  so as to maintain the substrate exposed at the window  27  in a substantially flat position and to a desired location on the razor head  2  when the substrate  40  is being externally exposed. For example, the substrate  40 ,  41  may be maintained longitudinally parallel to the cutting elements  25  so as to provide a desired shaving experience. Thus, the plateau may be formed of a recess within housing  10  in position parallel to the cutting elements  25  and in a longitudinal direction of the razor head  2 . One of skill will recognize that the plateau may be formed by the housing without recess as well, for example, where a thickness of substrate  40 ,  41  is relatively small (e.g., a single ply). 
     According to some embodiments, it may be desirable to maintain substrate  40 ,  41  at a position on the plateau via magnetics. In such embodiments, for example, ferro- or otherwise magnetic particles may be added to a formulation for substrate  40 ,  41  (such formulations being discussed below), and corresponding magnets placed in and/or on housing  10  at desired locations. Such a configuration may result in additional holding and tension for substrate  40 ,  41  at a desired location on razor head  2  (e.g., in contact with plateau). 
     As noted, the housing  10  further contains elements of the substrate-based shaving aid delivery system, this system comprising, a shaft  14 , a supply reel  22 , a take-up reel, an actuator  5 , a supply of substrate with unused shaving aid  40 , a substrate of used shaving aid  41 , one or more tensioning/guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70  etc. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  highlight portions of an exemplary shaving aid delivery system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Actuator  5  is configured to enable imparting of motion to substrate  40 ,  41  on which the shaving aid is dispersed, such motion being imparted via, for example, rotation transmitted to the take-up reel. In some examples, the rotation may be transmitted to a portion  11  of the shaft  14 . 
     Actuator  5  may be concealed on a back portion of a skin adaptor of the razor head  2  and extends, at least in part, through window  33  of housing  10 , for example, from a vertical side of the longitudinal wall of the skin adaptor in front of the cutting elements  25 , so as to allow a user to turn actuator  5 . 
     Further, window  33  permits exposure of the actuator  5  (e.g., positioned on a bottom or back of the housing  10 ), or at any location desired based on a desired ergonomic/aesthetic layout for the razor head  2 . 
     Actuator  5  may be fabricated from materials similar to those described with regard to the housing  10 , or any other suitable materials, e.g., metals, composites, etc. Actuator  5  may be of any suitable shape, for example, cylindrical, and may be configured to facilitate rotation thereof via manipulation of a user. For example, the actuator  5  may be provided with a knurling about a surface of actuator  5  to facilitate grip for rotation. 
     Alternatively, the actuator  5  may be configured to be engaged by an electrical servo motor (not shown), which may in turn be configured to electrically cause rotation of actuator  5  by measured intervals. 
     Supply reel  22  may be cylindrical or otherwise suitably shaped for maintaining a supply of substrate with unused shaving aid  40  thereon. At an initial phase (e.g., before a first use of razor head  2 ) supply reel  22  may comprises new, unused shaving aid distributed on a single or multi-ply substrate  40 , the substrate being wound about supply reel  22  in a desired first direction (e.g., clockwise). 
     Substrate  40 ,  41  may be a band- or strip-like material, and may be particularly suited for carrying one or more desired shaving aids on its external portion thereon. Regarding the band-like configuration of the substrate  40 ,  41 , the shaving aid may be applied as a film or a coating developed on the external portion of the substrate  40 , 41 . Regarding the strip-like configuration of the substrate  40 ,  41 , the shaving aid may be directly formed in strip (e.g. extruded strip) with suitable composition for shaving. 
     For example substrate  40 ,  41  may comprise Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ABS, etc., and may be suited for resisting stresses associated with the winding and tensioning desired for maintaining substrate  40 ,  41  at a desired location during shaving. 
     According to some embodiments, substrate  40 ,  41  may comprise a first ply comprising a first material, a second ply comprising a second material, and a third ply/layer comprising the shaving aid. In such embodiments, the first ply may comprise, as noted above, PVC, ABS, or other suitable materials as a conveyor ply (e.g., a ply which may withstand a force associated with winding and unwinding). Positioned on the first ply may then be a carrier ply comprising, for example, polyether bloc amide (PEBA), examples being commercially available under the tradenames PEBAX® or VESTAMID®. On the carrier ply may then be distributed a shaving aid layer, for example, a low-friction hydrophilic coating. In some examples, the carrier ply may comprise a material that may be covalently bonded with the chosen shaving aid. Examples of hydrophilic coatings used as shaving aids to contribute lubricious properties is known in prior-art, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,287, where it is disclosed that a hydrophilic coating may be a coating comprising a water-soluble polymer or copolymer of poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone. In EP 3 030 387, it is disclosed another example of hydrophilic coating resulted from the polymerization of alternative vinyl monomers with similar suitably high hydrophilic properties that can be grafted onto the carrier ply. Such monomers can be any acrylamide, (e.g. N-Isopropylacrylamide) or a mixture of other monomers copolymerizable with the acrylamide. Other examples of hydrophilic coating used as shaving aid may include lubricious, biocompatible coating compositions structured in one or more layers and comprising essentially a biopolymer, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,507. The shaving aids applied as coatings may be deposited on the carrier ply, or they can be deposited directly on the conveyor ply. The last scenario is commonly applicable to the cases that the shaving aid is an extruded, thin strip with lubricious composition, which can be attached onto the conveyor ply by any suitable means, for example, gluing, ultrasonically welding, etc or it can directly be incorporated in the shaving aid delivery system acting as substrate. The lubricious composition of such strips can fundamentally comprise a water-soluble component (e.g., polyethylene oxide generally known as POLYOX or ALKOX) and a water-insoluble component (e.g. high impact polystyrene). Examples of water-insoluble components are polystyrene, styrene co-polymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetal copolymer, polylactic acid, polycarbonate, maleic anhydride ethylene co-polymer blends, polyether-containing block copolymers (e.g. with polyamide), blends and copolymers of the above with or without other additives. Typical examples of water-soluble components are polyethylene oxide and/or polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyhydroxymethacrylate, polyvinyl imidazoline, polyvinyl alcohol, polyhydromethymethacrylate, silicone polymers, blends and copolymers of the above. The lubricious composition may additional contain other ingredients selected from the group of plasticizers, such as low molecular weight polyethylene glycols, water-swellable release enhancing agents, such as cross-linked polyacrylics and/or maleic anhydride compounds, additional lubricants, compatibilizers, and/or skin care agents selected in the group consisting of vitamins, botanical extracts, salts, humectants, silicon oils, organic oils, waxes, antioxidants, exfoliants, anti-bacterial agents, anti-microbial, antiseptics, biocides, preservatives, skin soothing agents, hydrating agents, skin protectants, colorants, film formers, processing thickening agents from the list of silica, fume silica, TiO 2  particles, and combinations thereof. Several cosmetic ingredients that achieve multiple skin benefits may also be added in the lubricious composition. Alternative lubricious compositions are known and disclosed in patent applications, such as in US20090223057—where as additional ingredients may be included emulsifiers, surfactants, skin conditioners, fragrances, depilatory agents, cleaning agents, medicinal agents; U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,214—where as additional ingredient may be included mineral oil; U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,131, US2016338928—where as additional ingredients may be included cooling agents; US2013042482—where as additional ingredients may be included anti-irritation agents such as a pyrithione or a polyvalent metal salt of pyrithione; CN105219007—where as additional ingredient may be included moisturizing agent selected from olive oil, jojoba oil and glycerin; EP0551407—where as additional ingredients may be included essential oil materials such as menthol, eugenol, eucalyptol, saffrol or methyl salicylate. 
     Supply reel  22  may comprise any suitable material, for example, a thermoplastic, and may be injection molded or otherwise fabricated from known methods for fabrication of such objects. 
     Supply reel  22  may comprise a through hole at its center to enable insertion of shaft  14  through supply reel  22 . Supply reel  22  may comprise a coating and/or other friction reducing elements (e.g., bearings) at bearing surfaces within the through hole, such that supply reel  22  is permitted to rotate freely about shaft  14  during rotation of the actuator  5 . 
     Shaft  14  provides an axis of rotation about which each of actuator  5 , supply reel  22 , a take-up reel, and shaft  14  may rotate, in other words, these elements are coaxial, and installed upon shaft  14 . The shaft  14  is operationally coupled with the actuator  5 . 
     Shaft  14 , as well as constituent parts of the shaving aid delivery system, may be formed of various thermoplastic or other suitable materials. According to some embodiments, shaft  14  may comprise material selected from Polystyrene, High Impact Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, blends of Polyphenylene Oxide with Polystyrene, blends of Polyphenylene Ether with Polystyrene, Polyethylene (PE) and/or grades with low, medium or high density of PE (e.g. LDPE, MDPE, HDPE), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Copolymer (ABS), among others. 
     Shaft  14  may be injection molded, or otherwise formed unitarily with actuator  5  and optionally take-up reel, particularly where it is intended that take-up reel to have a similar diameter to shaft  14 . 
     According to some embodiments a slot  13  may be provided within shaft  14  such that the end  40   b  of substrate  40  may be inserted therein allowing shaft  14  to function as take-up reel. Particularly, a first end  40   a  of the substrate  40  is attached to the first reel  22  and the second end  40   b  of the substrate  40  may be attached to a portion  11  of the shaft  14  at a different position/height of the shaft  14  than the first reel  22 . 
     According to some embodiments, the slot  13  may be provided in a distal portion of shaft  14 , particularly where take-up reel is to be provided at a distal end of shaft  14 . Alternatively, the slot  13  may be provided near a proximal end of shaft  14  (i.e., near actuator  5 ) where take-up reel is intended to be located close to actuator  5 . 
     The slot  13  may be a through slot or a blind slot in shaft  14  or in take-up reel, where a larger diameter take-up reel is desired. The end  40   b  of the substrate  40  may be retained within the slot  13  for example, via interference fit (e.g., pinching) and/or an elastic deformation of the slot  13 . The end  40   b  of the substrate  40  is maintained attached to the take-up reel or to the portion  11  of the shaft  14 . 
     As noted above, a portion  11  of shaft  14 , for example, at a distal end thereof, may provide the functionality of take-up reel. Alternatively a distinct take-up reel may be provided, and actuator  5  and take-up reel may be provided with means for engagement such that rotation of actuator  5  is transmitted to take-up reel. For example, the take-up reel may be integrally molded with shaft  14  and actuator  5 , in order for the rotation of the actuator  5  to be transmitted to the take-up reel. In some examples, upon rotation of the actuator  5 , the consequent rotation of the take-up reel exerts a pulling force to unwind a corresponding portion of the first length of the substrate  40  from the supply reel  22  and to wound it about the take-up reel. In some examples, upon rotation of the actuator  5 , the consequent rotation of the shaft  14  exerts a pulling force to unwind a corresponding portion of the first length of the substrate  40  from the supply reel  22  and to wound it about the shaft  14 . 
     Other configurations enabling rotation of take-up reel via rotation of actuator  5  may also be contemplated, and intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
     In some examples, dimensions of shaft  14 , supply reel  22 , take-up reel, and actuator  5  may be configured to provide a desired aesthetic appearance of razor head  2 , while further providing desired ergonomic functioning of the shaving aid delivery system. According to some embodiments, a diameter of supply reel  22 , with a full supply of substrate with unused shaving aid  40  wound thereon may be approximately 3 times greater than an initial diameter of take-up reel, more specifically 4 times greater, and even more specifically 5 times greater. 
     Window  27  may be present at any suitable location on housing  10 , and may comprise voids of material in housing  10 , for example, through apertures, permitting passage of the substrate  40 ,  41  externally from the housing  10 . For example, a substrate with unused shaving aid  40  may be pass through aperture of window  27  (e.g., positioned on cap  20  and/or guard bar  15 ) to rest on a support of housing  10  (e.g. plateau), while another aperture of window  27  may enable passage of the substrate with the used shaving aid  41  back inside housing  10  for winding about the take-up reel. 
     Window  27  may expose the plateau of the razor head  2 , such that the substrate  40  may exit the housing  10  through the window  27  and it may be guided and maintained at a desired location of razor head  2  (e.g. longitudinally parallel to the cutting elements  25 ). 
     Window  27  may be sized so as to enable passage of substrate  40 ,  41  without allowing significant penetration of liquid substances, e.g., water, shaving creams, etc. In addition, various seals may be positioned on window  27  to prevent intrusion of such substances so as to prolong life of the substrate with the unused shaving aid  40 . 
     Additionally, window  33  may further function as a drain location to allow any fluids that may have been introduced inside the housing  10  during shaving, for example, draining from housing  10  once the razor head  2  is placed in an orientation allowing such drainage (e.g. upright on a hanger). 
     Guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70 , may be configured to direct and transmit the substrate with the unused shaving aid  40  about an internal path, while also maintaining the substrate under tension. Guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70  may include rollers  30 ,  31 ,  280 , fixed bumpers  70  (e.g., having a reduced frictional coating), pins and resilient members (e.g., springs) configured to bias the one or more guiding elements so as to aid in maintaining tension of the substrate  40 . 
     Such guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70  may be mounted in housing  10  around a periphery of the internal path of substrate  40 ,  41 , for example, on pins or mounting points provided on housing  10 . In addition, resilient members (not shown) may be provided with each pin/mounting point, so as to enable the biasing in a direction intended to introduce tension to substrate  40 ,  41 . 
     According to some embodiments, a spacing member  12  corresponding to a stopping mechanism may be provided as a narrow disc-like portion positioned on shaft  14  (concentric therewith) between the supply reel  22  and the take-up reel or the portion  11  of the shaft  14 . 
     The spacing member  12  may be removably arranged about the shaft  14  via, for example, an interference fit, a bayonet fit, snap fit, etc. In some examples the spacing member  12  may be used to keep separate the supply reel  22  from the take-up reel. The spacing member  12  may thereby separate the two reel concentrations, i.e. the concentration of the supply reel carrying a supply of substrate with unused shaving aid  40  and the concentration of the take-up reel carrying a substrate of used shaving aid  41 . In some examples, the spacing member may be used to separate wound lengths of the substrate  40  between the first reel  22  and the portion  11  of the shaft  14  that carries the second end  40   b  of the substrate. The spacing member  12  may have a diameter substantially equal to a maximum diameter of the supply reel  22  or the take-up reel when substrate  40 ,  41  is fully wound about either supply reel  22  or take-up reel. 
     In addition, a spring  55  concentric with the shaft  14  and the supply reel  22 , may be provided above the spacing member  12 . Spring  55  may constantly exert a force on the supply reel  22  towards the actuator  5 , such that the substrate  40  is pulled in a direction away from the window  27  to create additional tension in the substrate  40 ,  41 . In other words, the first reel  22  is biased towards the actuator  5  via the spring  55  that adds tension to the substrate  40 . 
     Such force may further introduce frictional forces to the supply reel  22  for impeding rotation during shaving, when a rotational force F is not exerted by a user on the actuator  5 . According to further embodiments, the spring  55  may also act as meshing element of the supply reel  22  for engagement with the actuator  5 , in case that the actuator  5  and the supply reel  22  are deprived of other meshing elements (e.g. cogs). 
     One of skill in the art will understand that such stopping forces may be overcome by a sufficiently high force F applied to the actuator  5 , and that such stopping forces may be set to allow for desired tensioning and ergonomically friendly rotation of actuator  5 . For example, a rotation force F used to overcome such stopping forces may range between 3 and 10 N/mm. 
     According to further embodiments, for example, as shown in  FIGS.  4 A-B , in order to achieve efficient tensioning of the substrate  40 ,  41 , shaft  14 , supply reel  22 , and take-up reel may be provided with additional features acting as meshing elements, such as cogs or stop elements. In some examples, one of the first reel  22  and the actuator  5  comprises cogs  50  configured to be engaged with a stop element  51  provided on the other of the first reel  22  and the actuator  5 , wherein the stop element  51  is configured to pass from one cog  50  to the subsequent cog  50  thereby tensioning and controlling motion of the substrate  40 . For example, the supply reel  22  may be provided with cogs on a top surface, such cogs  50  being configured to mesh with a cog  54  or a plurality of cogs  54  present on the actuator  5 . Alternatively, a bottom surface of the actuator  5  may comprise a stop element  51  (e.g., a pawl) that may aid in the controllable movement of substrate  40 ,  41 , while tensioning is achieved. In other words, a pawl or other similar element may be provided on the actuator  5  (or even on a portion of the housing  10 ), the pawl being configured to pass from one cog  50  to the subsequent cog  50  of the supply reel  22 , during the rolling, and, for example, providing a haptic feedback (e.g. “click”) as each cog  50  is passed, or for example, when winding of a desired length of the substrate occurs (e.g., where spacing of the cogs is set for such a length). 
     In use, the substrate with the unused shaving aid  40  may be provided from the supply reel  22  and directed to the cap  20  of the razor head via an inner path, e.g., at a lower area of the housing  10  and across a side wall of the housing  10 . The substrate  40  passes around tensioners/guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70 , and it is exposed through a first aperture of window  27  (e.g. right side) onto a support of the housing  10  on the cap  20 . The cap  20  also includes a second aperture of window  27  on a second side (e.g., left side) to allow the substrate  40 ,  41  to pass back inside the housing  10 , to move around additional tensioners/guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70  and continue to take-up reel or to the portion  11  of the shaft  14 , where the substrate with the used shaving aid  41  is wound for storage. 
     Linear motion of the substrate  40 ,  41  along the plateau is achieved when a user rotates the actuator  5  (e.g., counter-clockwise) such that the substrate with used shaving aid  41  is wound around take-up reel or the portion  11  of the shaft  14  (e.g., counter-clockwise), pulling new substrate with unused shaving aid  40  off of the supply reel  22  (e.g., in a clockwise direction). 
     Because the supply reel  22  is generally freely rotatable about shaft  14  (absent stopping forces described above), and because winding of the substrate with used shaving aid  41  is performed about the take-up reel or the portion  11  of the shaft  14  in a direction opposite to that of the winding of the substrate with unused shaving aid  40  about the supply reel  22 , a user may be granted control as to how frequently the substrate with the unused shaving aid  40  is introduced on the support (e.g. plateau) of the window  27  of the razor head  2  via a simplified rotating mechanism, comprising only one axis of rotation. 
     The substrate  40 ,  41  is moved through tensioners/guiding elements  30 ,  31 ,  70  positioned along the inner path (e.g., in the back of the housing  10 ) and may be positioned in the right and left side of the housing near a lower area of the housing  10 , for example. 
     Although throughout the figures, the supply reel  22  has been positioned closer to actuator  5  than take-up reel, this may be modified as desired, such that take-up reel is positioned closer to actuator  5 , and supply reel positioned near a distal end of shaft  14 . Such a configuration may facilitate assembly of the configuration, particularly where it is desired to utilize a take-up reel having a greater diameter than the shaft  14 . 
       FIGS.  6 A- 6 D  show another exemplary razor head  2  according to some further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Disposed within the window  23  may be the substrate  40  having an exterior surface  240   a  and an interior surface  240   b . The substrate  40  may be formed as a ring, or continuous loop. The exterior surface  240   a  may be supplied with a shaving aid. The interior surface  240   b  may have a plurality of teeth  245 . The substrate  40  may be positioned in the housing  10  such that the exterior surface  240   a  of the substrate  40  and the shaving aid thereon is at least partially exposed by the first window  23  on the front portion of the housing  10 . 
     The actuator  5  may be disposed at least partially in the window  33 . The actuator  5  may be formed to have a gripping portion and meshing elements. The gripping portion may be adapted to be manipulated by a user and may protrude at least partially outside of the second window  33 , externally from the housing  10 . The meshing portion  263  may be formed to have a plurality of teeth  265  that are configured to engage with the teeth  245  formed on the interior surface of the substrate  40 . 
     The razor head  2  may further include at least one guiding element  280  disposed in the cavity  222  of the housing  10 . The guiding element  280  may be configured to keep the substrate  40  taught. The guiding element  280  may be any suitable means that can keep the substrate  40  taught, for example, a spring or spring finger. In particular, the guiding element  280  may be attached to the housing  10  inside of the cavity  222 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6 C and  6 D , the substrate  40  may be supported by three or more guiding elements  280 . With this configuration, each of the guiding elements  280  may be adapted to reduce any slack in the ring-shaped substrate  40  by pulling the substrate  40  toward the surface of the housing  10  inside the cavity  222 . Although three guiding elements  280  are shown, any appropriate number of tensioners  280  may be used. 
     In operation, if a user desires to change the portion of the substrate  40  that is exposed by the window  23 , the user may apply a rotational force on the actuator  5  about the vertical center axis A-A. As the meshing portion  263  of the actuator  5  rotates, the teeth  265  of the meshing portion are engaged with the teeth  245  of the substrate  40 . This meshing and rotation of the actuator  5  causes the substrate  40  to be displaced. As shown in  FIGS.  6 C and  6 D  the substrate  40  in the continuous loop-shaped configuration is centrally-moved, i.e. it rotates about the vertical center axis A-A. 
     One of skill will understand that other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, a handle  52  ( FIG.  5   ) may be configured to be attached to the razor head  2  to form a razor. A user may grasp the handle  52  while operating the razor for shaving, and such a handle may be ergonomically designed accordingly. One of skill in the art will recognize that the handle  52  may take any desired shape and form, and may be either removably attached to the razor head  2 , or fixedly attached. 
     Throughout the description, including the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms “substantially” and/or “approximately” and/or “generally” should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances. 
     Where any standards of national, international, or other standards body are referenced (e.g., ISO, etc.), such references are intended to refer to the standard as defined by the national or international standards body as of the priority date of the present specification. Any subsequent substantive changes to such standards are not intended to modify the scope and/or definitions of the present disclosure and/or claims. 
     Although the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. 
     It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by a fair reading of the following claims.