Patent Publication Number: US-6655028-B2

Title: Wet shaving device with guard/transfer roller and replaceable shaving aid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a U.S. non-provisional application. This application claims the benefit of 60/287,101 filed on Apr. 27, 2001, under 35 USC 119(e) 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to shaving devices and deals more particularly with razors of the wet shaving type which include solid water-soluble shaving aids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known in the shaving art to provide a wet shaving device or razor which includes a solid water-soluble shaving aid or surface active agent, such as a soap preparation, formulated to provide cleansing, lubricating, skin-healing or moisturizing effects or any combination thereof. However, if the solid water-soluble shaving aid directly contacts the skin surface during the shaving process it may be subject to a high rate of wear or erosion from skin contact, hot water and other shaving preparations. The surface of the shaving aid may also be impacted with shaving debris making it unsightly and creating an impression that it is unhygienic. 
     A means for attachment must be provided to secure such a shaving aid to a razor. Those skilled in the shaving art will appreciate the limited mechanical properties of solid soap and like products which may serve as shaving aids. Where such a product is employed as a shaving aid a substantial portion of the product must be utilized to anchor it to a razor head thereby rendering a substantial percentage of the product unusable. 
     Accordingly, it is a general aim of the present invention to provide and improved wet shaving device having means for receiving a film of shaving aid preparation from a wetted block of water-soluble shaving aid preparation and transferring the film of shaving aid preparation to and depositing it on the skin immediately forward of a leading cutting edge of the advancing device for cleansing of sebum, lubricating, skin moisturizing or other beneficial effect. It is a further aim of the invention to provide an improved wet shaving device which efficiently utilizes a solid water-soluble shaving aid avoiding waste and allowing for replacement of the spent shaving aid, when necessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a wet shaving device has a razor head which carries at least one blade and includes a guard/dispenser roller with a generally cylindrical roller surface and supported forward of a leading blade for rotation about an axis relative to the blade. The device further includes mounting means on the razor head for supporting a solid water-soluble shaving aid in dispensing position relative to the roller, retaining means for releasably securing a shaving aid in the mounting means, and biasing means for urging a shaving aid to dispensing position wherein it is in contact with the roller surface. The guard/dispenser roller serves both as a guard for the leading blade and as a means for transferring a film of shaving aid material from a water-soluble shaving aid supported by the mounting means to the skin surface immediately in advance of the leading blade during a normal wet shaving process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a wet shaving device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the wet shaving device shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded orthographic view of the wet shaving device shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows another wet shaving device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another guard/transfer roller. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of still another guard/transfer roller for use in practicing the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings and description which follows, the present invention is illustrated and described with reference to a wet shaving device or razor embodying the invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The illustrated razor  10 , shown in FIGS. 1-5, essentially comprises a razor head designated generally by the reference numeral  12  and carried by a handle  14 . A disposable blade cartridge indicated generally at  16  and which comprises a part of the razor head  12  is releasably supported on the razor  10  and carries at least one blade  18  which comprises a lead or seat blade. The razor head  12  further includes a shaving aid dispenser designated generally by the numeral  20  for receiving and containing a replaceable solid water-soluble shaving aid, such as a block of medicated soap preparation indicated by the letter S and best shown in FIG. 4. A guard/transfer roller  22  supported for rotation on the razor head in advance of the lead blade  18  serves as blade guard and also cooperates with the shaving aid dispenser  20  to pick up a thin coating or film of shaving aid material from a shaving aid preparation contained within the shaving aid dispenser and transfer it to and deposit it on the surface of the skin ahead of the advancing blade  18  during a normal shaving operation, all of which will be hereinafter more fully discussed. 
     Considering now the razor  10  in further detail and as oriented in the drawings, the disposable blade cartridge  16  and the guard/transfer roller  22  which forms a guard for the lead blade  18  carried by the blade cartridge are supported on a common axis designated by the letter A in FIG.  1  and defined by a pair of axially spaced apart coaxial axel shaft  21 ,  21  mounted in fixed position on and at opposite sides of the shaving aid dispenser  20  as best shown in FIG.  5  and as hereinafter more fully described. The guard/dispenser roller may be made from a variety of materials and may take various forms, however, the illustrated roller  22  preferably comprises a hollow generally cylindrical tubular member formed from stainless steel and includes radially disposed opposite end walls  24 ,  24  which have coaxial cylindrical aperture  25 , 25  for receiving the axles  21 ,  21 . The tubular roller  22  has a generally cylindrical roller surface  26  and a plurality of apertures formed therein which define openings  28 , 28  through the surface  26 . The number, size, shape and arrangement of the openings  28 ,  28  may vary, however the illustrated openings are generally rectangular and arranged in a regular pattern of in-line rows generally parallel to the axis A. The free end portions of the axles  21 ,  21  upon which the roller  22  is journalled are of somewhat reduced diameter to generally complement the apertures  25 ,  25  so that the roller may rotate freely on the axles while being restrained against movement in an axial direction thereon. 
     The disposable blade cartridge  16 , best shown in FIG. 2, has a frame  30 , preferably molded from a durable lightweight resilient plastic material and includes a pair of spaced apart sidewalls  32 ,  32  integrally joined by a connecting wall  34  which extends therebetween. The illustrated blade cartridge  16  carries three blades which include the seat blade  18  and two additional flat blades substantially identical to the seat blade and indicated at  18   a  and  18   b . The illustrated three flat blades  18 ,  18   a  and  18   b  have parallel rectilinear cutting edges and are arranged with the flat surfaces thereof in parallel spaced apart relation to each other. The three blades are supported by and extend between the sidewalls  32 ,  32 , substantially as shown. The blade cartridge preferably also includes one or more skin guard rails, such rails being shown in the drawings and indicated at  40 - 48 . 
     A radially outwardly open keyhole slot  50  is formed in each side wall  32 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The blade cartridge is adapted for releasable attachment to the axles  21 ,  21  in straddling relation to the guard/dispenser roller  22 , the spacing between the opposing inner surfaces of the sidewalls  32 ,  32  being substantially equal to the axial length of the roller  22 . Leading portions of the sidewalls  32 ,  32  have parti-cylindrical configurations to substantially compliment the cylindrical configuration of the roller surface  26 . The substantially flat seat blade  18  is disposed in a plane generally tangential to the roller surface  26  and with its cutting edge substantially uniformly spaced from the roller surface  26  along its entire length. The keyhole slots  50 ,  50  are adapted for snap engagement with associated portions of the axles  21 ,  21  and serve to releasable retain the disposable cartridge  16  in its assembled position relative to the guard/transfer roller  22 . The roller  22  is supported to rotate freely about the axis A relative to the razor handle  14 , the shaving aid dispenser  20  and the blade cartridge  16  whereas the blade cartridge is supported on the axles  21 ,  21  for limited reciprocal pivotal or rocking movement from a normal or at rest position through a range of tracking positions relative to the razor handle to track the skin surface being shaved as the razor moves over the skin surface with a normal shaving movement. In FIG. 2 the at rest position of the disposable blade cartridge  16  is shown in full lines, the approximate maximum limit of the tracking position being indicated by broken lines. A blade cartridge biasing means of a well known type (not shown) is provided for biasing the blade cartridge in counterclockwise direction toward and to its at rest position of FIG.  2  and may, for example, comprise a spring biased plunger or a leaf spring acting between the shaving aid dispenser  20  and the blade cartridge  16  to normally urge the blade cartridge to its at rest position. 
     The presently preferred shaving aid dispenser  20  formed by the razor head  12  comprises a generally rectangular dispenser housing  52  carried by the handle  14  and has a top wall  56 , a pair of laterally spaced apart bottom walls  58 ,  58 , and a pair of opposing sidewalls  60 ,  60 , which provide connection between forward end portions of the top wall  56  and the bottom walls  58 ,  58 . The top, bottom, and sidewalls cooperate to define a forwardly and rearwardly open dispensing slot  62  of generally rectangular cross section for receiving and containing a generally rectangular solid block of water-soluble shaving aid material, or medicated soap preparation S, such as shown in FIG. 4. A pair of guide slots  64 ,  64  formed in the sidewalls  60 ,  60  communicate with the dispensing slot  62 , extend longitudinally of the sidewalls and open outwardly through the rear ends thereof. 
     The housing  52  further includes and upwardly and rearwardly open spring receptacle or well  65  which depends from the bottom walls  58 ,  58  and extends centrally along the lower side of the housing  52  from front to rear, for a purpose which will be hereinafter evident. The spring receptacle opens upwardly into the dispensing slot  62  and outwardly through the rear of the housing  52 . The forward portion of the spring well  65  is particularly adapted to receive a coil spring  70  whereas the rear portion of the well defines an upwardly open rectilinear channel for receiving a tail portion of a coil spring. The lowermost wall of the housing  52  extends for some distance rearwardly and beyond the rear ends of the sidewalls  60 ,  60  and forms a step or shelf  67  at the rear of the dispenser housing  52  below the level of the guide slots  64 ,  64 . 
     The illustrated shaving aid dispenser housing  52 , which is carried by the razor handle  14 , may be integrally connected to the handle or releasably connected to it and is disposed with its top and bottom walls  56  and  58 ,  58 , respectively, parallel to and equidistantly spaced from an axial plane of the axis A so that the guard/dispenser roller  22  provides a substantial closure for the forward end of the dispensing slot  62 , which slot is bisected by the aforesaid axial plane. Preferably, and as shown, the vertical width of the dispensing slot  62  is somewhat less than the diameter of the roller surface  26 . A laterally extending pusher  66  is disposed within the dispensing slot  62 , extends transversely of the latter slot, and has reduced opposite end portions  68 ,  68  of generally rectangular cross section which complement associated portions of the guide slots and project laterally outwardly from the guide slots  64 ,  64  at opposite sides of the housing  52 . The pusher end portions  68 ,  68  cooperate with the guide slots  64 ,  64  to maintain the pusher  66  with the frontal face of the pusher in a vertically oriented forwardly facing position, that is facing in the direction of the roller  22 . Enlarged heads or finger grips  69 ,  69  are formed on the outer ends of the reduced portions  68 ,  68  for a reason which will be hereinafter explained. A coiled constant pressure spring  70  received within the spring well  65  has a coiled inner end (not shown) secured in fixed position relative to the dispenser housing  52 . A rearwardly projecting end portion or tail of the coil spring  70  is connected to the pusher  66 , as best shown in FIG.  4 . The constant pressure spring  70  continuously urges the pusher in a forward direction within the dispensing slot  62  and toward the guard/transfer roller  22 . 
     The pusher  66  cooperates with the constant pressure spring  70  to provide a closure for the rear end of the dispensing slot  62  and thereby serves to both releasably retain a block of water-soluble shaving aid preparation S in the dispensing slot  62  and bias the shaving aid preparation S toward and into engagement with the guard/dispenser roller  22 . 
     As the wetted razor head  10  is advanced along the skin surface with a conventional shaving motion the guard/dispenser roller  22 , disposed in frictional engagement with the skin, rotates in a clockwise direction from its position of FIG. 3, picks up a film of shaving aid material, which forms over the openings  28 ,  28  and on the roller surface  26 , and transfers the film of shaving aid preparation to and deposits it on the skin surface ahead of the advancing lead or seat blade  18 . 
     When the block of shaving aid preparation S is partially spent and the forwardly facing surface of the pusher  66  attains a position generally above the central axis of the coiled constant pressure spring  70  whereupon the spring ceases to be effective as a biasing means. The spent shaving aid preparation S within the razor head should now be replenished. 
     While the razor handle is held in one hand, the finger grips  69 ,  69  on the outer ends of the pusher  66  are grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand and the pusher  66  is drawn to the rear and out of the dispensing slot  62  and the guide slots  64 ,  64 , whereupon the pusher  66  may be moved downwardly to a seating position on the shelf  67 , the latter position of the pusher  66  being shown in broken lines in FIG.  4 . The rear end of the dispensing slot  62  is now open to receive a new block of shaving aid preparation material S. The dispensing slot  62  is of sufficient length to accommodate the partially consumed block S already in the slot, a new or unused block of shaving aid preparation (not shown) which has been inserted into the slot  62 , and the pusher  66  which is raised from its seated position and returned to its operative position at the rear of the dispensing slot  62 , in pushing position behind the new block. The new or replenished block of shaving aid preparation now serves as a pusher to urge the partially consumed block toward and into engagement with the guard/transfer roller  22 . The new block of shaving aid preparation cannot make contact with the roller surface  26  until the partially spend block has been totally consumed in the shaving process. Consequently, the razor  10  enables the most efficient possible utilization of shaving aid preparation while avoiding direct contact between the solid block of shaving aid preparation and the skin surface. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, another wet shaving device or razor embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference number  10   a . The illustrated razor  10   a  is substantially identical in most respects to the razor  10  previously described and parts of the razor  10   a  which correspond to parts of the previously described razor  10  bear the same reference numeral and the letter “a” suffix and with not be hereinafter further described. 
     The razor  10   a  differs from the razor  10  in the construction and arrangement of the guard/transfer roller indicated at  22   a . Unlike the roller  22 , the roller  22   a  comprises a solid member which may be formed from any suitable material, a plastic or ceramic material being presently preferred. The roller  22   a  has a generally cylindrical roller surface  26   a . A plurality of shallow recesses  76 ,  76  formed in the roller  22   a  and opening outwardly through the surface  26   a  define a plurality of openings in the roller surface indicated at  28   a ,  28   a . The roller  22   a  further differs from the previously described roller in that it includes a plurality of annular bands of friction material  78 ,  78  which coaxially surround the roller at axially spaced apart locations along the roller surface. The bands  78 ,  78  are preferably made from a material different from the material from which the roller  22   a  is made to provide increased frictional engagement with the skin and improved traction as the roller moves along the surface of the skin during the normal shaving operation. 
     A further form of a guard/dispenser roller is shown in FIG.  7  and indicated at  22   b . The illustrated roller  22   b  comprises a solid roller having a roller surface  26   b  and a plurality of shallow recesses which define surface openings  28   b ,  28   b  dispersed over the surface of the roller in a random pattern. 
     Still another form of roller is shown in FIG. 8 where the roller is indicated at  22   c . Unlike the previously described rollers, the solid roller  22   c  has openings  28   c ,  28   c  in the surface  26   c  thereof arranged in a helical pattern on the surface of the roller and about the roller axis A. The in-line helical rows of openings  28   c,    28   c  are helically offset relative each other so that soap film which forms over the openings as the roller rotate in contact with a block of shaving aid preparation will be transferred to and deposited upon the skin surface in overlapping relation to each other to assure complete skin coverage in the region being shaved.