Patent Publication Number: US-10773403-B2

Title: Shaving razor handle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wet shaving safety razors and more particularly to shaving systems having handles and replaceable cartridges. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, a cartridge or blade unit of a safety razor has at least one blade with a cutting edge which is moved across the surface of the skin being shaved by means of a handle to which the cartridge is attached. Some shaving razors are provided with a spring biased cartridge that pivots relative to the handle to follow the contours of the skin during shaving. The cartridge may be mounted detachably on the handle to enable the cartridge to be replaced by a fresh cartridge when the blade sharpness has diminished to an unsatisfactory level, or it may be attached permanently to the handle with the intention that the entire razor be discarded when the blade or blades have become dulled. Razor cartridges usually include a guard which contacts the skin in front of the blade(s) and a cap for contacting the skin behind the blade(s) during shaving. The cap and guard may aid in establishing the so-called “shaving geometry”, i.e., the parameters which determine the blade orientation and position relative to the skin during shaving, which in turn have a strong influence on the shaving performance and efficacy of the razor. The cap may comprise a water leachable shaving aid to reduce drag and improve comfort. The guard may be generally rigid, for example formed integrally with a frame or platform structure which provides a support for the blades. Guards may also comprise softer elastomeric materials to improve skin stretching. 
     Shaving systems often consist of a handle and a replaceable cartridge in which one or more blades are mounted in a plastic housing. After the blades in a cartridge have become dull from use, the cartridge is discarded, and replaced on the handle with a new cartridge. These types of shaving systems that utilize a variety of connection schemes to affix the cartridge to the handle have become popular. The connection scheme allows the consumer to easily, repeatedly, efficiently and intuitively load and remove the new and used cartridges from the handle and provides the necessary retention forces to maintain the integrity of the handle-to-cartridge attachment during shaving. 
     The connection scheme must be robust enough to provide the necessary retention forces to maintain the integrity of the handle-to-cartridge attachment during shaving. The attachment of a razor cartridge to razor handle can provide sufficient retaining force to secure the razor cartridge to the razor handle over a wide variety of shaving conditions. Some shavers use very high forces when shaving and some razors may have a hair trimming system mounted on the side or back of the razor cartridge. In contrast, razors that use razor cartridges that are releasably connected, can provide low attachment and release forces to facilitate easy changing of cartridges by a shaver. 
     The razor cartridge of many razors can also be in pivotal relationship with the razor handle. Most existing razors typically provide the mechanism that enables this pivot relationship on the razor cartridge or at the interface of the razor cartridge and razor handle. These pivot mechanisms can be expensive to manufacture and can represent a significant fraction of the total manufactured cost of a razor cartridge. Accordinlgy, there is a need for a simpler, less expensive, more intuitive and reliable shaving handle-to-cartridge connection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention features, in general a shaving razor handle with an elongated gripping portion at a first end. A cartridge interconnector at a second end of the elongated gripping portion has a platform with an upper surface and an opposing lower surface that defines an included angle of about 35 degrees to about 60 degrees. A distal end of the cartridge interconnector extends from the platform. The distal end has a skin facing surface with a pair of side walls connected by a pair of curved lateral end walls. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general a shaving razor handle with an elongated gripping portion having a first end. A cartridge interconnector at a second end of the elongated gripping portion has a platform with a shoulder and a distal end extending from the platform that has a skin contacting surface. A height of the distal end from the shoulder of the platform to the skin facing surface is about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm and a distance from the shoulder of the platform to a ledge on an upper surface of the platform is about 3 mm to about 6 mm. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general a shaving razor handle with an elongated gripping portion having a first end. A cartridge interconnector at a second end of the elongated gripping portion has a platform with an upper surface and an opposing lower surface that defines an included angle of about 35 degrees to about 60 degrees. A distal end having a skin facing surface extends from the platform. The lower surface of the platform and a side wall of the distal end define an included angle of about 125 degrees to about 150 degrees. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, can be more fully understood from the following description of the various embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shaving razor system according to one possible embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial assembly view of the shaving razor system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a front partial view of the shaving razor handle of  FIG. 2   
         FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the shaving razor handle, taken generally along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are partial side views of the shaving razor handle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a cartridge interconnector of the razor handle of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a shaving razor system  10  is shown. The shaving razor system  10  may include a shaving razor cartridge  12  mounted to handle  14 . The shaving razor cartridge  10  may be removable or permanently mounted to the handle. For example, the shaving razor cartridge  12  may be mounted detachably on the handle  14  to enable the shaving razor cartridge  12  to be replaced by a fresh shaving razor cartridge  12  when the blade sharpness has diminished to an unsatisfactory level, or it may be attached permanently to the handle with the intention that the entire razor be discarded when the blade or blades have become dulled. The shaving razor handle  14  may have an elongated gripping portion  16  with a first end  18  (e.g., distal end) and a second end  20  (e.g., proximal end). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a partial assembly view of the shaving razor system  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown with the cartridge  12  detached from the shaving razor handle  14 . The shaving razor handle  14  may have a cartridge interconnector  22  at the second end  20 . The cartridge interconnector  22  may pivot relative to the elongated gripping portion  16  of the shaving razor handle  14 . Accordingly, it is not necessary for the cartridge interconnector  22  to be attached to the shaving razor cartridge  12  in order to pivot relative to the elongated gripping portion  16  of the handle  14 . The shaving razor cartridge  12  may have a housing  24  that defines an opening  26  configured to receive the cartridge interconnector  22 . The cartridge interconnector  22  may include a platform  28  that is positioned within the opening  26  of the housing  24 . A distal end  30  may extend from cartridge interconnector  22  to a skin facing surface  32 . It is understood that the skin facing surface  32  (e.g., skin contacting surface) may extend through the opening  26  of the shaving razor cartridge  12  to contact the surface of the skin to provide a benefit. Examples of benefits may include delivery of heat and/or a moisturizer to the surface of the skin of a user. In certain embodiments, the skin facing surface  32  may extend completely through the housing  24 . However, the skin facing surface  32  may or may not directly contact the skin. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , an enlarged front view of the catridge interconnector  22  on the handle  14  is illustrated. The skin facing surface  32  may have a pair of side walls  34  and  36 . The side walls  34  and  36  may be parallel to each other. The side walls  34  and  36  may be interconntected by a pair of curved lateral end walls  38  and  40 . For example, the pair of curved end walls  38  and  40  may have a radius of about 1.25 mm to about 2 mm. The curved lateral end walls  38  and  40  may provide a more precise fit with the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) by minimizing gaps between the razor handle  14  and the razor cartridge  12  thus minimizing small radii and corners that are difficult to manufacture in the mating surfaces of two components. Even small gaps between the razor cartridge and the cartridge interconnector  22  may allow for the accumulation of hair and shaving debris, which may be difficult to rinse away without disconnecting the shaving razor cartridge  12  from the handle  14 . Furthermore, the curved end walls  38  and  40  may be less prone to binding and jamming within the opening  26  of the housing  24  ( FIG. 2 ), thus decreasing the required forces to attach and eject the razor cartridge  12  from the handle  14 . 
     The skin contacting surface may have a lengh “L 1 ” extending between the pair of curved lateral end walls  38  and  40  of about 27 mm to about 35 mm. The skin facing surface  32  may have a width “w 1 ” extending between the side walls  34  and  36  of about 2.5 mm to about 4 mm. The skin facing surface  32  may have a length to width ratio of about 5 about 13 and more preferably about 9 to about 11. The size and the length to width ratio of the skin facing surface  32  may be sufficient to provide a consumer noticeable benefit, such as heat or lubrication, while also taking up minimal space on the top surface of the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ). In certain embodiments, the skin facing surface  32  may have an area of about about 70 mm 2  to about 90 mm 2 . 
     The distal end  30  may be stepped. For example, the platform  28  may include a shoulder  42  that extends outwardly beyond the skin facing surface  32 . The shoulder  42  may extend beyond one or more of the curved lateral end walls  38  and  40  by a distance “d 1 ” of about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. The shoulder  42  may not extend completely around the the platform  28 . Accordingly, there may be a step at the curved end walls  38  and  40 . The shoulder  42  may comprise two shoulders  42 . For example, the shoulder  42  at one of the curved end walls  38  may be spaced apart from the shoulder at the other curved end wall  40 . The location of the shoulder  42  at the the curved walls  38  and  40  may help minimize the overall size of the cartridge interconnector  22  that must fit into the opening  26  of the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ), thus minimizing the size of the shaving razor cartridge  12 . By not extending the shoulder  42  completely around the platform  28 , the area of the skin facing surface  32  can be maximized thus improving consumer benefits such as heat and moisturization or lubrication delivery to the skin. A height “hl” of the distal end  30  from the shoulder  42  of the platform  28  to the skin facing surface  32  is about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm. The height “hl” may be sufficient to allow the distal end  30  to extend through the cartridge  12  of  FIG. 2 . The shoulder  42  may help retain the cartridge interconnector  22  within the opening  26  of the housing  24  and provide sufficient support for distal end  30 , especially when using razor cartridges that have trimmers mounted on the side or back of the cartridge In certain embodiments, the distal end may extend through the opening  26  ( FIG. 2 ) and the platform  28  may be positioned and/or secured within the opening  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a ledge  44  may be located on the upper surface  46  of the platform  28 .  FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the handle  14  with the cartridge interconnector  22 , taken generally along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A . The ledge  44  may be a recessed surface on the upper surface  46 . A distance “d 2 ” from the shoulder  42  of the platform  28  to the ledge  44  may be about 3 mm to about 6 mm A length “L 2 ” of the ledge  44  may be about 4 mm to about 25 mm and preferably about 18 mm A depth “d 3 ” of the ledge  44  may be about 1 mm to about 3 mm and preferably about 1.75 mm. In certain embodiments, ledge  44  may be tapered relative to the skin facing surface  32  of the distal end  30  at an angle α 1  of about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees, and preferably about 8 degrees to about 12 degrees. The angle α 1  may help retain the cartridge interconnector  22  on the shaving razor cartridge  12  of  FIG. 2 . If the angle α 1  is too great, the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) may be difficult to remove from the cartridge interconnector  22 . However, if the angle α 1  is too small, the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) may fall off the cartridge interconnector  22  during use. 
     The combination of dimensions between the ledge  44  and the shoulder  42  may influence the performance of the attachment of the cartridge interconnector  22  to the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The distance “d 2 ” from the shoulder to the ledge  44 , the depth “d 3 ” of the ledge, and the angle α 1  of the ledge  44  may be used to control attachment and detachment forces. The height “hl” from the shoulder  42  to the skin facing surface  32  may be used to control shaving geometry and influence the performance of handles that deliver a benefit to the skin through the skin facing surface  32 , for example, delivery of moisture, lubrication or heat. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , a partial side view of the shaving razor handle  14  is shown. The platform  28  may have an upper surface  46  on a plane P 1  and an opposing lower surface  48  on a plane P 2  that define an included angle “A 1 ” of about 35 degrees to about 60 degrees, and more preferably about 45 to about 55 degrees. The included angle “A 1 ” may provide for a tapered interlock between the cartridge connection member  22  and the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The lower surface  48  of the platform  28  and a side wall  50  of the distal end  30  may define an excluded angle “A 2 ” of about 125 degrees to about 155 degrees. The side wall  50  may be generally transverse to the skin facing surface  32  and can help increase the retention forces applied to the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) during shaving, especially during use of a trimmer  55  mounted on the side or back of the shaving razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The angle “A 2  may facilitate a user to intuitively guide the cartridge interconnector  22  into the opening  26  razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) to attach the shaving razor  12  to the handle  10  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Refering to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , partial side views of the shaving razor handle  14  are illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the platform  28  may have an upper pivot stop surface  52  and a lower pivot stop surface  54  that define an included angle “A 3 ” of about 38 degrees to about 57 degrees. The shaving razor handle  14  may include an arm  56  that contacts the upper pivot stop surface  52  and the lower pivot stop surface  54  as the cartridge interconnect member  22  pivots through the range of motion of about 38 degrees to about 57 degrees. In certain embodiments, the arm  56  may be biased against the lower pivot stop surface  54  in a neutral rest position. The upper pivot stop surface  52  may intersect the skin facing surface  32  at an included angle “A 4 ” of about 50 degrees to about 120 degrees and preferably about 80 degrees. The angle “A 4 ” may be sufficient to enable the skin facing surface contacts the skin&#39;s surface during a shaving stroke, even at an upper pivot limit of the cartridge interconnect member  22 . Similarly, the lower pivot stop surface  54  may intersect the skin facing surface  32  at an included angle “A 5 ” of about 10 degrees to about 70 degrees and preferably about 37 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 4C . The platform  28  may define a “V” shaped notch  58  having the lower pivot stop surface  54  and the upper pivot stop surface  52 . The notch  58  may provide for a more robust pivot stop than tab members, which may be more likely to break. The skin facing surface  32  may intersect the lower surface  48  of the platform  28  at an included “A 6 ” of about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees and preferably about 43 degrees. The angle “A 6 ” may facilitate a user to intuitively guide the cartridge interconnector  22  into the opening  26  razor cartridge  12  ( FIG. 2 ) to attached the shaving razor  12  to the handle  10  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a front view of the cartridge interconnector  22  is shown. The platform  28  may be tapered in more than one direction. The platform  28  may be tapered in a first direction, as shown by angle A 1  of  FIG. 4A . The platform  28  may also be tapered in a second direction. For example the platform  28  may have a pair of side walls  60  and  62  that tapered. In certain embodiments, the side walls  60  and  62  may define an angle A 7  of about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, preferably about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees. The taper of the platform  28  in two directions may improve retention of the cartridge interconnector  22  within the opening  26  of the shaving razor cartridge  12  of  FIG. 2  may provide a tapered interlock. 
     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.