Patent Publication Number: US-11648696-B1

Title: Variable number of blades hair shaving instrument

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Application No. 62/988,401, filed Mar. 12, 2020 by Michael Friedman, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of shaving razors and more particularly to manual shaving devices that utilize no motors or electricity. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The majority of manual razors used today for personal grooming where the handle is reusable fall into one of two categories. There are classic safety razors, where the blade is replaceable and the head and handle are reusable, and there are cartridge razors, where the whole head is replaced when the shaving performance deteriorates. 
     Classic safety razors generally only have one or two blades. While they are generally found to be more economical than cartridge razors, they have several drawbacks. Classic safety razors typically only have one or two blades and cannot offer the shaving experience that a 3 or more bladed cartridge razor can. More blades provide a closer shave and can reduce skin irritation. Also, many classic safety razors had problems aligning the blades, required modifying the blades to install them in the razor, or required a unique blade for each blade location in the head. Classic safety razors typically do not have a pivoting mechanism which increases the skill level required by the user. Pivoting heads, found on modern cartridge razors, help ensure the user is always using the correct angle between the blades and their skin. It is also easy for users to injure themselves on classic safety razors. Excess pressure during shaving can lead to cuts. Even just handling the blades can lead to injury as the blades must be loaded onto the razor by hand. Picking a razor blade up off of a counter or floor can be very difficult to do without injury to the user. Another problem with classic safety razors is that they lack any form of lubrication. The user will typically apply shaving gel, cream, or other products to act as a lubricant on their face. This is both a time consuming process and leaves the user&#39;s hands messy. 
     Cartridge razors solve a lot of the problems mentioned above. They have a pivot to adjust the angle and a guard to reduce excess pressure on the blades. They have a three dimensional profile so they are easier to pick-up off of surfaces and floors without injury. They typically have lubricating strips to improve the comfort during the shave. While they have a lot of advantages over the classic shaving razor, they suffer from two major draw backs. The cartridges generally cost more to replace than the blades of classic shaving razors. They also generate a lot of waste. Each cartridge razor represents one configuration. If a user wants to try a different razor, they generally have to buy a new handle. Also, if the spring wears out, they have to buy a new handle. This leads to a lot of razor handles ending up in landfills. Most razors come with some sort of stand. These stands frequently get lost or break. Even when they last, many are designed only to accept the razor that stand comes with. All of this leads to more waste in landfills. 
     What is needed is a razor that competes on cost with a classic safety razor; offers the performance, comfort, quality, and safety of a modern cartridge razor; reduces disposable and non-reusable components; and offers a wider range of shaving experiences all within the same design and components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    presents an isometric view of a hair shaving instrument with a variable number of blades according to one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    presents an isometric view of the hair shaving instrument of  FIG.  1    from another angle. 
         FIG.  3    presents a side view of the hair shaving instrument of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    presents an exploded view of the head of the hair shaving instrument of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    presents an isometric view of the base of the head of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    presents an enlarged exploded view of the base, a spacer, and a razor blade of  FIG.  4    from another angle. 
         FIG.  7    presents an isometric view of the head shown in  FIG.  1    from another angle. 
         FIG.  8    presents a cross-section view of the head shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  9    presents an isometric view of a root handle segment. 
         FIG.  10    presents a cross-section view of an extension handle segment shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  11    presents an isometric view of an embodiment of a hair shaving instrument with a variable number of blades and a piston handle. 
         FIG.  12    presents another view of the hair shaving instrument of  FIG.  11    where the handle is shown as an exploded view. 
         FIG.  13    presents a cross-section view of the base of the head of the hair shaving instrument of  FIG.  12   . 
         FIG.  14    presents an isometric view of the cap and base of  FIG.  11    from another angle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes a re-configurable or customizable hair shaving instrument (i.e., a “razor apparatus,” or simply a “razor”) that can be adjusted by the end user to best fit the end user&#39;s needs or preferences. 
       FIGS.  1 - 3    illustrate an example embodiment of a razor apparatus  100 . The razor  100  comprises a head  102  and a handle  104 . A rigid or pivot connection or joint may be used to connect the head  102  to the handle  104 . A spring plunger  106  may be used to drive the head in one direction, to a desired orientation, or a desired position; but in other embodiments, other springs or spring apparatuses could be used such as a torsion spring. In one embodiment, the spring plunger  106  contains a spring that drives a plunger to an extended position, and the plunger travels relative to an externally threaded body that is threaded into the handle. The plunger end engages the head. The plunger end can vary in shape, and the length of travel can vary in different embodiments. A knob style spring plunger is shown but other types of spring plungers could be used in other embodiments. 
       FIG.  4    is an isometric exploded view of the head  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the upper member, upper body, or cap  110  of the head  102  connects to the lower member, lower body, or base  112  of the head  102  by two pins, rods, or male fastening elements  114 . However, in other embodiments one pin may be used to connect the cap to the base, or three pins may be used to connect the cap to the base. Disposed between the cap  110  and the base  112  is a user configurable assembly or stack  116  of razor blades  118  and spacers  120 . For purposes of this disclosure, a stack of one or more razor blades and one or more spacers may be referred to as a “cutting stack”  116 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting stack  116  is made up of multiple identical razor blades  118  and multiple identical spacers  120 . However, in other embodiments, a cutting stack may use razor blades with a different shape and/or spacers with a different shape. Also, in other embodiments, the spacers in a stack may not all be the same shape and size. The number and dimensions of spacers  120  between each razor blade  118 , between a razor blade  118  and the cap  110 , and between a razor blade  118  and the base  112  are not intended to be limited. In other words, the design of the head  102  allows a user to customize the cutting stack by varying the number of spacers  120  between adjacent razor blades  118 , the number of spacers  120  between the top razor blade  118  and the cap  110  of the head  102 , and the number of spacers  120  between the bottom razor blade  118  and the base  112  of the head  102 . Also, in different embodiments, the razor may be provided to the user as a kit that includes spacers of a particular thickness, such as about 0.020 inches. And different kits may include spacers with a different thickness, such as 0.005 inches. Spacers may also be made available separately. Also, spacers with different thicknesses may be made available. For instance, such thickness may range from 0.001 to 0.100 inches. The razor blades  118  shown are representative of what is commonly known as double-edge safety razor blades, but other embodiments of the razor may be designed or configured to work with other razor blade shapes. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , in some embodiments, the pins  114  may be attached to the cap  110 , and the latching components, female fasteners, or nuts  122  attach to the pins  114  beneath the base  112 . The female fasteners  122  are shown as a plurality of threaded nuts with a knurled round exteriors but in an alternate embodiment another component could serve the same function, such as a hex nut, a spring loaded latch, or a cam to give some examples; but other possibilities exist, so long as the female fasteners  122  grab the pins  114  and allow an adjustable distance between the cap and the female fastener while applying tension to the pins  114  and thus compression to the whole head assembly  102 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  4 - 6   , the aspect of assembly of the head is addressed. The pins  114  are attached to the cap  110 . The pins  114  extend down through openings in the spacers  120   a  and razor blades  118   a.    
     The bottom member  112  may contain a plurality of cut outs or recesses  112   a . The female fasteners  122  grab the pins  114  within the recesses  112   a  and are tightened to compress the plurality of spacers  120  and razor blades  118  between the cap  110  and the base  112 . In an alternate embodiment where the recesses  112   a  do not exist but the pins  114  are still attached to the cap  110 , the female fasteners  122  would grab the pins  114  below the base  112 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  4 - 7   , tabs  118   b  on the ends of the razor blades  118  contact fingers, protrusions, or prongs  112   b  extending from the base  112 . The surfaces of the fingers  112   b  that contacts the razor blades  118  are nominally parallel to the pins  114  but in other embodiments could be angled up to 5 degrees from parallel with the pins  114  when the head  102  is assembled. The lines or points of contact  123  between the razor blade tabs  118   b  and the prongs  112   b  can shift up or down along the prongs  118   b  as a function of the number and configuration of the razor blades  118  and spacers  120  used. In an alternate embodiment, the prongs can extend from the cap  110  parallel to the pins  114  towards the base  112 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  6 , and  8   , on the base  112 , below where the bottom of the stack of blades and spacers  116  sits, is a guard  112   c . The guard  112   c  is a surface that is flush with or protrudes from the plane or shaving plane A-A constructed by the cutting edges  118   c  of the razor blades  118 . The guard  112   c  may be integral with the base  112  and may extend up the prongs  112   b  to the sides of the razor blades  118 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 - 3 ,  5 - 6 , and  9   , the handle assembly  104  is connected to the razor&#39;s head  102  by a pivot connection or joint. A pivot pin  124  passes through openings  112   d  in the base  112  and an opening  130   a  in the first handle segment  130 . The pivot pin  124  may be located behind the guard  112   c.    
     As shown in  FIG.  6    each spacer has openings  120   a  to allow the pins to pass through the cutting stack  116  (as shown in  FIG.  4   ). The spacers  120  include points  120   c  which extend out to near the cutting edge of the razor blades  118   c , and the spacers  120  have recesses  120   b  positioned between the points  120   c.    
       FIG.  9    is an isometric view of the primary handle segment  130  from the handle  104  of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   . For purposes of this disclosure, a primary handle segment may also be referred to as a “first handle segment,” an “upper handle segment,” or a “root handle segment.” 
       FIGS.  2 - 3  and  9    illustrate an opening  130   a  through which the pivot pin  124  passes. Also, the spring plunger  106  threads into an opening  130   b  at the back of the root handle segment. The spring plunger  106  threads into the opening  130   b  by turning the knob on the spring plunger  106   a . The user can adjust the distance the spring plunger  106  is threaded into the opening  130   b . A female connector  130   c  is located at the far end from the pivot opening  130   a . The female connector  130   c  is sized to receive the male connector from an extension handle segment  132 . In this embodiment, the female connector  130   c  is threaded but connections other than threaded connections may be used in other embodiments. For the sake of simplicity, all future references will only be threaded connections but it should be understood that these are interchangeable with other connection types. Two flat and not parallel surfaces  130   d  may be found on opposite sides of the first handle segment  130 . 
       FIGS.  1 - 3  and  9 - 10    illustrate an example embodiment of the handle  104 . An extension handle segment  132  connects to the root handle segment  130  by inserting the extension handle&#39;s male connector  132   a  into the female connector  130   c  of the root handle segment  130 . The female connector on the extension handle segment  132  may be the same as the female connector  130   c  on the root handle  130  segment. For instance, the female connector may be made up of a threaded cavity  132   b  and a widened opening  132   c  that is sized to receive a magnet  134  (as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   ). The male end of the extension handle segment may also have a widened section  132   d . All of the handle segment connections may use the same thread pitch and diameter. As indicated above, extension handle segments may include one end with a male connector and the other end with a female connector. The female connector of the root handle segment may also be referred to as a “root connector.” The exterior of the extension handle segment(s)  132   e  is not intended to be limited in diameter, shape, or texture. The common connectors make a variety of extension handle segment embodiments interchangeable. A plurality of embodiments or identical extension handle segments  132  may be used in the assembly by linking each extension handle segment to the next with the male to female connections. The number of extension handle segments used is not intended to be limited. The last of the extension handle segments may have a magnet  134  inserted, bonded, or otherwise coupled into the widened opening  132   c . The last extension handle segment may be referred to as a “tail handle segment.” 
     The razor is intended to operate like the majority of manual razors on the market today where the user translates the razor across their face and the blade or blades cut hairs as the razor passes over them. While the design disclosed herein discusses a multi-bladed razor, the user may opt for a single blade shaving experience. As such, for ease of discussion, further description of the razor will be with respect to multiple blades. However, it is to be understood that the razor can be configured by the user to contain only a single razor blade thus creating an experience closer to that of a classic safety razor. One advantage of using this razor in the single blade configuration over a classic safety razor is the handle grip. The grip may have two flat spots or only slightly curved surfaces near the shaving end of the razor to allow for a better pinch grip than on a round handle. Another advantage is the pivoting mechanism reduces the skill level required to use the razor and helps provide a more comfortable shave. The guard may also reduce the skill level required to use the razor and help provide a more comfortable shave. 
     The user first assembles the head by stacking spacers and razor blades on the pins that may be attached to the cap, using any quantity or arrangement of spacers and blades that the user believes will provide them with the best shaving experience. They then slide the base on the pins and attach the female fastener(s). They then thread down the nut to tighten the head and compress the assembly or stack of spacer(s) and razor blade(s) together. The user can verify the blades are sitting in the proper position by checking that all of the razor blades in the cutting stack are in contact with the two prongs that are closest to shaving plane. The prongs act both as a reference plane for guiding the blades and as a visual guide. Any misalignment of the razor blades would cause a gap between the prongs and the razor blades. A gap between two surfaces is easier to see than the misalignment of the blades and how far they are out of alignment with an invisible plain. This allows the user to quickly detect any problems and reduces the chances of any injury. If the alignment were made by only using the two internal pins, the user would have no visual reference to check if the blades seated in the correct position in the head. 
     Generally speaking, the spacers and razor blades will alternate in the stack but the user could opt not to. For example, the user could opt to put two spacers to create a bigger gap for better hair evacuation and easier cleaning of the razor. The user could also opt to increase the number of razor blades for a closer shave. If the user wishes to save money or just reduce the waste generated by their shaving, they could opt to use fewer razor blades. While the blades are generally considered to be disposable, the spacers are reusable and thus help reduce landfill waste. 
     For people who desire a very close shave, multi-blade razors can get very close due to a process called hysteresis. As each blade passes, the hair is pulled out a little bit before it is cut. This leaves a little bit more hair exposed for the next blade to cut. On cartridge razors, the more blades they have, the smaller the gap between the blades tends to be. The finer the spacing of the blades, the less room the skin has to stick up between the blades. This reduces the chances of the user getting cut. For people with sensitive skin who get a lot of razor bump, a more conservative shave can be desirable. For these applications, fewer blades with less aggressive hair cutting may be desired. The razor described herein has the ability to be adjusted by the user to take advantage of both situations without the user running out to the store to buy a different razor or cartridge. The number and spacing of the blades is may be optimized by the individual user. A stack of spacers, where each individual spacer&#39;s thickness can be anywhere from 0.001″ up to 0.100″, is used with razor blades that are identical in shape to the other razor blades in the stack. The spacers may have recesses to allow for more debris to move away from the cutting edge of the razor blades. The blades and spacers are stacked by the user instead of at the factory to help reduce the cost to the end user. 
     When the user pushes the head of the razor against their skin, the razor will rotate about the pivot to orient the razor parallel to the skin at the guard. The guard absorbs a large portion of the pressure reducing the chances of the user using excessive pressure and cutting themselves. The spring helps orient the head and keep the blades in contact with the skin with the right amount of pressure. If the spring starts to wear out, the user can turn the knob on the spring plunger to partially compress or preload the spring in the spring plunger. According to Hooke&#39;s law, the more a spring is compressed, the stronger the force it produces. This allows the user to compensate for a wearing out spring or provide more pressure for their shaving experience. If the spring were to be damaged, the user can replace the spring by simply unscrewing the spring plunger all of the way and threading back in a replacement. In this embodiment, no tools are required for the replacement of the spring plunger. Other embodiments of spring plungers may require a tool to install or set their installation depth. 
     The handle segments may be threaded together. A variety of shapes and diameters of the extension handle segment can be used together to allow the user to customize the grip. For example, if a user has big hands, they could purchase one or more larger diameter extension handle segments to make the razor easy to hold. If the user desires a longer handle, they can install additional extension handle segments. 
     A magnet may be used in the final or tail segment of the handle. The tail segment may be used to hold the razor in an upright position by sticking the magnet to a ferromagnetic surface or item already owned by the user. This may be as simple as a metal box. It may also be used to hang the razor upside down from a ferromagnetic surface such as a metal cabinet, towel holder, screw, or other metallic object. This saves the need for a stand and thus reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. When loading razor blades into the razor, it is easy for the user to cut or injure themselves. The magnet on the handle may be used to pick-up razors off of surfaces. The handle segment with the magnet in it may be disconnected and used to pick up razor blades and set them onto the pins. To release the razor blades from the magnet, the user only has to slide the razor blade part way down the pins and drag the magnet tangentially away from the razor blade. The razor blades will be caught on the pins and will fall down into position when the magnet is removed. 
       FIG.  11    is an embodiment of a razor  200  with a piston or plunger handle  210 . The piston handle is shown rigidly attached to the head  220  but in alternate embodiments, a pivoting connection with a flexible tube or hose could connect the piston handle to the head. In another embodiment, pivoting connector with a fluid channel through the center of a pivot could be used. In an alternate embodiment, the piston handle  210  could be connected behind the blades to allow the product to flow over the blades and come directly out where the blades are. In another alternate embodiment, the piston handle  210  could be connected to the cap  230  of the head instead of the base  222 . 
       FIG.  12    is shows an exploded view of one possible embodiment of the piston handle  210 . The piston handle is made up of an o-ring  211  that sits in a groove  212   a  on a piston rod  212  inside a cylinder or barrel  213 . An alternate embodiment might use a piston assembly similar to a syringe where a rubber dome shaped piece acts as the sealing component. There are a large number of ways to make a piston assembly and the scope is not intended to be limited herein. 
     The piston is designed to hold and deliver a cream, gel, or fluid to the head of the razor for lubrication or comfort purposes. A cavity, hollow section, hollow part, or hollow portion of the handle is used to store the cream, gel, or fluid until the piston rod is pushed in. Shaving cream or gel is the primary intended product but other products can be delivered using the same mechanism such as but not limited to preshave oils, after shave lotions, after shave oils, and aloe. 
       FIG.  13    is a cross sectional view of base  222  (as shown in  FIG.  12   ). Passages run from the end of the piston handle, to the base&#39;s inlet connector  224 . The inlet connector  224  leads to a manifold  226  inside the base where the flow splits to go to multiple openings  228  in the face or front of the razor. The face of the razor is the side of the razor that does the cutting. These openings allow the user to disperse the product at the leading edge of the razor. In this embodiment, this delivery system could be used to deliver shaving cream or other lubricant products directly where needed instead of the user having to apply it all over their face. This may cut down on wasted shaving cream and allow for continuous lubrication when going over the same spot more than once. 
       FIG.  14    presents an isometric view of the cap  230  and base  222 . The desired product is delivered out openings  228  to the leading edge of the razor  200  (as shown in  FIG.  11   .) 
     In said embodiment, the piston rod may be drawn back with the head submerged in the product desired to be used in the razor. Pulling back the piston rod creates a vacuum in the handle which causes the product to be sucked backwards through the openings in the head of the razor through the manifold and into the handle. This will fill the piston&#39;s cavity similar to how a medical professional fills a syringe. Alternatively, the piston rod may be removed and the product added directly into the opening. The rod can then be reinstalled by pushing it back in part way into the opening. 
     To apply the product, the user pushes the piston rod. This forces the product out of the handle into the head through the manifold, where it is split into multiple flow paths, and out the openings in the face of the razor. The razor may then be translated across the desired area to be shaved. The user may push more product from the piston assembly as necessary to maintain the optimal comfort and performance level. This process eliminates the need for washing any product off of the user&#39;s hands after application. It also makes it easier to reapply product if going over the same area more than once. 
     A razor according to the present disclosure may provide many advantages. For instance, it may be used in a large number of configurations without replacing the whole razor. This greatly cuts down on waste going to landfills. It allows the user to rapidly try a bunch of different configurations and to shave with a configuration that is optimized for them instead of a standard configuration. It uses inexpensive blades and by stacking them can produce a similar shave to cartridge razors but without all of the cost that goes into assembling the cartridge heads at the factories. The pivot and spring reduce the skill required to use the razor by automatically setting the correct angle between the blades and the skin. The adjustable spring and replaceable spring plunger will save many handles from going to the landfills when the rest of the handle is still usable. The reconfigurable handle allows each razor to be customized to the user&#39;s hands. The magnet eliminates the need for a stand and can be used as a safety tool. The hollow handle and passages through the head reduce the mess from shaving. 
     In light of the principles and example embodiments described in the present disclosure by text and/or illustration, one with skill in the art will recognize that the described embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the principles described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure uses expressions such as “one embodiment” and “another embodiment” to describe embodiment possibilities. However, those expressions are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure to particular embodiment configurations. For instance, those expressions may reference the same embodiment or different embodiments, and those different embodiments are combinable into other embodiments. In view of the wide variety of useful permutations that may be readily derived from the example embodiments described herein, this detailed description is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of coverage.