Patent Publication Number: US-10786915-B2

Title: Shaving blade cartridge and a shaver comprising such shaving blade cartridge

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/079295, filed on Dec. 24, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to shaving blade cartridges and shavers having such shaving blade cartridges. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a shaving blade cartridge including a retainer having an internal surface containing a non-smooth pattern. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Traditional shaving blade cartridges generally include a retainer for retaining a cutting element in the housing of the shaving blade cartridge. For example, the retainer extends through a pair of holes provided in the housing to retain the cutting elements. According to other examples, the retainer surrounds the housing and is received in a groove provided on the housing. Other traditional shavers include a cartridge having an annular clip with two legs which cooperate with two recesses in the housing. Many of the aforementioned retainers retain the cutting element in the housing in one direction and oftentimes do not allow a retaining of the cutting element in all directions, resulting in a free movement of the cutting element which can reduce control of the blade during shaving. The free movement of the cutting element allows for the blade edge position to change with each shaving stroke which results in the change of the shaving angle. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to aspects of the present disclosure, a shaving blade cartridge may include a retainer having an internal surface which may extend in a direction toward the cutting element. The internal surface may be provided with a non-smooth pattern that cooperates with the cutting element. The non-smooth pattern may be an element which may not extend in the continuity of the surfaces directly adjacent to the internal surface. In other words, the non-smooth pattern may form a relief pattern or a relief in the surface of the retainer. 
     The non-smooth patterns formed on the internal surfaces of the cutting elements may assist with reducing lateral movement of the cutting element and may contribute to controlling improvement the position of the cutting element during a shave. 
     Aspects of the disclosure may include one or more of the following features:
         the shaving blade cartridge may include a plurality of cutting elements;   the retainer may include a plurality of non-smooth patterns, and each cutting element may cooperate with one non-smooth pattern; the span between the cutting element (also called inter-blade span) may be better controlled;   the retainer may extend along a transverse axis, the transverse axis may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the direction of extension of the retainer may allow for a better integration of the clips in the shaving blade cartridge and may allow for a better retention of the cutting element;   the non-smooth pattern is may be longitudinal;   the non-smooth pattern may extend along the cutting axis; the non-smooth pattern may cooperate and may be aligned with the cutting element to better maintain the position of the cutting element;   the retainer may include a width along the cutting axis;   the non-smooth pattern may extend along the entire width of the retainer; and may extend along the entire surface of the retainer;   the non-smooth pattern may be longitudinal and may extends along a portion of the width of the retainer; in other words, the non-smooth pattern may not extend along the entire width of the retainer;   the non-smooth pattern may be a groove; the groove may be easy to manufacture;   the cutting edge may extend in the groove; the groove may form an easily identifiable position indicator;   the cutting element may include a tapered shape;   the shape of the groove may be complementary to the shape of the cutting element and due to the complementary shape of the cutting element and the groove, may allow for precise positioning of the cutting element;   the retainer may have a thickness, and the groove may extend inside the thickness of the retainer;   the depth of the groove, in the thickness of the retainer may be less than 50% of the thickness of the retainer; the groove may not be very visible;   the non-smooth pattern may be a bump protruding from the internal surface of the retainer toward the cutting element; the bump may allow for flexible positioning;   the bump may include a half-spherical section; the bump may include a sloped shape;   the bump may be at a non-zero distance of the cutting edge along a transverse axis, the transverse axis may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   the cutting element may include a bump support and the bump may abut against the bump support;   the non-smooth pattern may be the combination of a bump protruding from the internal surface of the retainer toward the cutting element and of a groove;   the retainer may be a clip retaining the cutting element in the housing, the clip may have a clip body located on the top side of the housing, the non-smooth pattern may be provided on the clip body;   the shaving blade cartridge may include two retainers retaining the cutting elements in the housing, each retainer may include an internal surface which may extend in front of the cutting element, the internal surface may be provided with the non-smooth pattern;   the non-smooth pattern of the first retainer and the non-smooth pattern of the second retainer may extend along the cutting axis of the cutting element. In other words, the non-smooth pattern of the first retainer and the non-smooth pattern of the second retainer may extend each, as an extension of the other. The non-smooth pattern of the first retainer may align with of the non-smooth pattern of the second retainer.       

     The present disclosure may also be directed to a shaver including a handle and a shaving blade cartridge as described above, the shaving blade cartridge may be connected to the handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and advantages according to aspects of the present disclosure will readily appear from the following description, provided as non-limitative examples, and shown in the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shaving blade cartridge according to an aspect of the disclosure, 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the cutting elements of the shaving blade cartridge of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a detail of section III in the  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the cutting elements of the shaving blade cartridge according to a second aspect of the disclosure, 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the cutting elements of the shaving blade cartridge according to a third aspect of the disclosure, 
         FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B  are front and side views of the retainer with the non-smooth pattern extending along the entire width of the retainer, 
         FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7B  are front and side views of the retainer with the non-smooth pattern extending along a portion of the width of the retainer, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a shaver including a handle and a shaving blade cartridge. 
     
    
    
     With regards to the figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the disclosure may include a shaving blade cartridge  10  for a wet razor. The wet razor may include a shaver  12  wherein the cutting elements  18  of which may not be driven by a motor relative to the shaving blade cartridge  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the shaving blade cartridge  10  may be attached to a handle  14 . The handle  14  may extend in a handle direction between a proximal portion Pp and a distal portion Dp. The handle  14  may pivot with regard to the shaving blade cartridge  10 . According to some aspects, the handle  14  may also be fixed with regard to the shaving blade cartridge  10 . The handle  14  direction may be curved or include one or several straight portions. The shaving blade cartridge  10  may be non-detachable from the handle  14  or may be releasably connected to the handle  14  through a lock-and-release mechanism (not illustrated). The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include a housing  16  which may, for example, include a connection mechanism adapted to connect to the handle  14 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the shaving blade cartridge  10  may include a housing  16 , a cutting element  18  mounted in the housing  16  and a retainer retaining the cutting element  18  in the housing  16 . 
     The housing  16  may extend longitudinally along a longitudinal axis X-X. Viewed from the top, and as best seen in  FIG. 1 , the housing  16  may have a rectangular general shape. However, in some aspects, the general shape of the housing  16  may be different; for example, the housing  16  may have an oval shape, a square shape, or a circular shape. 
     The housing  16  may include a top side  20 , a bottom side  22  opposite to the top side  20  and two longitudinal sides  24 ,  26 . The two longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  may extend longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X-X between the top and bottom sides  20 ,  22 . For example, the bottom side  22  may be adapted to be arranged in front of the handle  14 , whereas the top side  20  may be arranged opposite to the bottom side  22 . The top side  20  and the bottom side  22  may be parallel to each other. 
     The first longitudinal side  24  (also called front longitudinal side  24 ) and the second longitudinal side  26  (also called rear longitudinal side  26 ) may face each other. The second longitudinal side  26  may be approximately parallel to the first longitudinal side  24 , especially when the two longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  are flat. However, the two longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  may also have subtle or noticeable opposing inclinations. The first and second longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  may also have curved surfaces. The first and second longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  may each extend in a lateral direction Z along a lateral axis Z-Z, between the top side  20  and the bottom side  22  of the housing  16 . The lateral axis Z-Z may intersect the longitudinal axis X-X. For example, the longitudinal axis X-X and the lateral axis Z-Z may be orthogonal to each other. 
     The housing  16  may also include first and second lateral sides  28 ,  30  which may extend between the first and second longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  along a transverse axis Y-Y. The transverse axis Y-Y may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X. The transverse axis Y-Y may be, for example, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X-X and to the lateral axis Z-Z. The first and second lateral sides  28 ,  30  may be arranged, in the lateral direction Z, between the top side  20  and the bottom side  22 . The first and second lateral and longitudinal sides  28 ,  30 ,  24 ,  26 , respectively, may form together the external surface of the housing  16 . 
     The housing  16  may include a plastic material. However, other materials may be used. For example, the housing  16  may include a metallic material. Moreover, the housing  16  may be made with a combination of two or more different materials. For example, a part of the housing  16  may be made in a first material, whereas the other part of the housing  16  may be made with a second material. 
     The housing  16  may include a blade receiving section  32 . The blade receiving section  32  or blade receiving area may have a general rectangular shape when viewed from a top view. The blade receiving section  32  may be arranged on the top side  20  of the housing  16 . The blade receiving section  32  may define a recess and may be adapted to receive the cutting element  18 . More precisely, the blade receiving section  32  may be adapted to receive at least one cutting element  18 . In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8 , the shaving blade cartridge  10  may include three cutting elements  18 . However, according to other aspects, the shaving blade cartridge  10  may include more or less than three cutting elements  18 . For example, the shaving blade cartridge  10  may include five cutting elements  18 . 
     The cutting elements  18  may be mounted in the housing  16  in the blade receiving section  32  between the first and second longitudinal sides  24 ,  26  of the housing  16  and between the first and second lateral sides of the housing  16 . Each cutting element  18  may extend longitudinally along a cutting axis C-C. For example, the cutting C-C axis may coincide with the longitudinal axis X-X. The cutting axis C-C may be parallel to the longitudinal axis or may be angled with the longitudinal axis X-X. Each cutting element  18  may include a first and second end along the cutting axis C-C. The first end of the cutting element  18  may be directed toward the first lateral side of the housing  16 , whereas the second end of the cutting element  18  may be directed toward the second lateral side of the housing  16 . Each cutting element  18  may include a cutting edge  34 . The cutting edge  34  may extend along the cutting axis C-C. The cutting edge  34  of the cutting element  18  may be accessible at the top side  20  of the housing  16  to cut hair during a shave. 
     According to some aspects, the cutting elements  18  may be L-shaped cutting elements  18 , shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . The cutting elements  18  may have a cutting edge portion  35 , a guided portion  36 , and a bent portion  38  which may be intermediate to the cutting edge portion  35  and the guided portion  36 . The cutting element  18  may be provided with the cutting edge portion (or blade element)  35  fixed on a blade support  39  which may include the guided portion  36  and the bent portion  38 . 
     Each cutting element  18  may be freely mounted in the housing  16 . More precisely, the cutting elements  18  may be movably mounted in the blade receiving section  32 . Each cutting element  18  may be, for example, supported by two elastic fingers. The elastic fingers may be molded as a single piece with the housing  16  and may extend in the blade receiving section  32  towards each other and upwardly from both lateral sides of the housing  16 . The guided portions  36  of the cutting elements  18  may be slidingly guided in slots provided in the housing  16 . In case of a blade element  35  on a blade support  39 , the blade support  39  may be carried by the elastic fingers. 
     However, according to other aspects, (not shown on the figures) the cutting elements  18  may be bent blades, as described for instance in patent application WO2013/050606, or curved blades. 
     The cutting element  18  may be retained in the housing  16  by a retainer  40 . The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include two retainers  40  retaining the cutting elements  18  in the housing  16 . The two retainers  40  may be identical. However, the two retainers  40  may be different, and for example, they may have different dimensions, different shapes, or different positioning. The following disclosure details one retainer; however, it should be understood that the disclosure applies to one or both retainers  40 . 
     The retainer  40  may include an internal surface  41  which extends in a direction toward the cutting element  18 . The retainer  40  may extend along the transversal axis Y-Y. 
     The retainer  40  may include a portion in front of the cutting element  18 , and more particularly, the retainer  40  may include a portion facing the cutting edge  34 . The portion of the retainer  40  in front of the cutting edge  34  may form the internal surface  41  of the retainer  40 . The internal surface  41  may be provided with a non-smooth pattern  42  that may cooperate with the cutting element  18 . The internal surface  41  may be sensibly flat and/or smooth and a relief pattern (or non-smooth pattern  42 ) may be provided on the internal surface  41  of the retainer  40 . The non-smooth pattern  42  may be a groove, a bump, a cavity, a wedge portion, a fulcrum portion or other pattern which may interrupt the linear continuity of adjacent portions of the internal surface  41 . In other words, the non-smooth pattern of the retainer  40  may extend outward or inward beyond an adjacent portion of the internal surface  41  of the retainer  40 . For example, a discontinuity may be provided on two sides of the non-smooth pattern  42 . 
     The retainer may also include an external surface  43  opposite to the internal surface  41 . The external surface  43 , or at least a portion of the external surface  43  may be facing the skin of the user during the shaving with the cutting elements  18 . The external surface  43  of the retainer may be smooth and/or flat. 
     The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include a plurality of cutting elements  18  and a plurality of non-smooth pattern  42  may be provided. More particularly, and according to some aspects, a non-smooth pattern  42  may be provided for each cutting element  18 . In some aspects, two or more non-smooth patterns  42  may be provided for each cutting element  18 . 
     The non-smooth pattern  42  may extend along the cutting axis C-C of the cutting element  18 . The retainer  40  may include a width “w” along the cutting axis C-C. According to another aspect, depicted in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the non-smooth pattern  42  may extend along the entire width of the retainer  40 . 
     According to further aspects, depicted in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the non-smooth pattern  42  may extend along a portion of the width of the retainer  40 . The non-smooth pattern  42  may manage the movement of the cutting elements  18  along the cutting axis C-C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  and according to an aspect, the portion of the retainers  40  in front of the cutting edge  34 , or in other words, the interior surface of the retainer  40 , which may be located in front of the cutting edge  34 , may include a groove  42 . The non-smooth pattern  42  may be formed by the groove  42 . 
     Each cutting element  18  may include a groove  42  such that the cutting edge  34  of each cutting element  18  may extend in the groove  42  provided on the interior surface of the retainer  40 . The cutting edge  34  may extend in the groove  42 . The shape of the groove  42  may be complementary to the shape of the cutting element  18 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the groove  42  may have a V-shape, and the tip of the V may correspond to the tip of the cutting element  18 . The cutting element  18  may include a tapered shape toward the cutting edge  34 , and the shape of the groove  42  may be complementary to the tapered shape. The groove  42  may have a “control” function and may limit the motion of the cutting elements  18 , for example, during shaving, and/or to ensure a constant distance between the cutting edges  34 . The groove  42  design may be made to prevent the cutting edge  34  from moving beyond a rest position (i.e. when the cutting element  18  is not subject at any external forces). The groove  42  may have, for example, a first wall  48  (or perpendicular wall) which may be perpendicular to the internal surface  41  of the retainer  40 , and a second wall  50  (or ramp wall) which may have a ramp shape. The perpendicular wall  48  may prevent the cutting edge  34  from moving beyond the rest position, in a direction opposite to the direction of the bottom side  22 . The ramp wall  50  of the groove  42  may allow the cutting element  18  to move toward the bottom side  22  of the housing  16  and return back to the rest position upon returning from movement during shaving. The groove  42  may not go completely through the entire width ‘w’ of the retainer  40 , such as depicted in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , wherein the tip of the cutting element  18  may abut against the groove  42  which controls the movement along the cutting axis C-C. 
     During a shave (or shortly before), the skin of the user may exert a force on the cutting elements  18  which may therefore be pushed toward the bottom side  22  of the housing  16 . Hence, during shaving, the cutting element  18  may not be in contact with the retainer  40 . The ramp wall  50  of the groove  42  may accompany the motion of the cutting element  18  toward the bottom side  22 . After shaving, when a force may not be_applied to the cutting element  18  and upon the last return of the cutting element  18  to the rest position, the cutting element  18  may be in contact with the retainer  40  and the cutting edge  34  may extend in the groove  42 . 
     The retainer  40  may have a thickness “t” along the lateral axis Z-Z and the groove  42  may extend inside the thickness of the retainer  40 . For example, the depth of the groove  42  may be less than 50% of the thickness of the retainer  40 . The thickness of the groove  42  may be less than 35% of the thickness of the retainer  40 . 
     According to another aspect, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the interior surface of the retainer  40  may be provided with a bump. The non-smooth pattern  42  may be a bump. The bump may protrude from the interior surface of the retainer  40 , and more particularly from the retainer body. The bump may be a half-sphere shape or may be a beam or a rib along the width “w” of the retainer  40 . The bump may be integrally formed with the retainer  40 . According to some aspects, the bump may be an added portion. For example, the bump may be welded, glued or fitted to the retainer  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each cutting element  18  may correspond with a respective bump. The bump may be offset from the cutting edge  34 , such that the bump may be arranged between the cutting edge  34  and the guided portion  36  of the cutting element  18 . In other words, the bump may be positioned at a non-zero distance of the cutting edge  34  along the transverse axis Y-Y. The bump may abut against a part of the cutting element  18  or against a bump support provided on the cutting element  18 , such that the bump may limit a rotational motion of the cutting element  18  during shaving. 
     According to further aspects, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the interior surface of the retainer  40  may be provided with both a bump and a groove. The non-smooth pattern  42  may thus be formed by the combination of the bump and of the groove. The groove may be arranged in the continuity of the bump, such that the bump and the groove form a sloped surface. The internal surface  41  of the cutting element  18  may abut against the bump whereas the cutting edge  34  of the cutting element  18  may cooperate with the groove. 
     The shaving blade cartridge  10  may be provided with two retainers  40 . The non-smooth pattern  42  of the first retainer  40  and the non-smooth pattern  42  of the second retainer  40  may be the same or may be different. For example, the first clip may have a non-smooth pattern  42  whereas the second clip may not have a non-smooth pattern  42 . 
     The non-smooth pattern  42  of the first retainer  40  and the non-smooth pattern  42  of the second retainer  40  may extend along the cutting axis C-C, one as an extension of the other. In other words, the direction of extension of a non-smooth pattern  42  of the first retainer  40  and the direction of extension of a non-smooth pattern  42  of the second retainer  40  may be the same. If the non-smooth pattern  42  are grooves, the grooves of the second retainer  40  may extend along the same direction as the grooves of the first retainer  40 . 
     According to further aspects, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the retainer  40  may be a clip. The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include two retainers, i.e. two clips. 
     The distance between the two clips may be smaller than the length of the cutting element  18 , such that the first and the second clip may each have a portion which may be in front of the cutting elements  18 . The portions of the clips in front of the cutting element  18  may retain the cutting element  18  and may include the non-smooth pattern  42 . The portion of clips in front of the cutting element  18  may abut against the cutting element  18  when the cutting elements  18  may be in a rest-position (i.e. when no external force is applied to the shaving blade cartridge  10 ). 
     In addition, the retainer  40  (or clip) may include an aluminum alloy material and the cutting element  18  may include a steel alloy material. 
     Clips, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8  include a first leg, a second leg and a clip body  45 . The clip body  45  may extend between the first and second legs. The clip body  45 , first leg and second leg may form a one-piece part. The clip may be made of a formable material, for example, a thin sheet of suitable metal. However, other materials may be considered. The width of the clip may be constant along the length of the clip. The clip may be made of metal material, for example, thin metal. According to some aspects, a leg of the clip may surround the first longitudinal side  24  of the housing  16 , and at least a portion of the bottom side  22  of the housing  16 . In other words, a portion of the clip may be wrapped around a portion of the housing  16 . A leg of the clip may also be received in a through hole provided in the housing  16 . 
     According to further aspects, the retainer  40  may have other shapes. For example, the retainer  40  may be fixed to the housing  16  by snap-fitting, press-fitting or may also be welded to the housing  16 . The retainer  40  may also be a clip with a leg including a recess and the recess may cooperate with a protrusion provided in the housing  16 . The retainer  40  may be provided with a body facing the cutting element  18  and without a leg. The retainer  40  may also be retained on the housing  16  by a rivet. 
     The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include a guard  44 . The guard  44  may be located forward of the cutting element  18 . More particularly, the guard  44  may be located forward of the cutting edge  34 . The guard  44  may be located toward the first longitudinal side  24  (the first longitudinal side  24  may also be called rear longitudinal side). The guard  44  may extend along the longitudinal axis X-X. 
     The shaving blade cartridge  10  may include a cap  46 . The cap  46  may be located rearward of the cutting edge  34 . The cap  46  may be located toward the first longitudinal side  28 . For example, the cap  46  may be provided on a rear element. The rear element may have a T-shape or U-shape with a leg of the rear element fitted inside the housing  16 . The leg may be press-fitted or snap-fitted inside the housing  16 . However, according to other aspects, the rear element may be fastened to the housing  16  by others methods or means like glue or overmoulding.