Patent Abstract:
Shaving razors and cartridges are featured that include one or more shaving aid portions. In some instances, the razors and cartridges include a shaving aid holder, configured to allow the shaving aid portion to deflect when pressure is applied to a surface of the shaving aid portion during shaving.

Full Description:
Under 35 USC §120, this application relies on the earlier filing date of application Ser. No. 11/366,228, filed on Mar. 2, 2006, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/969,373, filed on Oct. 20, 2004. 
   CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation, and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/969,373, filed Oct. 20, 2004 now abandoned, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to shaving razors and cartridges. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Razors for wet shaving typically include a blade unit carried by a handle, the blade unit including an elongate blade with a rectilinear sharpened edge, or a plurality of such blades with parallel edges. The blade unit may be fixedly mounted on the handle with the intention that the entire razor be discarded when the blade edge or edges have become dulled. Alternatively, the blade unit can be detachably connected to the handle to enable replacement of a used blade unit with a fresh blade unit. Replaceable blade units are commonly referred to as cartridges. 
   Some shavers, in particular women, use this type of razor in the shower. For example, when shaving her legs a woman will often apply a film or lather of soap to an area of skin to be shaved, shave that area, apply soap to another area, and shave that area. This process is repeated until shaving is complete. Shaving in this manner may be difficult and frustrating, as it generally requires the shaver to hold a wet bar of soap in one hand while wielding a razor in the other hand, often while standing in an awkward position on a slippery shower floor. 
   Attempts have been made to address this problem by providing soap mounted on a razor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,690 describes a razor that carries a shaving preparation, e.g., in the form of a solid cake of soap that surrounds the cartridge. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention features razors and razor cartridges that deliver a shaving aid to a user&#39;s skin during shaving. In some implementations, the shaving aid includes a lubricating shaving preparation, allowing a user to easily shave in the shower or bath, without having to juggle a razor and a separate bar of soap. The razors provide good shaving performance, are comfortable to use, and tend to track well on the user&#39;s skin. In some implementations, the razors are configured to be easy to use in confined or hard to reach areas. In preferred razors, the cartridge is pivotally mounted on the handle, providing good maneuverability during shaving. 
   In one aspect, the invention features a shaving cartridge including (a) a housing having a front edge and a rear edge; (b) one or more shaving blades between the front edge and the rear edge; and (c) a shaving aid holder, carrying at least one solid shaving aid portion, mounted on said housing, the shaving aid holder being configured to allow the shaving aid portion to deflect when pressure is applied to a surface of the shaving aid portion during shaving. 
   In another aspect, the invention features a shaving cartridge including (a) a housing having a front edge and a rear edge; (b) one or more shaving blades between the front edge and the rear edge; and (c) a shaving aid holder, carrying a pair of solid shaving aid portions, mounted on said housing, wherein the two shaving aid portions have different compositions. 
   In a further aspect, the invention features a shaving cartridge including (a) a housing having a front edge and a rear edge; (b) one or more shaving blades between the front edge and the rear edge; and (c) a shaving aid holder, carrying at least one solid shaving aid portion, mounted on said housing, wherein the housing has a pair of side edges, and the shaving aid portion extends from 0 to 2 mm beyond each of the side edges. 
   In another aspect, the invention features a shaving razor including: a handle, and, pivotally mounted on the handle, a cartridge having any of the features described above. 
   The invention also features methods of shaving. For example, the invention features methods of shaving including contacting the skin with any of the razor cartridges described above. Some methods further include applying water to the skin during shaving. 
   The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the head and neck portion of a razor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the head and neck portion shown in  FIG. 1 , viewed from the back. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the razor of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the holder portion of the cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 , viewed from above. 
       FIG. 3A  is a persective view of the holder shown in  FIG. 3 , viewed from below. 
       FIGS. 3B ,  3 C and  3 D are, respectively, top, front and side views of the holder shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3E  is a side view showing the wings of the holder in a deflected position (the side mounts are shown in their normal position in  FIG. 3D ). 
       FIGS. 4-4C  are, respectively, perspective, top, front and side views of the holder with the shaving aid portions removed. 
       FIGS. 5-5C  are, respectively, perspective, top, front and side views of the holder with the shaving aid portions and elastomeric portions removed. 
       FIGS. 6 and 6A  are perspective views of a connecting member used to connect the cartridge to the handle in the razor shown in  FIG. 1 , taken from different angles. 
       FIGS. 7 and 7A  are, respectively, perspective and end views of the blade unit of the razor shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view, taken from the rear, of the blade unit of  FIGS. 7 and 7A  connected to a handle by the connecting member shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . 
       FIGS. 9-9B  are, respectively, exploded, top and side views of a handle connecting structure at the upper end of the handle shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the connecting member shown in  FIGS. 6-6A . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the corresponding portion of the handle connecting structure shown in  FIGS. 9-9A , taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 9A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a shaving razor  10  includes a disposable cartridge  12  and a handle  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , cartridge  12  includes a connecting member  18 , which removably connects cartridge  12  to a connecting portion  19  of handle  14 , a blade unit  16 , which is pivotally connected to connecting member  18 , and a shaving aid holder  30  mounted on the blade unit  16 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the blade unit  16  includes a plastic housing  20 , a guard  22  at the front of housing  20 , and blades  28  between guard  22  and the rear of housing  20 . 
   The blade unit  16  is similar to blade units described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,907, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The handle  14  is similar to those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,855,071, 5,956,851 and 6,052,903, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The connecting member  18  that is used to connect blade unit  16  to handle  14  is discussed below. 
   As will be discussed in further detail below, the holder  30  carries a pair of shaving aid portions  31 A,  31 B. The front shaving aid portion  31 A contacts the skin in front of the blades, i.e., before shaving, and the rear shaving aid portion  31 B contacts the skin behind the blades. Thus, the shaving aid portions may have different compositions, for example the front shaving aid portion may include shave preparation ingredients such as lubricants, while the rear portion may include skin soothing and conditioning ingredients such as emollients and moisturizers. 
   The shaving aid portions are mounted so that they will resiliently deflect upon contact with the skin, from a normal, undeflected position ( FIG. 3D ) to a flexed position ( FIG. 3E ). This deflection allows the razor to be easily used in hard to reach or confined areas, such as the armpit (axilla) or behind the knee. Deflection of the shaving aid portion also prevents premature wear of the shaving aid portion and discomfort to the user in cases where the user applies excessive pressure during shaving. Preferably, the angle of deflection (angle A,  FIG. 3E ) is at least about 10 degrees, e.g., from about 10 to 60 degrees, typically about 20 to 40 degrees. Angle A is measured by drawing a line from a pivot point P located in the approximate center of the elastomeric hinge to the highest point on the shaving aid portion  31 A when the shaving aid portion is in its undeflected position, and measuring the angle between this line when the shaving aid portion is in its undeflected position and the same line when the shaving aid portion is deflected to its design limit. The resilient mounting of the shaving aid portions will be discussed in further detail below. The heights H 1  and H 2  of the shaving aid portions in the undeflected position ( FIG. 3D ) will vary, but may be, for example, from about 1 to 4 mm, e.g., about 1.5 to 3.0 mm. H 1  and H 2  are generally within about 0 to 50% of each other. Generally, the heights of the two shaving aid portions will be proportional to the wear rates of the compositions used, so that the shaving aid portions will be exhausted at approximately the same time. 
   The holder  30  may be mounted so that it is removable from the cartridge body by the consumer (e.g., if the consumer wishes to add a shaving aid holder to a cartridge that does not include one), or, alternatively, may be permanently mounted on the cartridge body or integrally molded with the cartridge body. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5C , the holder  30  clips onto the cartridge by engagement of clips  32  and  34  ( FIG. 3A ) with the back surface  37  of the housing  20  of the blade unit, as shown in  FIG. 1A . The holder  30  may be engaged with the housing by sliding the housing under clips  34  and then deflecting clips  32  to snap them in place. 
   Various features of the cartridge  12  will now be described in further detail. 
   Structure of the Shaving Aid Holder 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , shaving aid holder  30  includes a frame member  36  that extends around the periphery of the cartridge body when the holder  30  is in place. Generally, frame member  36  is formed of a molded plastic. Preferably, the sides  38  of the frame member extend over side regions of the cartridge body, to securely hold the holder in place. Sides  38  should generally be sufficiently thin, adjacent the blade ends, so that shaving performance is not compromised. Preferably, a ramped area is provided between the very thin edges  40  adjacent the blade ends to an area outboard of the edges. For example, the sides  38  generally have a thickness of less than 0.15 mm at edges  40 , and less than 0.4 mm at line L, about 0.5 mm inboard of edges  40 . This ramped area  59  provides rails  61 , between line L and the outer side edge  63  of the holder  30 , that may enhance tracking of the razor during use. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3D ,  4 - 4 C and  5 - 5 C, shaving aid portions  31 A and  31 B are carried on a pair of wings  42 ,  44 . Wings  42 ,  44  may be formed of the same plastic as the frame, or may be formed of a different material. For example, the wings may be formed of the same material as the hinges  52 ,  54  ( FIG. 4A , discussed below) that join the wings and frame. In this case, the wings and hinges may be overmolded onto the frame in a single molding step. 
   The wings include a plurality of apertures  46  ( FIG. 4A ) that allow the shaving aid to flow through the thickness of the wing and form a mechanical interlock (e.g., by flowing together to form a unitary mass) on the back side of the wing, securing the shaving aid to the wing. 
   Elastomeric bumpers  48 ,  50  are provided at the corners of the wings, underlying the shaving aid portions, so that as the shaving aid portions are exhausted the user&#39;s skin will contact elastomer rather than hard plastic. Generally, the elastomeric bumpers have a thickness T ( FIG. 5B ) of at least 1 mm, e.g., about 1.5 to 3 mm. Preferably, the elastomer is relatively soft for user comfort and so that the hinge will have a soft flex. For example, the elastomer may have a hardness of less than about 50 Shore A, e.g., less than about 40 Shore A. The elastomer may be, for example, a block copolymer such as those available under the tradename KRATON. Preferably, the elastomer has sufficient chemical resistance so that it will not degrade during prolonged contact with the ingredients of the shaving aid composition. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5C , even in their normal, undeflected position, the wings  42 ,  44  curve downward, well below the plane defined by the blade edges. This curvature allows the wings to carry a relatively large amount of soap, without the upper surface of the shaving aid portion extending too far above the plane of the blade edges or the lowest area of the shaving aid portion being too low to ever contact the skin during use. Generally, the lowest point on each of the wings  42 ,  44  is at least about 1 mm below the plane defined by the blade edges, e.g., about 2 to 6 mm below this plane. If desired, e.g., if the shaving aid is relatively wear resistant, the wings may extend relatively straight from the frame. 
   Resilient Mounting of Shaving Aid Portions 
   Wings  42 ,  44  are resiliently mounted on the frame member  36 , to allow deflection of the shaving aid portions  31 A,  31 B during shaving, from the normal position shown in  FIG. 3D  to the deflected position shown in  FIG. 3E . Flexible hinges  52 ,  54  ( FIG. 4A ) provide this resilient connection between the wings and the frame. 
   Preferably, hinges  52 ,  54  are formed of an elastomeric material, e.g., a block copolymer. Typically, the hinges are formed of the same elastomeric material as the elastomeric bumpers  48 ,  50  discussed above. The elastomeric material is generally selected to provide a soft flex, so that the wings deflect readily upon contact with the user&#39;s skin, while also providing a good spring return to the wings. For example, the elastomeric material may have a flexural modulus of about 100 to 300 psi. The modulus that will provide the desired product characteristics will depend upon the thickness T and length L ( FIG. 4C ) of the hinges. The thickness and length of the two hinges can be the same or different, and these dimensions and the elastomeric material used can be selected to give the two wings desired flexural characteristics. The thickness of the hinges may be, for example, from about 0.5 to 2.0 mm and the length may be from about 0.5 to 3.0 mm. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-4C , the hinges extend almost the full width of the holder  30 . However, if desired, the hinges may be narrower or may consist of discontinuous hinge portions. 
   The elastomeric hinges may be overmolded onto the frame. To assist in this process, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-5C , the frame is connected to each of the wings by a pair of connecting members  56  that extend integrally from the frame to the wings ( FIG. 5A ). If desired, these connecting members may be cut after overmolding has been completed. Alternatively, the wings and frame may be separate components that are placed in an insert mold and overmolded with elastomer. Forming the hinges solely of elastomer (i.e., substantially free of rigid plastic) may result in a softer flexing hinge in some cases. 
   Contouring of Shaving Aid Portions 
   Referring to  FIG. 3D , the front shaving aid portion  31 A includes a ramped leading surface  33  that is contoured to cause the shaving aid portion to deflect upon skin contact, so that the cartridge will not rock back when shaving aid portion  31 A contacts the skin during shaving. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 3C , a leading edge  110  of the shaving aid portion  31 A has a first thickness t 1  adjacent the side surfaces of the holder  30 , and tapers to a second, lesser thickness t 2  adjacent a center region of the shaving aid portion. This shape allows the front shaving aid portion to have the ramped leading surface  33 , while still providing as much shaving aid as possible adjacent the side surfaces. If desired, the entire leading edge could have the lesser thickness t 2 . The front face  35  of the shaving aid portion  31 A includes smoothly curved, arcuate side areas  37 A,  37 B, to enhance the soap-deflecting contour of leading surface  33  and to avoid edges and corners that could be uncomfortable during shaving and facilitate shaving of tight areas such as the underarm and behind the knee. Similarly, the intersections  39  of leading surface  33  and front face  35  are smoothly radiused. 
   Both the front shaving aid portion  31 A and the rear shaving aid portion  31 B are contoured so that the upper surface of each shaving aid portion (surface  41  of shaving aid portion  31 A and surface  43  of shaving aid portion  31 B) lies relatively flat against the user&#39;s skin when the wing  44  is deflected. This flat position, shown in  FIG. 3E , allows as much shaving aid as possible to be in contact with the user&#39;s skin during shaving. 
   Ease of Shaving 
   Shaving aid portions  31 A,  31 B have a width W at their widest point ( FIG. 3B ) that is equal to or slightly less than the width of the frame  36  of the holder  30 . Thus, the shaving aid portions do not extend beyond the side walls of the frame  36 . As a result, the area around the side walls of the frame is unobstructed, allowing the shaver to determine, by sight and/or tactile sensation, what area has been shaved. If desired, the shaving aid portions may extend slightly beyond the side walls of the frame, e.g., by 2 mm or less on each side. 
   Shaving is also facilitated by rails  61  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 B), discussed above, which can engage the user&#39;s skin during shaving, potentially enhancing tracking of the cartridge. 
   Pivoting Cartridge/Handle Connection 
   As discussed above, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , razor  10  includes a disposable cartridge  12  and a handle  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , cartridge  12  includes a connecting member  18 , which removably connects cartridge  12  to a connecting portion  19  of handle  14 , and a blade unit  16 , which is pivotally connected to connecting member  18 . 
   Connecting member  18  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 6-6A . Connecting member  18  includes a base  127 , which removably and fixedly attaches to an extension  126  ( FIG. 9 ) on handle  14 , and two arms  128  that pivotally support blade unit  16  at its two sides, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Thus, base  127  connects to the connecting portion  19  of handle  14 , while arms  128  connect to the blade unit  16 , as will be discussed in further detail below. A flexible spring return  145  extends from base  127  and acts against a cam surface on blade unit  16 , causing the blade unit  16  to have a forward-biased at-rest orientation. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the spring return includes a bend  200  that facilitates molding of the base  127 . 
   First, the connection of the arms  128  to the blade unit  16  will be described, with reference to  FIGS. 6-8 . 
   Referring first to  FIG. 7A , extensions  134 ,  136  are located at the bottom of housing  20  of the blade unit. Extensions  134 ,  136  carry inwardly extending opposed curved rails  138 ,  141  having respective curved surfaces  420 ,  440 . The undersurfaces  460 ,  480  of housing  20  are similarly curved and provide, with extensions  134 ,  136 , a pivotal connecting structure, as described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,488,357; 4,498,235; 4,492,025; 4,573,266; 4,586,255, 4,756,082 which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   The curved rails  138 ,  141 , in conjunction with undersurfaces  460 ,  480  of housing  20 , define arcuate slots  98 ,  100 , which are adapted to receive arms  128  of connecting member  18  ( FIG. 6 ). Arms  128  define shell bearing surfaces which engage undersurfaces  460 ,  480 . Thus, arms  128  or “shell bearings” cooperate with the surfaces  460 ,  480  to facilitate pivotal connection of the blade assembly to the razor handle  14 . This mating engagement is referred to herein as a “shell bearing connection.” 
   The top surfaces of rails  138 ,  141  and housing undersurfaces  460 ,  480  have radii of curvature about a pivot axis, which may be, for example, located at the cutting edge of the second blade  201  of the blade unit ( FIG. 7 ). The curved surfaces  420 ,  440  of extensions  134 ,  136  are similarly curved about the pivot axis. Shaving aid holder  30  includes cut out areas  70  ( FIG. 3A ) to provide clearance for the pivoting movement provided by these complementary surfaces. 
   The shell bearings have stop surfaces (not shown) that provide a forward pivot stop position and a rearward pivot stop position, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,907. The shell bearings also have recesses (not shown) that mate with stop surfaces  135 ,  137  ( FIG. 7A ) formed on the respective curved undersurfaces  460 ,  480  to complement the rearward pivot stop position to prevent further “downward” travel. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , cam surface  250  is formed in the bottom of housing  20 . Surface  250  has two oppositely inclined surfaces of the same size and an apex located at a position midway between the front and the back of cam surface  250 . Cam surface  250  permits the blade unit to pivot forward or rearward to the same extent during shaving, and is adapted to receive spring  145  to bias the cartridge within the range of overall rotation, e.g., through a 40 to 45 degree arc. 
   Now, the connection of the base  127  to the connecting portion  19  of handle  14  will be described, with reference to  FIGS. 6-6A  and  9 - 11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 10 , base  127  has a handle-receiving region  132  that is partially defined by inwardly directed surfaces  134 . Connection entrance  136  ( FIG. 10 ) provides access to handle-receiving region  132 . Inwardly directed surfaces  134  mate with outwardly directed surfaces  138  ( FIG. 11 ) on extension  126  of handle  14 . Base  127  also has an angled recess region  140  for receiving angled surface  142  on handle  14 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 11 , base  127  has a latching member  244  formed in the bottom wall  246  of the base. Latching member  244  has a cantilevered beam structure, and is connected to bottom wall  246  at base region  248 . Latching member  244  tends to pivot upon being subjected to a force with an outward component at the free end at engagement members  154  (i.e., to the left along connection axis  76  in  FIG. 10 ), as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,851, incorporated by reference above. Bottom wall  246  also has grooves  256  to promote pivoting of latching member  44 . 
   Two projections  158  ( FIGS. 6A and 10 ) extend upward from latching member  244  for interacting with depressions  160  formed in the lower surface of extension  126  of handle  14  ( FIG. 11 ). Each projection  158  has a front blocking surface  162 , a top surface  164 , and an angled camming surface  166 , which makes about a 45 degree angle with connection axis  76  along which extension  126  moves during connection to and retraction from base  127 . Other angles, e.g., between 30 and 60 degrees, could also be used. Depressions  160  similarly have front surfaces  168  for interacting with front blocking surface  162 , top surface  170  and rear angled surface  172  for receiving top surface  164  and camming surface  166 , respectively, of projections  158 . Front blocking surface  162  of projection  158  makes about a 90 degree angle with connection axis  76 . 
   The interaction of the components of handle  14  and cartridge  12  during connection and disconnection of cartridge  12  to handle  14  is discussed in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,851, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference above. Briefly, as extension  126  of handle  14  is moved into the handle-receiving region  132 , sloping surface  90  ( FIG. 11 ) of extension  126  rides over camming surface  166 . This causes latch member  244 , and in particular projection  158  thereon, to move downward along a deflection axis which is substantially perpendicular to connection axis  76  and the direction of insertion. 
   When sloping surface  90  has advanced past projection  158 , and latching member  244  has moved up to the latched position in which projection  158  has snapped up into depression  160  of extension  126 , cartridge  12  is securely attached to handle  14  with little likelihood of unintended detachment during use. The attachment is particularly secure due to interference of surface  168  ( FIG. 11 ) on handle  14  with blocking surface  162  ( FIG. 10 ) on cartridge  12 . Surfaces  162  and  168  are substantially perpendicular to axis  76  along which extension  126  needs to be moved relative to base  127  to disconnect the two. Thus very large forces along axis  76  would need to be exerted to disconnect cartridge  12  from handle  14  if one does not first unlatch latching member  244 . 
   The connecting portion  19  of handle  14  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 9-9B  and  11 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cartridge support structure  142  extends from the end of handle  14 . Cartridge support structure  142  includes the trapezoidal extension  126 , discussed above, and components that provide for ejection of cartridge  12  from handle  14 . 
   Spring-biased plunger  144 , spring  146 , and U-shaped ejector  148  are received within recess  149  of cartridge support structure  142 . Ejector button  150  is received in opening  152  on the top surface of support structure  142  and has bottom extensions  154  that are received within rectangular region  156  at the back narrow portion of ejector  148 . These components are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,071, the disclosure of which was incorporated by reference above. Ejector  148  is slidably mounted within a recess within the handle connecting structure of handle  14 , and can be moved forward slightly by activating button  150  on handle  14 . 
   When the user wishes to disconnect cartridge  12  from handle  14 , button  150  is moved relative to extension  126  in the unlatched direction, and this causes ejector  148  to be moved along axis  76  in the ejection direction. Ejector  148  ( FIG. 11 ) pushes engagement members  154  outward, causing projection  158  to move downward as latching member  244  bends at base region  248 . This downward movement causes projection  158  to clear depression  160  and to release extension  126  from latching member  244  so that extension  126  moves relative to base  127  in the retraction direction. A new cartridge may then be mounted on the handle by inserting the connecting portion  19  of the handle into the handle-receiving region  132  as discussed above. 
   Shaving Aid Formulations 
   Any desired formulation may be used to form the shaving aid portions. Preferably, the shaving aid portions have sufficient wear resistance so that the shaving aid portions last for the intended life of the cartridge. However, if desired, the shaving aid holder may be removable and replaceable by the consumer, in which case the shaving aid portions may be exhausted before it is necessary to replace the cartridge. 
   In some instances, the shaving aid portions may include soap, e.g., poured or extruded soap. Such soap-based compositions may be modified to increase their hardness, wear resistance, lubricity and/or skin moisturizing and conditioning properties. 
   Wear Indicators 
   If desired, the shaving aid portions may serve as a wear indicator, indicating to the user when the cartridge should be replaced. In the simplest implementation, the shaving aid portions can be formulated to be exhausted at the end of the intended life of the cartridge, as discussed above, so that running out of shaving aid will indicate to the user that the cartridge should be replaced. In other implementations, the shaving aid portions may include an embedded indicia, e.g., a logo or word, that appears when a predetermined amount of shaving aid has been washed away, or an indicia may be embossed on the shaving aid, which disappears as the shaving aid is used. In these cases, appearance or disappearance, respectively, of the indicia would indicate to the user that the cartridge should be replaced. Similarly, a lubricating strip may be mounted on one or both of the wings, underlying the shaving aid portion(s). In this case, as the shaving aid is exhausted the lubricating strip will be revealed, indicating that the cartridge should be replaced. The lubricating strip will provide the added benefit of lubrication and skin conditioning during the period of time until the user is able to replace the cartridge. 
   Other Embodiments 
   Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 
   For example, while particular cartridge and handle types have been discussed above, the shaving aid holder may be used with any desired type of cartridge and/or handle. If a different cartridge shape is used, the shape of the frame of the shaving aid holder and/or the dimensions of the shaving aid holder may be adjusted accordingly. 
   Moreover, while two shaving aid portions are shown in the figures and described above, if desired the shaving aid holder may include only a single shaving aid portion, e.g., the front shaving aid portion if only a shave preparation composition is desired, or the rear portion if only skin conditioning is desired (for example, if the user will be using a separate shave prepartion such as a bar of soap or a shave gel). In this case, the shaving aid holder will generally include only a single wing member and flexible hinge. 
   Additionally, while the wings described above include apertures to secure the shaving aid in place, solid wings may be used if the shaving aid exhibits adequate adhesion to the wings or is attached to the wings in a different manner. Also, while the flexible hinges described above are formed of an elastomeric material, in some cases the hinges may be formed of rigid plastic, e.g., “living hinges.” 
   In some embodiments, the cartridge may include a cap with a lubricating strip, e.g., mounted in a slot at the rear of the cartridge housing. The lubricating strip may be made of a material comprising a mixture of a hydrophobic material and a water leachable hydrophilic polymer material, as is known in the art and described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,585 and 5,454,164, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8