Patent Abstract:
A razor maintenance device with a container, a dripping holder, olive oil, and a mesh. The dripping holder is disposed above the level of the olive oil in the container, therein allowing a razor that had been soaking in the olive oil to be placed in the dripping holder and subsequently drip dry.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    None 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Technical Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The disclosure generally relates to razor maintenance devices, and more specifically to a razor maintenance device with olive oil, a dripping holder, and a removable mesh lining. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    The disclosure relates generally to razor maintenance devices, and the components thereof. 
         [0009]    One previous approach to submerge used razor cartridges in a baby or mineral oil, enhanced with fragrances and germicides, and seal the container for transport. A problem with this approach was that, even with the sealable top, the contents would not always be fully prevented from spreading outside the container. 
         [0010]    Another approach was to place a razor inside mineral oil and rapidly move the razor, thus hopefully removing any water from the razor. Similar to the previously described approach, a problem with this approach was that it would sometimes result in a mess of oil. 
         [0011]    Another approach was to use a support that contained mineral oil to house the razor. The razor was subsequently leaned against the support to allow the oil to drip from the razor to the container. A problem with this approach is that oil dripping from the razor may drip into the container or it may drip down the handle of the razor. 
         [0012]    Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a recognizable unmet need for a razor maintenance device that is easy to use, minimizes the chance of making a mess, prevents corrosion of shaving razors, and is easy to clean. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present apparatus and method overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing an apparatus that is easy to use and clean, does not make a mess, minimizes corrosion of shaving razors. The razor maintenance device has a container, a dripping holder, oil, and a wire basket. The dripping holder is placed above the oil, thereby allowing a razor that had been in the oil to be dripped dry. 
         [0014]    According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present apparatus in its preferred form is a razor maintenance device, with a container filled with oil, and a dripping holder, the dripping holder being located within the container. The container also has a wire basket with a handle, the wire basket also located within the container. 
         [0015]    The dripping holder preferably has a plurality of teeth, back supports and side supports, and empty channels between the teeth and back supports that allow oil to drip from the razor back into the container. The dripping holder further has neckwalls to provide stability to razors that have been placed therein. The dripping holder is preferably configured to be placed in the container such that the dripping holder is not disposed within the oil. 
         [0016]    In a preferred method of use, after a razor is utilized, it is dried and then placed within the oil in the razor maintenance device. Subsequently, the razor is removed and placed in the dripping holder above the oil in the container. After most of the oil drips off the razor, thus returning to the container, the razor is ready to be utilized again. A wire basket is preferably disposed inside the container to catch any debris and/or whiskers that may become dislodged from the razor. The wire basket may periodically be emptied of debris. 
         [0017]    More specifically, the present disclosure of a preferred embodiment is a razor maintenance device that has a container with oil, a dripping holder, and a wire basket. The container has a rim, an outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall. The dripping holder has a body, teeth, back supports, side supports, channel(s), an underside, an end, sides, and a neck, the neck having neckwalls. The wire basket has a handle, a bottom, a mesh-siding, and a top. 
         [0018]    The neckwalls protrude from the neck to provide a razor stability as the razor is placed between the neckwalls in the dripping holder. The side supports provide the head of the razor similar stability. 
         [0019]    The teeth and back supports protrude from the end, and the side supports protrude from the sides. The channels are vacant areas between the teeth and/or the back supports that allow the razor to drip-dry of oil. Depending on the orientation of the dripping holder, in use, after the razor is removed from the olive oil, the head of the razor is preferably disposed on the teeth of dripping holder. The dripping holder preferably has two side supports and three smaller teeth that are disposed approximately evenly between two larger back supports, thus creating four channels. Alternatively, the dripping holder may have two side supports and five smaller teeth that are disposed approximately evenly between two larger back supports, thus creating six channels. However, it will be recognized that variations of this arrangement may still provide the same or similar functionality. 
         [0020]    The wire basket is preferably placed within the container, the mesh-siding of the wire basket being disposed near the inner side wall of the container. The oil level is preferably disposed below the top of the wire basket and above the head of the razor, when the razor is placed within the oil. 
         [0021]    The razor is placed within the dripping holder, and the dripping holder is preferably placed within the container, wherein the contact between the dripping holder&#39;s sides and the container&#39;s inner sidewall prevent the dripping holder from falling in the olive oil. In an alternate disposition, the dripping holder is placed on the container, wherein the dripping holder&#39;s underside rests on the top of the container. 
         [0022]    In use, the method of using the razor maintenance device involves placing oil, preferably olive oil, in the container of the razor maintenance device. After the razor is utilized, the razor is preferably dried then placed in the oil. Subsequently the razor is removed from the oil and placed in the dripping holder, which is preferably placed inside the container or above the container. The razor is removed from the dripping holder, and subsequently utilized. While the razor is removed from the container, the wire basket is removed so that the debris can be removed, preferably by a user grabbing the handle, removing the wire basket, and dumping the debris in the trash. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the razor maintenance device is protecting against corrosion of razor blades. 
         [0024]    Another feature and advantage of the razor maintenance device is that it allows razors to naturally dry before use. 
         [0025]    Still another feature and advantage of the razor maintenance device is that it can be refilled with easy to find products. 
         [0026]    Yet another feature and advantage of the razor maintenance device is that it can be easily cleaned. 
         [0027]    These and other features and advantages of the razor maintenance device will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following Summary, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Detailed Drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The present razor maintenance device will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a razor maintenance device; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the dripping holder of the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1 , with a razor submerged in olive oil; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1 , with a razor resting in the dripping holder above the olive oil; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate disposition of the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting how the razor maintenance device of  FIG. 1  is preferably utilized. 
       
    
    
       [0036]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , by way of example, and not limitation, there is illustrated an example embodiment razor maintenance device  100 , wherein razor maintenance device  100  comprises olive oil O, container  120 , dripping holder  200 , and wire basket  300 . Container  120  comprises rim  130 , outer sidewall  140 , and inner sidewall  150 . Dripping holder  200  comprises body  220 , teeth  230 , back supports  240 , side supports  250 , channel  260 , underside  270 , end  280 , sides  290 , and neck  210 , wherein neck  210  comprises neckwalls  215 . Wire basket  300  comprises handle  310 , bottom  320 , mesh-siding  330 , top  340 , and second hook  350 . It will be recognized that second hook  350  is optional and thus need not be included in every embodiment of wire basket  300   
         [0039]    Neckwalls  215  protrude from neck  210  to provide razor R stability as razor R rests between neckwalls  215  (best shown in  FIG. 1 ). Similarly, side supports  250  provide razor-head RH stability as razor-head RH rests between side supports  250  (best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 ). 
         [0040]    Turning now more particularly to  FIG. 2 , teeth  230  and back supports  240  are disposed protruding from end  280 , and side supports  250  are disposed protruding from sides  290 . Channels  260  are vacant areas between teeth  230  that allow olive oil O to exit dripping holder  200 . Depending on the orientation of dripping holder  200 , in use, after razor R is removed from olive oil O, razor-head RH of razor R is preferably disposed on teeth  230  of dripping holder  200  (best shown in  FIG. 5 ). Dripping holder  200  preferably comprises two side supports  250  and three smaller teeth  230  that are disposed approximately evenly between two larger back supports  240 , thus creating four channels  260  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ). In an alternate embodiment (not shown), dripping holder  200  comprises two side supports  250  and five smaller teeth  230  that are disposed approximately evenly between two larger back supports  240 , thus creating six channels  260 . However, it will be recognized that variations of this arrangement may still provide the same or similar functionality. 
         [0041]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , wire basket  300  is preferably disposed within container  120 , wherein mesh-siding  330  is disposed proximate to inner side wall  150  of container  120 . Turning now to  FIG. 4 , olive oil level OL is preferably disposed below top  340  of wire basket  300 , and above razor-head RH when razor R is placed within olive oil O. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , when razor R is placed within dripping holder  200 , dripping holder  200  is preferably placed within container  120 , wherein the contact between sides  290  of dripping holder  200  and inner sidewall  150  of container  120  prevent dripping holder  200  from contacting olive oil O. In an alternate disposition, turning now to  FIG. 6 , dripping holder  200  is disposed on container  120 , wherein underside  270  of dripping holder  200  rests on container  120 . 
         [0043]    It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that dripping holder  200  may be disposed in any position that is preferably not in contact with olive oil O, but still allows olive oil O and debris D, to fall into container  120 . 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , method of using razor maintenance device  700  comprises placing olive oil O in razor maintenance device  100  via step  710 . After razor R is utilized, razor R is preferably dried then placed in olive oil O via step  720  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). Subsequently razor R is removed from olive oil O and placed in dripping holder  200 , which is preferably disposed inside container  120  (best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) or above container  120  (best shown in  FIG. 6 ) via step  730 . Razor R is removed from dripping holder  200  via step  740 , and subsequently utilized, via step  750 . While razor R is removed from container  120 , wire basket  300  is removed so that debris D can be disposed of via step  760 , preferably by grabbing handle  310 , removing wire basket  300  from container  120 , removing debris D from wire basket  300 , and replacing wire basket  300  in container  120 . 
         [0045]    To dry wire basket  300 , wire basket  300  is suspended from container  120  via second hook  350 , wherein bottom  320  is thus preferably disposed above oil level OL. 
         [0046]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0