Abstract:
The safety razor includes a disc-like handle having a concavity on at least one side to facilitate secure grasping of the razor between only two fingers. A recess may be formed into the opposite side of the handle for receipt of photographs, indicia-bearing elements, and the like, and for engagement of an overlying, retaining insert. The surfaces on the opposite sides of the handle also provide areas for carrying graphic and/or textual matter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Safety razors are conventionally of generally T-shaped construction, comprised of an elongate handle and a perpendicular blade-holding head centrally joined at one end. This construction imposes constraints upon the manner of use (e.g., the thumb and at least three fingers of the user&#39;s hand are normally required to grip the handle with good stability), upon the ability to manipulate the razor, and upon the packaging used; the standard handle shape also limits the applications for, and aesthetic attributes of, conventional T-shaped razors. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is a broad object of the invention to provide a safety razor of unique construction, which affords benefits for gripping, manipulation, manufacture, and packaging, as well as embodying novel aesthetic features. 
         [0003]    It is also an object of the invention to provide a razor having the foregoing features and advantages, which employs a handle component having utility for other purposes. 
         [0004]    It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a safety razor comprised of a head and a handle joined substantially directly to one another, the head including at least one elongate blade extending along a longitudinal axis. The handle is of generally disc-like form, and is disposed generally on a plane to which the longitudinal axis of the blade is substantially parallel; at least one of the opposite sides of the handle is formed with a recess for receiving part of a user&#39;s finger, particularly his or her thumb. Normally, the recess in the “at least one” opposite side of the handle will be generally concave, and the other of the opposite sides of the handle will usually be formed with a finger portion-receiving recess as well. 
         [0005]    In attainment of additional objects of the invention, the recess in the other opposite side of the handle may be of such form as to adapt it for the receipt and engagement therein of an insert piece, which may be temporarily or permanently engaged and will preferably be made, at least partially, of a transparent material. Such a razor may include a graphic and/or textual element disposed within the recess and visible beneath an outer transparent portion of the insert piece, or the insert piece itself may be decorated, embossed, imprinted or otherwise embellished with graphic and/or textual material. 
         [0006]    In any event, the head and handle of the razor will desirably be joined to one another by mated elements, one preferably being in the form of a protrusion and the other being socket structure dimensioned and configured for receipt, and temporary or permanent engagement of, the protruding element. Such a protrusion on the handle will advantageously extend from its circumference, generally in the plane thereof, and may desirably be constructed for attachment to a jewelry chain, string, ring, bracelet, band, or like article, thus enabling the disconnected handle to function as a pendant in cooperation with such an attached article. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing a first form of a safety razor embodying the present invention, hand-held for use; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the safety razor of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the safety razor depicted in the foregoing figures. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the handle component of the safety razor, taken from the front or the rear (the component being symmetric about its medial plane); 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a right or left elevational view of the handle component, which is symmetric about its centerline as well; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the handle component, taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the handle component of a second embodiment of the safety razor of the present invention, attached as a pendant on a string (shown fragmentarily); and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged sectional view of the handle component depicted in  FIG. 7 , taken along line  8 - 8  therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Turning initially to  FIGS. 1 through 3  of the appended drawings, therein illustrated is a safety razor embodying the present invention and consisting of a head component and a substantially directly joined handle component, generally designated, respectively, by the numerals  10  and  12 . The head component includes an elongate head member  14  in which a longitudinally extending blade  16  is secured; although only a single blade is illustrated it will be appreciated that the head member  14  may contain a multiplicity of parallel blades if so desired. The head member  14  is joined to a base element  18 , which is in turn pivotally mounted (as indicated by the double-headed arrow) on socket structure  20 ; an aperture  22  is formed through one wall of the structure  20 . 
         [0016]    With additional reference now to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , it can be seen that the handle component  12  is constructed from two substantially identical molded plastic pieces  26 , each having a central, concave, generally circular wall portion  28  surrounded by a circumferential flange  30 . The flanges  30  are joined edgewise, in confronting relationship to one another, by adhesive bonding, fusion welding, or other appropriate means, to form a hollow disc-like body. The body (i.e., essentially the handle component) will typically be about 1¼ to 1¾ inch in diameter and about ¼ to ⅝ inch thick, measured at the edge, but those dimensions will vary depending upon the manner of construction and the materials used, the particular features incorporated, etc.; the handle component can be of solid construction, if preferred, and can be fabricated from any suitable material, as will be evident to those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    A small lug, or male element,  32  extends radially from the circumference of the body that is formed by the joined pieces  26 , and has a threaded, transverse aperture  34  (i.e., the aperture  34  extends generally tangentially to, and in the medial plane of, the body). The lug  32  may be integral with one or both of the molded pieces  26  (in which case it will be appreciated that they may not be identical), or it may be provided as a separate part, secured in place. 
         [0018]    As will be readily appreciated (and is depicted in  FIG. 3 ), the head component  10  is attached to the handle component  12  by inserting the lug  32  into the space defined within the socket structure  20  on the head component  10 . A screw  36  (desirably made of plastic) is inserted through the aperture  22  in the socket structure  20  and engaged in the threaded aperture  34  in the lug  32  to maintain the components in assembly. 
         [0019]    As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the handle component  12  is normally gripped with the user&#39;s thumb placed within the concavity of the central portion  28  of the molded piece  26  on the front side of the razor assembly, and with the knuckle of his forefinger received within the corresponding concavity at the rear. A strong, two-fingered grip is thereby enabled, permitting unencumbered manipulation of the head component  10  so as to afford a highly convenient, effective, and safe shaving procedure. It might be mentioned that the razor described could often be used by people who are disabled, either because all fingers on a hand other than the thumb are missing or distorted, or because they lack normal usage for other reasons. As an optional feature, moreover, the surfaces of the concavities may be embellished, such as by the provision of the square figure “8” element  29  shown in broken line  FIG. 3 ; indeed, element  29  represents an embossment which may (like numerous other possible modifications) serve to enhance the user&#39;s grip on the handle component. 
         [0020]    Turning now in detail to  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings, therein illustrated is a handle component, generally designated by the numeral  24 , in which one of the molded pieces  26  employed in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 6  is replaced with a modified molded piece  40 . Although not shown in these figures, it will be appreciated that the handle component  24  will normally be assembled with a razor head component  10  in the manner described and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , usually with the modified piece  40  disposed to the rear of the razor (i.e., to enable receipt of the user&#39;s thumb in the depression  28  of the piece  26  at the front). 
         [0021]    The molded piece  40  is formed to provide a shallow well  42 , defined by a circular bottom wall  44  and a short cylindrical sidewall  46 . A photograph, printed on a circular piece of paper  48 , is seated at the bottom of the well  42  against the wall  44 . It is held in place by a circular insert piece, generally designated by the numeral  50 , comprised of a top wall  51  and a circumferential lip  52 , the lip  52  serving not only produce a frictional fit against the surface of the sidewall  46  (preferably being water-tight and air-tight), to maintain the insert in assembly, but also to hold the photograph  48  in place against the bottom wall  44 . The insert piece  50  is fabricated from a transparent plastic material, so that the image of the photograph  48  can be viewed therethrough, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A string  54  is threaded through the aperture  34  in the lug  32 , enabling the handle component  24  to function as a pendant-like novelty. Needless to say, after disconnection from the razor head component a chain, bracelet, wristband, key ring, or the like may alternatively be attached to the handle component  24 , as desired. Depending upon the nature of the photograph  48  or other element contained within the well  42  (which may for example bear a slogan, a logo, identification information, etc.) such an article may be used for decorative, advertising, medical alert, and other similar purposes. 
         [0022]    It should be appreciated that the components of the razor will be joined to one another by any appropriate means, such as (in addition to threaded fasteners of the kind described), rivets, pegs, pins, snap-fit interengaging elements, ball-and-detent arrangements, adhesive or fusion bonding, etc. As will be appreciated, therefore, the attachment may be either permanent or temporary. 
         [0023]    Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a safety razor of unique construction, which affords benefits for gripping, manipulation, packaging, and manufacture, as well as providing novel aesthetic features. The handle of the razor is normally gripped between the user&#39;s thumb and forefinger, albeit only the thumb, and an opposing part of the hand, would be sufficient in many cases, thus enabling certain handicapped individuals to shave themselves independently. The absence of a long handle on the razor may be found to facilitate manipulation; the unique shape and construction of the handle component adapts the razor for novel packaging concepts; and it may contribute to a minimization of manufacturing costs. The handle component may be formed with a recess for engagement and containment of inserts of various kinds; but, as noted above, even in the absence of such a recess and engageable insert piece the circular areas on the handle inherently provide spaces for attaching, imprinting, embossing, or otherwise displaying messages, decoration, personalization, etc.; indeed, the handle can serve those purposes irrespective of whether it is detachable from the head component.