Abstract:
In a razor cartridge a frame is provided and carries at least two discrete cartridge segments each positioned in the frame for individual movement relative thereto. Each of the cartridge segments includes at least one razor blade that defines an at least partially exposed cutting edge.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/612,656, entitled “Shaving Implement Employing Discrete Cartridge Sections,” filed on Sep. 24, 2004. The disclosure of this patent application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to wet shave razors and, more particularly, to a razor cartridge incorporating discrete independently moveable cartridge segments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Wet shave razors have historically incorporated razor cartridges that employ one or more elongated razor blades located therein. Often these razor cartridges pivot relative to a handle to which they are coupled to allow cutting edges defined by the razor blades to more closely follow the contours of a surface to be shaved. However, due to the elongated nature of the cutting edges, as well as the often complex contours of the surface being shaved, the pivoting of the razor cartridge is sometimes not adequate to provide for conformity of the razor blades to the skin surface.  
         [0004]     Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a razor cartridge and/or wet shave razor that improves upon or overcomes the inability of prior art razors to precisely follow the contours of a surface to be shaved during a shaving operation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention resides in one aspect in a razor cartridge having a frame and at least two discrete cartridge segments positioned therein and moveable relative thereto. Each of the cartridge segments includes at least one razor blade having an at least partially exposed cutting edge. Preferably, the razor cartridge includes a plurality of discrete cartridge segments each positioned in, and independently movable relative to the frame.  
         [0006]     Biasing means are positioned in the frame and are in communication with each of the cartridge segments for normally urging the cartridge segments and razor assemblies disposed therein in a direction towards the surface to be shaved (a neutral position) in response to forces exerted against the cartridge segments during a shaving operation. In one embodiment of the present invention, the biasing means take the form of cantilevered spring members, each having one end resiliently coupled to the frame and a generally opposite cantilevered end engageable with an underside of one of the cartridge segments. The cantilevered spring members normally urge the cartridge segments with which they are engaged, toward the neutral position. While a cantilevered spring has been described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other forms of biasing means known to those skilled in the pertinent art to which the present invention pertains, such as, for example, coil springs, leaf-type springs, and resilient materials such as, for example, foam, which can be substituted without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, each of the cartridge segments includes a housing and two razor blade assemblies positioned in the housing. Each razor blade assembly includes a razor blade having an at least partially exposed cutting edge. The cartridge segments can be positioned in the frame in rows that are substantially parallel to one another, with the same or different numbers of cartridge segments in each row. In one embodiment, the cartridge segments can be positioned in the frame in arcuate, circular, or other nesting patterns. While the cartridge segments have been illustrated as including two razor blade assemblies per segment, the present invention is not limited in this regard as less than or more than two razor blade assemblies can be employed in each cartridge segment.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge segments can be positioned in the frame so that the cutting edges of the razor blades positioned in the razor blade assemblies in some of the cartridge segments generally face away from the cutting edges of the razor blades of the remaining cartridge segments. With the cartridge segments configured in this manner, the razor cartridge can cut hair when moved over a surface to be shaved in either of two generally opposite directions.  
         [0009]     Similarly, one portion of the cartridge segments can be positioned in the frame so that the cutting edges of some of the blades located therein generally face toward the cutting edges of the blades positioned in the remainder of the cartridge segments. This configuration also allows the razor cartridge to cut hair when moved over a surface to be shaved in either of two generally opposite directions.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, the present invention includes a wet shave razor incorporating the above-described razor cartridge either permanently or releasably mounted onto a razor handle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a razor cartridge configured in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cartridge segment configured in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a razor blade assembly forming part of a cartridge segment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the razor blade assembly of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the razor blade assembly of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a frame forming part of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1 , showing a plurality of cantilevered springs and resilient retaining members.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1  taken along line  9 - 9  through the center of the razor cartridge. The cartridge segments beings positioned in two successive rows with the cartridge segments being staggered so that line  9 - 9  bisects one cartridge segment in one row and is positioned between adjacent cartridge segments in the other row.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1  taken along line  10 - 10  and shows the manner by which the cartridge segments engage the frame.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the razor cartridge of  FIG. 1  taken along line  11 - 11  which extends through one of the cartridge segments and through an end portion of the frame.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 12, 12   a , and  12   b  are top views of embodiments of the razor cartridge of the present invention showing cartridge segments positioned in an arcuate pattern.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a pair of razor cartridge segments positioned relative to one another so that the razor blades carried by one cartridge segment face away from the razor blades carried by the other cartridge segment thereby illustrating how these cartridge segments would be positioned relative to one another in a razor cartridge to facilitate bi-directional shaving.  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of a pair of cartridge segments positioned relative to one another so that the razor blades carried by one cartridge segment face toward the razor blades carried by the other cartridge segment thereby illustrating how these cartridge segments would be positioned relative to one another in a razor cartridge to facilitate bidirectional shaving.  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is a top view of a wet shave razor incorporating the razor cartridge as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  is a rear view of a wet shave razor incorporating the razor cartridge as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a wet shave razor incorporating the razor cartridge as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 18  shows a razor cartridge segment having wire wrapped cartridge segments.  
         [0029]      FIG. 19  is a top view of an embodiment of a razor cartridge of the present invention showing a plurality of cartridge segments positioned adjacent a single longitudinally extending razor blade. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a razor cartridge generally designated by the reference number  20 , includes a frame  22  and a plurality of discrete cartridge segments, generally designated by the reference number  24 , coupled thereto. As will be explained in detail below, the cartridge segments  24  are coupled to the frame  22  and are each independently moveable relative thereto. In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each cartridge segment  24  includes a housing  26  with two razor blade assemblies  28  positioned therein. Each of the razor blade assemblies  28  includes a razor blade  31  having an exposed cutting edge  33 . In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a length of the exposed cutting edge  33  of each of the razor blades  31  is a relatively shorter dimension than a length of exposed cutting edges of conventional blades assemblies. For example, exposed cutting edges of conventional razor blades extend over substantially all of the elongated length of a conventional cartridge frame. The Inventors have discovered that a wet shave razor employing a razor cartridge including a combination of shorter length cutting edges and discrete, independently moveable cartridge segments allows the razor cartridge to more closely follow contours of a surface to be shaved.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cartridge segments  24  include a pair of end caps  29  one attached to each end of the housing  26 . Each end cap  29  is positioned over a portion of each of the razor blade assemblies  28  to aid in retaining the razor blade assemblies in the housing  26 . While the cartridge segments  24  have been shown and described as including two razor blade assemblies  28 , the present invention is not limited in this regard as more or less than two razor blade assemblies can be positioned in the housing  26  without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , each razor blade assembly  28  includes a stiffener  30  and a razor blade  31  attached to the stiffener  30 . Each stiffener  30  defines a pair of apertures  32  located adjacent to the razor blade  31  to allow for a wash through of shaving debris during a shaving operation. Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , the razor blade assemblies  28  are positioned in the cartridge segments  24 , with the stiffeners  30  located so as to desirably orient the razor blades  31  relative to the frame  22  as well as to a surface to be shaved during a shaving operation.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the frame  22  includes a plurality of cantilevered spring members  32 , each cantilevered spring member  32  having one end  34  resiliently integral with the frame  22  and a generally opposite cantilevered end  36 . As will be explained in detail below, each cantilevered end  36  is engageable with an underside, shown generally at  35 , of one of the cartridge segments  24  and moveably supports the one respective cartridge segment  24 . Referring to  FIGS. 9-11  during a shaving operation a pair of the cantilevered spring members  32  is positioned adjacent the underside  35  of each cartridge segment  24  with the cantilevered ends  36  of each spring member  32  abutting an end of the underside  35  of the cartridge segment  24 .  
         [0034]     During a shaving operation, each cartridge segment  24  is independently moveable relative to the frame  22  and is normally urged, by the cantilevered spring members  32 , in an upward direction (indicated by arrow “A” of  FIG. 9 ) towards a surface to be shaved into an upper-most or neutral position. While the frame  22  and spring members  32  have been shown and described as being integral with one another, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the spring members and the frame can also be distinct from one another without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0035]     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , the frame  22  includes resilient retaining members  40  each of which define stand-off portions  41  that extend outwardly from the frame  22 . The cartridge segments  24  are each movably retained on the frame  22  by abutment surfaces  38  at an underside of the resilient retaining members  40 . During assembly of the razor cartridge  20 , each cartridge segment  24  is slid over four retaining members  40 , one proximate each corner of the cartridge segment  24 . As the cartridge segments  24  are slid over the resilient retaining members  40 , the stand off portions  41  of the resilient retaining members  40  deform allowing a portion of the cartridge segment  24  to slide past the abutment surfaces  38  and engage a pair of the cantilevered spring elements  32 . Once a lip portion  42  defined by the housing  26  clears the abutment surfaces  38  the retaining members  40  move into an undeformed state so that the cartridge segment  24  can move (e.g., vertical translation) relative to the retaining member  40  until the lip portion  42  of the housing  26  engages the abutment surface  38  of the retaining member  40 . The position of the cartridge segments  24  when the lip portion  42  is engaged with the abutment surfaces  38  is defined herein as the aforementioned upper-most or neutral position of the cartridge segment  24 .  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and  9 - 11 , the razor cartridge  20  includes a guard bar  44  coupled to the frame  22  adjacent a leading edge thereof, for stretching a surface to be shaved (e.g., a user&#39;s skin), during a shaving operation, prior to the surface contacting the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31 . In one embodiment, the guard bar  44  is made of the same or a different material as the frame  22 . In another embodiment, the guard bar  44  employs a smooth or an uneven skin contacting surface. In yet another embodiment, the guard bar  44  incorporates a shaving aid, such as, but not limited to, an oil, a gel, medicaments, or lotion. In still another embodiment, the guard bar  44  is formed from a reduced friction material. A guard bar configured as illustrated above, is generally referred to by those skilled in the pertinent art to which the present invention pertains as a “glide strip.” 
         [0037]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , and  9 - 11 , the frame  22  includes a cap portion  46  having a comfort strip  48  coupled thereto. While the present invention has been shown and described as including a single comfort strip, the present invention is not limited in this regard as more than one comfort strip can be incorporated into the razor cartridge without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. In one embodiment, a comfort strip is located in close proximity to each of the cartridge segments  24 , for example, on a surface of the frame  22  behind the cutting edges  33  of each razor blade  31 .  
         [0038]     Referring back to  FIG. 1  the illustrated embodiment of the razor cartridge  20  includes five cartridge segments  24  positioned in the frame  22  in two substantially parallel rows, one row containing two cartridge segments and another row containing three cartridge segments. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this regard as any number of rows, each containing the same or different numbers of cartridge segments  24  can be employed. Moreover, while the cartridge segments  24  have been shown and described as being positioned in the frame  22  in substantially parallel rows, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other configurations such as arcuate or circular rows can also be used. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 12, 12   a , and  12   b  the cartridge segments  24  are positioned in circular and arcuate patterns in the frame  22 . With respect to  FIG. 12 , the cartridge segments  24  are illustrated so that the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  generally face inwardly toward one another. In another embodiment, the cartridge segments  24  are positioned so that the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  face outwardly. Moreover, while  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  show specific arcuate cartridge segment nesting patterns, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this regard as any number of different arcuate nesting patterns can be employed without departing from the present invention.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the cartridge segments  24  can be arranged relative to one another in successive rows so that the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  of the cartridge segments  24  positioned in one row face away from the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  in an adjacent row thus allowing the razor cartridge  20  to cut hair when drawn over a user&#39;s skin in either of two generally opposite directions. While the illustrated embodiment shows the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  carried by cartridge segments  24  in adjacent rows facing away from another to facilitate bi-directional shaving, the present invention is not limited in this regard.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the cartridge segments  24  can be positioned in successive rows such that the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  positioned in the cartridge segments in one row generally face towards the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  positioned in the cartridge segments  24  in the adjacent row. This embodiment also facilitates bi-directional shaving. While the cartridge segments  24  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the positioning of the cartridge segments for bi-directional shaving in a razor cartridge  20  having only two rows of cartridge segments, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this regard as any number of rows of cartridge segments can be employed in a razor cartridge without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIGS. 15-17 , the above described razor cartridge  20  can be attached, either permanently or releasably to a handle  50 . The razor cartridge  20  can pivot relative to the handle  50  as indicated by the arrows labeled “B.” However, the present invention is not limited in this regard as razor cartridge can also be non-rotatable relative to the handle.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the cartridge segments  24  include guard elements  52  which in the illustrated embodiment comprise wire, wrapped around the razor blades  31  to prevent excessive extrusion of a user&#39;s skin between the blades during a shaving operation. While wire wrapped razor blades have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other guard elements, such as, protuberances between the blades, can be substituted.  
         [0043]     Turning to  FIG. 19 , the razor cartridge  20  includes a plurality of discrete cartridge segments  24  positioned in adjacent rows. An elongated razor blade  54  is positioned between a cap portion of the razor cartridge  20  and the plurality of cartridge segments  24 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the razor blade  54  includes an elongated cutting edge  56  of a length L 3  that is of a relatively longer dimension than the length L 2  of the cutting edges  33  of the razor blades  31  of each of the discrete razor cartridge segments  24 . While a single elongated razor blade  54  has been shown in the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited in this regard as more than one elongated razor blade can be employed without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. Moreover, while the elongated razor blade  52  has been shown positioned adjacent to the cap portion of the razor cartridge, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the elongated razor blade can be positioned in other locations on the cartridge. For example, the elongated razor blade  54  can also be positioned adjacent to the guard portion  44  of the razor cartridge  20  or between adjacent rows of cartridge segments  24 .  
         [0044]     While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example, and not by limitation.