AU2004247683B2 - Shaving aid dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

SHAVING AID DISPENSING DEVICE

Cross Reference to Related Patent Applications

This application claims priority of provisional application Serial No. 60 / 476,989 filed June 9, 2003.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shaving devices and, more particularly, to shaving aid devices having a shaving aid dispensing device.

Background of the Invention

Several methods for applying shaving aid materials are known. Typically, a shaving cream, soap, gel, or liquid is applied using either one's hands or a brush. However, methods for applying shaving aid that are integrated into the design of the razor are also known. For example, solid lubricating strips attached to the blade cartridge, and dispensers integrated into the design of the razor that utilize pumps, bellows, valves and /or pistons are commonly known. However, each requires the shaving aid to be in a solid form, or, where the shaving aid is not a solid, the user must actuate some type of a mechanism to dispense the shaving aid. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the user with a shaving aid dispensing device that readily provides a non-solid shaving aid, and does not require the user to actuate any type of mechanism.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention, a shaving aid material dispensing device for use with a razor cartridge includes an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir, and an aperture sized for passing a razor blade cartridge therethrough. A storage medium is disposed in, and substantially fills, the reservoir. The storage medium is operable to store a shaving aid material. A wick substantially covers the reservoir and is operable to draw the shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a shaving device includes a handle, a razor blade cartridge, and the shaving aid dispensing device described above. The shaving aid dispensing device includes an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir and an aperture. The razor cartridge is positioned within the aperture of the dispensing device. A storage medium is disposed in, and substantially fills, the reservoir. A shaving aid material is distributed in the storage medium. A wick substantially covers the reservoir of the dispensing device and is operable to draw shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action. The shaving cartridge and the shaving aid dispensing device are attached to the handle.

An advantage of the present invention is that the shaving aid material may be in liquid, cream or gel form.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the shaving aid dispensing device does not require the user to operate a mechanism to dispense the shaving aid material from the dispensing device.

A further advantage of the present invention is that shaving aid material can be applied from the present invention "on demand".

Some embodiments of the present invention provide the further advantage of a razor cartridge that incorporates the shaving aid dispensing device.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the present invention and accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a shaving aid dispensing device of the present invention of FIG. 4 along line 1-1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispensing device having a single reservoir;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a dispensing device having a plurality of reservoirs;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a dispensing device having a plurality of reservoirs;

FIG. 3 is a cut away side view of the dispensing device FIG. 2 or 2A along line 3-3 having storage medium therein; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shaving aid dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a shaving aid dispensing device having a plurality of reservoirs;

FIG.4B is a perspective view of a shaving aid dispensing device having a plurality of reservoirs; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention shaving device; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present shaving device having multidirectional cutting edges.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a shaving aid dispensing device 10 of the present invention is shown. The shaving aid dispensing device 10 includes at least one reservoir 12, a storage medium 14, a shaving aid material 16, and a wick 18. Referring to FIG. 2, the dispensing device 10 includes an inner wall 20 and an outer wall 22. The inner wall 20 and outer wall 22 define the at least one reservoir 12. The inner wall 20 further defines an aperture 26 sized for receiving a razor blade cartridge therethrough. The dispensing device 10 is made of any suitable material typically used for constructing shaving devices or shaving aid storage devices (e.g., a polymeric material). The outer shape of the dispensing device 10 is defined by the outer wall 22 and may be of any shape. However, an oval shape has particular utility.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the dispensing device 10 may further include one or more reservoir walls 28. The reservoir walls 28 are used to divide the dispensing device 10 into two or more distinct reservoirs 12. Referring to FIG. 2B, the reservoir walls 28 may also be used to reduce the size of the reservoir(s) 12 in order to dispense the shaving aid material 16 at a desired rate and /or create a plurality of reservoirs 12. In embodiments having more than one reservoir 12, the reservoirs 12 may be of different sizes and shapes. Referring to FIG. 3, the storage medium 14 is disposed in the reservoir 12.

The storage medium 14 may be made of any suitable material. Fibrous materials are an example of an acceptable storage medium 14 and have particular utility. In a preferred embodiment, the storage medium 14 is a spun or extruded fiber, such as wool, fiberfill, cellulose or acetate. In embodiments where more than one reservoir 12 is present, more than one type of storage medium 14 may be utilized. Typically, the storage medium 14 substantially fills the reservoir 12 in which it is located.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, the shaving aid material 16 is distributed in the storage medium 14. The term "shaving aid" as used herein is intended to refer to any non-solid substance that is known to aid in the preparation for, or treatment of the skin before, during, or after shaving. For example, commonly known non-solid shaving aid materials 16 include shaving creams, soaps, gels and liquids, as well as after shave liquids, lotions, creams and gels. This list is not to be considered all- inclusive of non-solid shaving aid materials 16 known to those skilled in the art. In embodiments where more than one reservoir 12 is present, such as in FIGS. 2A and 2B, various shaving aid materials 16 may be distributed in the storage mediums 14 of the different reservoirs 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a wick 18 having an inner surface 30 (as shown in FIG. 1) and an outer surface 32 is placed on the dispensing device 10, substantially covering the reservoir 12. The inner surface 30 of the wick 18 is positioned so that it remains in contact with the storage medium 14 (as shown in FIG. 1). The wick 18 is operable to draw the shaving aid material 16 from the storage medium 14 by capillary action to the outer surface 32 of the wick 18. The term "capillary action," as used herein, refers to the natural action of a non-solid through a wick 18 caused by adhesive and cohesive forces between the two substances, wherein the non- solid material travels through the wick. The porosity of the wick 18 and the properties of the shaving aid material 16 are factors that influence the rate at which the shaving aid material 16 is drawn through the wick 18. The wick 18 is preferably made of fibrous material. Commercially available bonded fiber products, such as those marketed by Filtrona International Ltd., of Colonial

Heights, Virginia, are suitable for making the wicks 18 of the present invention and can be manufactured to facilitate creating a desired flow rate for any particular shaving aid material 16. In some applications, the wick 18 may be made of a substantially similar material as the storage medium 14. In embodiments where more than one reservoir 12 is present, such as in FIG.

4A and 4B, a plurality of wicks 18 of the same or different materials may be utilized.

Depending on the intended use of the end product, the wick 18 may be affixed over the reservoir 12 in a manner such that it is not removable during ordinary use. Alternatively, the wick 18 is selectively removable from the dispensing device 10. In either embodiment, a depleted storage medium 14 can be replenished with additional shaving aid material 16. For example, a syringe containing shaving aid material 16 can be inserted through the wick 18 and into the depleted storage medium 14, thereby dispersing addition shaving aid material 16 into the original storage medium 14. In embodiments where the wick 18 is selectively removable from the dispensing device 10, the wick 18 can be removed and the shaving aid material 16 dispersed in the exposed storage medium 14. Alternatively, once the wick 18 is removed, the storage medium 16 can be selectively replaced with a new storage medium 14 filled with shaving aid material 16 and, optionally, a new wick 18 if desired.

The wick 18 is also preferably moldable and shaped to have an outwardly rounded outer surface 34 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 4 A. The outwardly rounded surface 34 encourages contact between the surface to be shaved and the outer surface 32 of the wick 18, thereby causing the wick 18 to draw the shaving aid material 16 from the storage medium 14, through the wick 18.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to another aspect of the present invention, a shaving device 39 is provided that includes the shaving aid dispensing device 10 described above, a razor cartridge 36 and a handle 38.

The razor cartridge 36 has at least one cutting edge 40 and may be attached to the dispensing device 10, or the handle 38. In either embodiment, the razor cartridge 36 is positioned in the aperture 26 and is substantially surrounded by the inner wall 20. The razor cartridge 36 is positioned in such a manner that at least a portion of the cutting edge 40 protrudes outwardly through the aperture 26. The outer surface 32 of the wick 18 should be substantially adjacent to the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36. Such positioning allows the user to place the outer surface 32 of the wick 18 and the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36 in contact with the surface to be shaved at the same time.

In some embodiments, the razor cartridge 36 has a plurality of cutting edges 40. The cutting edges 40 of the razor cartridge 36 may be aligned to cut in the same direction. Alternatively, the cutting edges 40 of the razor cartridge 36 may be oriented so that at least one cutting edge 40 is aligned to cut in a substantially different direction than at least one other cutting edge 40, as shown in FIG. 6. Although the multi-direction cutting edges 40 are shown as being round in FIG. 6, different geometrical shapes, or orientations of straight cutting edges may be utilized alternatively to achieve multi-directional cutting.

Referring to FIG. 5, the handle 38 may be made of any suitable material and shaped in any suitable manner. However, molded plastic handles 38 shaped to allow the user to easily grasp the handle 38 have particular utility.

The razor cartridge 36 may be attached to the handle 38 such that it is not removable under during normal use. Alternatively, the razor cartridge 36 is selectively removable from the handle or the dispensing device 10. Likewise, the shaving aid dispensing device 10 may be attached to the handle 38 such that the shaving aid dispensing device 10 is not intended to be removed during ordinary use. Alternatively, and depending on the intended end use of product, the shaving aid dispensing device 10 may be removably attached to the handle 38.

In operation, the user brings the outer surface 32 of the wick 18 and the cutting edge(s) 40 of the razor cartridge 36 in contact with the surface to be shaved. As the user moves the shaving device 39 across the area to be shaved, the wick 18 operates to draw the shaving aid material 16 from the storage medium 14 through the wick 18 by capillary action thereby delivering the shaving aid material 16 directly to the area being shaved. Simultaneously, as the user moves the shaving device 39 across the area to be shaved, the cutting edge(s) 40 operate to shave the undesired hair from the area.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (29)

1. A shaving aid dispensing device, comprising: at least one reservoir defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall further defines an aperture for passing a razor cartridge therethrough; a storage medium disposed in the reservoir; a shaving aid material distributed in the storage medium; and a wick substantially covering the reservoir, wherein the wick is operable to draw the shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.

2. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 having at least two reservoirs, wherein the reservoirs are separated by reservoir walls.

3. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the storage medium substantially fills the reservoir.

4. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 3 wherein the storage medium is in contact with an inner surface of the wick.

5. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 3 wherein the storage medium is at least partially made of a fibrous material.

6. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 4 wherein the storage medium is at least partially made of an extruded fiber.

7. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 4 wherein the storage medium is at least partially made of a spun fiber.

8. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the wick is at least partially made of fibrous material.

9. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the wick is moldable.

10. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 9 wherein the wick is molded to have an outwardly rounded outer surface.

11. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the wick is removably attached to the dispensing device.

12. The shaving aid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the wick is attached to the dispensing device such that the wick is not intended to be removed during ordinary use.

13. A shaving device, comprising: a razor cartridge having at least one cutting edge; a shaving aid dispensing device having an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir, wherein the inner wall further defines an aperture for passing the shaving cartridge therethrough; a storage medium disposed in the reservoir; a shaving aid material distributed in the storage medium; and a wick substantially covering the reservoir, wherein the wick is operable to draw the shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.

14. The shaving device of claim 13 further comprising a handle.

15. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the razor cartridge has more than one cutting edge.

16. The shaving device of claim 15 wherein the cutting edges are aligned to shave in substantially the same direction.

17. The shaving device of claim 15 wherein at least one cutting edge is aligned in a substantially different direction relative to at least one other cutting edge.

18. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the razor cartridge is mounted to the handle such that the razor cartridge is not intended to be removed during ordinary use.

19. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the razor cartridge is removably mounted to the handle.

20. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the razor cartridge is mounted to the dispensing device such that the razor cartridge is not intended to be removed during ordinary use.

21. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the razor cartridge is removably mounted to the dispensing device.

22. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the dispensing device is mounted to the handle such that the dispensing device is not intended to be removed during ordinary use.

23. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the dispensing device is removably mounted to the handle.

24. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the storage medium may be externally replenished.

25. The shaving device of claim 14 wherein the wick is selectively removable from over the reservoir.

26. The shaving device of claim 25 wherein the storage medium is selectively replaceable with a new storage medium.

27. The shaving device of claim 13 wherein the cutting edge of the razor cartridge is substantially adjacent to an outer surface of the wick.

28. A shaving aid dispensing device, comprising: at least one reservoir defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall further defines an aperture for passing a razor cartridge therethrough; a storage medium disposed in the reservoir; and a wick substantially covering the reservoir, wherein the wick is operable to draw a shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.

29. A shaving device, comprising: a razor cartridge having at least one cutting edge; a shaving aid dispensing device having an inner wall and an outer wall that define at least one reservoir, wherein the inner wall further defines an aperture for passing the shaving cartridge therethrough; a storage medium disposed in the reservoir; and a wick substantially covering the reservoir, wherein the wick is operable to draw a shaving aid material from the storage medium by capillary action.