AU703698B2 - Self-lathering shave brush - Google Patents

Description

-2- SELF-LATHERING SHAVE BRUSH FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shaving brush.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The shaving of human hair is a commonly known procedure whereby hair follicles that grow from within the skin out through the surface are cut proximate to the skin surface to inhibit them extending over the skin surface. Because the hair follicles are constantly growing out through the skin surface it is necessary for the procedure of shaving to be regularly repeated, usually daily. Because of this regularity method improvements are sought after.

Although there are a variety of methods used to 15 shave this invention typically relates to blade shaving, as opposed to shaving with an electric razor. However, this method can be used with electric razors whose operation is not inhibited with the use of shaving cream.

Improved results and increased efficiency can 20 typically be achieved with blade shaving by applying shaving cream. The shaving cream is applied to the skin and hair before passing the blade over the skin to remove the part of the hair follicles which protrude from the skins surface (whiskers). A variety of shaving creams S: 25 and methods of applying these creams are available.

This invention involves a development in a brush applicator. Typically the shaving cream is either squeezed from a tube onto the brush or rubbed onto the brush using a lather stick. The brush can then be used to apply the shaving cream.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a shaving brush comprising a body and bristles, the body comprising a holder portion which is adapted to locate a lather stick in the vicinity of the bristles to enable a persons face to be brushed and lathered at substantially the same time.

S:505388/703 3 It is preferable that the holder portion is such that the lather stick can be maintained in the vicinity of the bristles as its length diminishes with use.

According to one embodiment the holder portion takes the form of a receiving device situated on the/one side of the body, enabling a lather stick to be fixed adjacent to both the body and the brush.

The receiving device which is situated on the/one side of the body may take the form of a clip or clamp which is capable of holding a lather stick.

According to an alternative embodiment, the body contains a longitudinal passage therethrough such that the lather stick can be housed within the body and .protrudes from the same end from which the bristles 15 extend.

It is preferred that the bristles extend from the top of the body around its periphery such that a continuous hole extends from the bottom of the body *.through to the top of the bristles.

It is preferable that the holder portion is such :that the lather stick can be moved through the body further towards the bristles at the top of the body as the lather stick diminishes with use.

.It is preferred that the body be capable of 25 separating into two parts.

Preferably the holder portion comprises a base which supports one end of a lather stick.

Preferably the base comprises a socket into which one end of a lather stick can be inserted.

The socket may provide features which enable a lather stick to be held more firmly.

The features which the lather stick provides may take the form of pins which protrude from the base of the socket.

It is preferred that the base is removable from the lower end of the body.

In one embodiment a central region of the base can be moved up through the body toward the bristles at the S:50538B/703 4 top end of the body in order to move the lather stick through the body further towards the bristles as the lather stick diminishes with use.

It is preferred that the base has an upper end with a recess for receipt of a lather stick.

In one embodiment the upper end of the base is incorporated into a central region which receives the lather stick and is capable of moving longitudinally within the base.

It is preferred that the base has a collar/flange which is adapted to fit into the bottom end of the body.

The central region of the base may move within a sleeve which is pressed into the base.

The sleeve may extend past the top surface of the 15 base a predetermined distance.

It is preferred that the dimensions of the sleeve in the base and the corresponding dimensions of the hole at the bottom of the body are such that when the base is inserted into the hole at the bottom end of the body the base and body are located relative to one another and a reasonable amount of force is required to separate the S. base and body.

Preferably the portion of the sleeve which protrudes from the top of the base tapers from the top of the base 25 down to the end of the sleeve such that when the base is inserted into the hole in the bottom of the body, the top surface of the base which surrounds the sleeve and the bottom surface of the body contact and the separation of these two surfaces requires a reasonable amount of force.

It is preferred that the longitudinal length of the central region of the base and the length of the sleeve which extends above the top of the base are determined according to the other longitudinal dimensions of the brush and lather stick such that as much of the lather stick as possible, which extends above the top of the base, can be utilised.

The lengths of the sleeve protruding above the top of the base; the central region and the body S:50538B/703 5 are such that the full length of the lather stick which extends above the top of the central region can be used.

According to one embodiment the base may be screwed both on and off the lower end of the body.

According to an alternative embodiment a sleeve/collar extending from the top of the base provides a threaded outside surface which mates with a corresponding thread on the inside surface of the hole in the bottom of the body.

Preferably the central region of the base which receives the lather stick moves longitudinally above the top end of the base within the sleeve/collar which is fixed to the base, and longitudinal movement within the base is provided for by a separate sleeve which is 15 pressed into the base and aligns with the sleeve/collar which extends above the top end of the base.

It is preferred that the longitudinal lengths of the central region of the base and the collar/sleeve are determined according to the other longitudinal dimensions of the brush and lather stick, such that as much as possible of the lather stick, which extends above the top of the base, can be utilised.

The lengths of the sleeve/collar; the central region and the body are such that the full 25 length of the lather stick which extends above the top of the central region can be used.

In one embodiment rotation of the base in one direction propels the stick through the body and out of the other end of the body, while rotation in the other direction withdraws the lather stick through the body towards the base.

It is preferred that the central region of the base which receives the lather stick provides a threaded surface which meshes with a corresponding thread in the base.

The thread in the base corresponding to the threaded central region may be formed in the part of the sleeve which is pressed into the base and not that which extends S:50538B/703 6 a predetermined distance above the top of the base.

It is preferred that the part of the sleeve extending above the top of the base which is not threaded on the inside contains longitudinal protrusions on the inside surface which mate with corresponding grooves in the thread on the outside of the central region.

Preferably the outside of that part of the sleeve which extends above the top surface of the base contains longitudinal protrusions which mate with corresponding grooves inside the hole at the bottom end of the body when the base is inserted into the hole in the bottom end of the body.

It is preferred that the longitudinal length of the threaded central region of the base and the length of the 15 threaded sleeve which extends above the top of the base are determined according to the other longitudinal dimensions of the brush and lather stick such that as much as possible of the lather stick, which extends above the top of the base, can be utilised.

The lengths of the threaded sleeve protruding above the top of the base; the threaded central region and the body are such that the full length of the lather stick which extends above the top of the middle region can be used.

25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with respect to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 show a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the brush without the base; Figure 2 show a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the base; S:50538B/703 7 Figure 3 show a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal axis of a lather stick; Figure 4 show a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal axis of a lather stick and base as assembled; and Figure 5 show a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the brush incorporating a lather stick as assembled.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the device broadly comprises a body 10, bristles 12, and a base 14. The body 10 is substantially cylindrical with a central hole 16 therethrough. The central region 17 of the body 10 is enlarged with respect to the remainder of the body 15 The body 10 tapers both from the central region 17 towards the top of the body 10 and from the central region 17 towards the bottom of the body 10. The bristles 12 extend from around the periphery of the top end 11 of the body 10 such that the hole 16 continues from the body 10 into the central region of the bristles 12. The bottom surface 28 at the bottom of the body is perpendicular to the hole 16.

The base 14 is substantially cylindrical containing a plug 18 which passes through the centre of the base 14 25 and a sleeve 19 which is pressed into the base 14 and extends to the bottom surface 20 of the base 14. The top of the base 14 tapers down to surface 26 to provide a bevel 21. The top surface 26 of the base 14 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base 14.

The cylindrical lather stick 22 is represented in Figure 3. One end of the lather stick 22 is received by a hole 24 in the centre of the top of the plug 18 which is represented in Figure 2. The view of the lather stick 22 as assembled into the base 14 is shown in Figure 4.

Assembly of the lather stick 22 and the body involves: assembly of the lather stick 22 and the base 14; assembly of the base 14 and body 10 such that the S:50538B/703 8 lather stick 22 is passed through the bottom of the hole 16 of the body 10 in Figure i, allowing the sleeve 19 of Figures 2 and 4 to be received into the bottom of the hole 16 of Figure 1 until the surface 26 of the base 14 fits flush against the surface 28 of the body The portion of the sleeve 19 which extends above the top surface of the base 26 contains a taper 30. The outside surface 30 of the sleeve 19 tapers from the top surface 26 of the base 14 to the end of the sleeve 19.

The taper 30 provides that, when the base 14 and body are assembled such that the respective surfaces 26 and 28 contact, a reasonable amount of force is required to be applied to separate the base 14 from the body The plug 18 can be moved longitudinally within the 15 sleeve 19 of the base 14. The fit between the plug 18 and sleeve 19 is such that the plug 18 will move longitudinally within the sleeve 19 with the application of a reasonable amount of force by the operator at the bottom end 31 of the plug 18.

With the plug 18 in the position shown in Figure an unused lather stick 22 reaches into the central bristle region 32. As the lather stick top 34 diminishes with use the lather stick top 34 can be maintained within the central bristle region 32 by moving the plug 18 25 through the sleeve 19 toward the bristles 12.

S:505388/703 9-

i. A shaving brush comprising a body and bristles, the body comprising a holder portion which is adapted to locate a lather stick in the vicinity of the bristles to enable a persons face to be brushed and lathered at substantially the same time.

2. A shaving brush as claimed in claim i, wherein the holder portion includes an adjustment means for maintaining the lather stick in the vicinity of the bristles as its length diminishes with use.

3. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder portions is removably connectable to an upper portion of the body and a lather stick is .o insertable through the upper portion.

15 4. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein too: *the holder portion includes a receiving device located on one side of the body and adapted to receive a lather :stick to be fixed adjacent to both the body and the brush.

5. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 4 wherein the body contains a longitudinal passage therethrough :such that the lather stick can be housed within the body and protrudes from the same end from which the bristles S" extend.

6. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bristles extend from the top of the body around its periphery such that a continuous hole extends from the bottom of the body through to the top of the bristles.

7. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holder portion comprises a base which supports one end of the lather stick.

8. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 7 wherein the base is removable from the lower end of the body.

9. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 8 wherein a central region of the base can be moved up through the body towards the bristles at the top end of the body in order to move the lather stick through the body further towards the bristles as the lather stick diminishes with towards the bristles as the lather stick diminishes with ;:50538B/703