EP0929382B1 - Rasoir - Google Patents

Rasoir Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0929382B1
EP0929382B1 EP97938045A EP97938045A EP0929382B1 EP 0929382 B1 EP0929382 B1 EP 0929382B1 EP 97938045 A EP97938045 A EP 97938045A EP 97938045 A EP97938045 A EP 97938045A EP 0929382 B1 EP0929382 B1 EP 0929382B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blade
fulcrum
safety razor
frame
unit according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97938045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0929382A1 (fr
Inventor
Paul Warrick
Daniel Brian Lazarchik
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gillette Co LLC
Original Assignee
Gillette Co LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gillette Co LLC filed Critical Gillette Co LLC
Publication of EP0929382A1 publication Critical patent/EP0929382A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0929382B1 publication Critical patent/EP0929382B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00—Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/08—Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor involving changeable blades
    • B26B21/14—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle
    • B26B21/22—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously
    • B26B21/222—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit
    • B26B21/227—Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle involving several blades to be used simultaneously with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit with blades being resiliently mounted in the changeable unit

Definitions

  • This invention relates to safety razors, and in particular it is concerned with a blade unit for a safety razor.
  • the blade units of the invention may be either cartridges which are mounted replaceably on a handle for use, or the shaving heads of disposable razors having blade carrying parts permanently attached to a handle.
  • a safety razor cartridge as currently marketed comprises a generally rectangular moulded plastics frame with guard and cap surfaces on the lengthwise extending frame parts. Within the opening of the frame are a pair of blades arranged in tandem with their cutting edges parallel to each other and directed towards the guard surface.
  • the blades are carried on respective supports to which they are fixedly attached, and the ends of the blade supports are slidably guided in grooves in the end walls of the frame to enable the blades to retract, under forces exerted on the blades during shaving. Springs act on the blades to urge them to a normal rest position.
  • the shaving geometry defines the position and orientation of the blades in relation to other skin contacting parts, in particular the guard and cap, of the blade unit.
  • One parameter of the shaving geometry is the blade exposure, which is the perpendicular distance by which the edge of a blade protrudes above a shaving plane tangential to the surfaces of the skin contacting parts immediately in front of and behind the blade edge.
  • the known blade unit described above has the blades mounted so that the exposure is reduced when loads of sufficient magnitude to overcome the force of the springs are exerted on the blades.
  • the blade tangent angle is the angle at which the central plane of the blade intersects the tangent plane, the tangent plane being the plane which is tangent to the edge of the blade and to the surface of the skin contacting part next in front of the blade.
  • the blade tangent angle of the first or primary blade is the angle of the blade to the tangent plane tangential to the guard surface and the edge of the primary blade.
  • Drag forces are those forces directed essentially parallel to the shaving plane
  • load forces are those forces directed against the blade by the skin in the direction substantially perpendicular to the shaving plane.
  • a safety razor blade unit having at least one blade including a blade edge for shaving, said blade being mounted for independent movement relative to other skin contacting parts of the blade unit under forces exerted at the blade edge during shaving, said blade unit defining a tangent plane and a tangent angle, characterized in that said blade is mounted to move about a pivot axis displaced from the blade edge and located in or closely adjacent to the tangent plane to increase the blade tangent angle in response to load forces exerted on the blade during shaving, and in that said pivot axis is located between the blade edge and the skin contacting surface next in front of the blade.
  • the blade unit includes a frame, and each blade is fixedly carried on a blade support.
  • the blade support is connected to the frame by means defining a fulcrum with the movement of the blade comprising angular displacement around the fulcrum.
  • the fulcrum is located closer to the blade edge than is the point where the tangent plane meets the skin contacting surface next in front of the blade.
  • the fulcrum desirably lies in or closely adjacent to the tangent plane. This arrangement minimizes the changes in blade exposure as the blade tangent angle increases, and to the extent that the exposure of the blade does change, it reduces as the blade tangent angle increases.
  • the angular displacement of the blade is largely insensitive to the drag forces on the blade, and the blade span, i.e., the distance between the blade edge and the skin contacting surface in front of the blade edge measured in the tangent plane, does not change significantly as the blade tangent angle increases. It is expedient for the fulcrum to be spaced from the blade edge at a distance in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.
  • the blade or blades are initially set with a minimum blade tangent angle, and this angle increases under increasing load forces. As a consequence there is greater comfort as compared with other arrangements which provide the blade tangent angle to be initially set at a maximum.
  • the blade supports can conveniently be coupled to the frame so that the fulcrum is fixed with respect to the frame, but this is not essential and it is also possible to allow a degree of controlled movement of the fulcrum.
  • the safety razor blade unit shown in Figures 1-4 is a shaving cartridge.
  • the handle to which the cartridge is attached is not shown and may be of conventional form.
  • the cartridge comprises a moulded plastics frame 1 of generally rectangular shape.
  • the front rail of the frame includes a guard bar 2 and carries a guard strip 3 of elastomeric material having upstanding fins extending along the strip.
  • the rear rail of the frame defines a cap surface 5 and carries a strip 6 of lubricating material.
  • Three blades 7 with parallel edges are mounted in the frame between the guard bar 2 and cap surface 5 so that the blades pass in turn over the skin during shaving.
  • Each blade is fixedly attached to a blade support 8, and as best seen in Figure 4, integral with each end of the blade support is a forwardly and upwardly inclined suspension arm 9 having a journal 10 at its free end.
  • the journal axis is parallel to the edge of the blade and spaced forwardly therefrom at a distance of 0.2 to 0.6 mm.
  • the journals are received in bearings defined by spring blocks 12 and the end walls of the cartridge frame.
  • the spring blocks have connection elements 13 which engage with a snap fit in sockets formed in the frame walls, and integral with the spring blocks are spring fingers 14 which act on the undersides of the respective blades for urging the blades to their rest positions shown in Figure 1.
  • Upwardly directed key elements 15 on the spring blocks are arranged to extend into slots formed in the end walls of the frame to retain the journals 10 in their bearings defined at the upper ends of these slots, as may be seen in Figures 1 and 2.
  • each blade 7 is mounted in the cartridge frame 1 for pivotal movement about the axis defined by the journals 10, this axis being located between the blade edge, and the skin contacting member next in front of the blade, this axis being in or closely adjacent the tangent plane uf the blade.
  • the spring fingers 14 bias the blades to the rest position of Figure 1 in which the blades, or their support, abut against shoulders 18 formed on the frame end walls.
  • the blade When a blade 7 is subjected to a load force, applied at the blade edge and directed substantially perpendicular to the shaving plane, and the load force is of sufficient magnitude to overcome the prestress in the spring fingers 14, the blade is caused to pivot so that the blade tangent angle gradually increases as the load force increases further.
  • the blade exposure reduces, but only slightly if desired, the reduction in exposure could be compensated by arranging for the guard bar 2 to be itself spring mounted or to be elastically deformable so that it will be gradually depressed under the corresponding load force applied on the guard bar as the blades pivot under the load forces imparted on the blades.
  • the cartridge construction is such that the blade tangent angles will increase with increasing force used by the razor user to press the razor against the skin being shaved.
  • suspension arms 9 and journals 10 can be formed as a separate moulded members 20 which can be formed with slots to receive the ends of the blade support 8.
  • Figures 6A and 6B illustrate an arrangement in which a fulcrum about which a blade 7 is pivotable is formed by a living hinge 22 incorporated in a member 23 including the suspension arm 9.
  • the member may be integral with the cartridge frame 1 or can be moulded separately and attached to it.
  • the blade support is arcuate and end extensions 24 on the support are arranged to fit into correspondingly curved slots in the frame end walls to form a shell bearing defining the centre of pivotal movement of the blade 7.
  • each of the blades it is not essential for each of the blades to be constrained to move about a fixed fulcrum or pivot axis.
  • the suspension arms 9 and blade 7 pivot about the axis defined by the forward edges of the support bars 27, and during subsequent angular movement the pivoting takes place about the pivot axis defined by the rear edges of support bars.
  • the blades 7 are supported by integrally moulded four bar linkage assemblies.
  • a first link 30 forms the suspension arm 9, a second L-shaped link 31, is fixed to the cartridge frame, a third link 32 is connected to the suspension arm 9 by one living hinge 33 defining a fulcrum for movement of the blade 7, and to one end of the second link 31 by another living hinge 34, and a fourth link 35 of short length is connected by respective living hinges 36, 37 to the other end of the second link and to the first link.
  • the link 30 moves about the fulcrum defined by the hinge 33.
  • the fulcrums will be located substantially as described in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1-4 and as a consequence the desired effect of the blade tangent angles increasing as the load forces increase is obtained, while the blade spans do not change substantially, and the changes to the blade exposures are kept small.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Dry Shavers And Clippers (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)
  • Knives (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité ayant au moins une lame (7) comprenant un bord de lame pour le rasage, ladite lame (7) étant montée pour un mouvement indépendant par rapport aux autres parties de contact de la peau (2, 5) de l'unité de lame sous l'effet de forces exercées au niveau du bord de lame pendant le rasage, ladite unité de lame définissant un plan tangent (T) et un angle de tangente (A), caractérisée en ce que ladite lame (7) est montée afin de se déplacer autour d'un axe de pivot décalé par rapport aux bords de lame et disposé dans ou de façon adjacente au plan tangent (T) afin d'augmenter l'angle de tangente de lame (A) en réponse aux forces de charge exercées sur la lame pendant le rasage, et en ce que ledit axe de pivotement est disposé entre le bord de lame et la surface de contact de peau (2) à la suite en avant de la lame (7).
  2. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 1, ladite unité de lame comprenant un cadre (1) avec chaque lame (7) qui est portée de façon fixe sur un support de lame (8), et le support de lame (8) qui est relié au cadre (1) au moyen d'un point de pivotement, le mouvement de la lame (7) comportant un déplacement angulaire autour dudit point de pivotement, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement est disposé plus près du bord de lame que le point où le plan tangent (T) rencontre la surface de contact de la peau (2) à la suite en avant de la lame (7).
  3. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement est fixe par rapport au cadre (1) et ledit axe de pivotement définit ledit point de pivotement.
  4. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement comporte des tourillons (10) prévus au niveau des extrémités opposées du support de lame (8) et engagés dans des paliers dans le cadre (1).
  5. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit support de lame (8) est relié au cadre (1) de telle sorte que le point de pivotement se déplace par rapport au cadre (1) pendant le déplacement angulaire de la lame (7).
  6. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit support de lame (8) a un bras de suspension (9) engagé avec une barre de support (27) fixée sur le cadre (1) et ayant des bords opposés autour desquels le bras de suspension (9) pivote de manière séquentielle lorsque le déplacement angulaire de la lame (7) augmente.
  7. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 2 ou 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement comporte une charnière.
  8. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement comporte un palier.
  9. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 8, caractérisée en ce que ledit point de pivotement est espacé du bord de lame d'une distance dans la plage de 0,2 mm à 0,6 mm.
  10. Unité de lame de rasoir de sécurité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de lame comprend plusieurs lames (7) ayant des bords de coupe parallèles, chaque lame (7) étant montée pour un mouvement pivotant autour d'un axe de pivotement décalé par rapport à son bord de coupe et disposé dans ou de façon adjacente au plan tangent (T) de la lame.
EP97938045A 1996-08-05 1997-07-28 Rasoir Expired - Lifetime EP0929382B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9616402.5A GB9616402D0 (en) 1996-08-05 1996-08-05 Safety razors
GB9616402 1996-08-05
PCT/US1997/013099 WO1998005478A1 (fr) 1996-08-05 1997-07-28 Rasoir

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0929382A1 EP0929382A1 (fr) 1999-07-21
EP0929382B1 true EP0929382B1 (fr) 2003-01-02

Family

ID=10798030

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97938045A Expired - Lifetime EP0929382B1 (fr) 1996-08-05 1997-07-28 Rasoir

Country Status (17)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0929382B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP4267071B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN1142050C (fr)
AR (1) AR008109A1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE230331T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU738107B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9710805A (fr)
CA (1) CA2261759C (fr)
DE (1) DE69718184T2 (fr)
EG (1) EG21083A (fr)
ES (1) ES2185982T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB9616402D0 (fr)
ID (1) ID19214A (fr)
MY (1) MY132495A (fr)
RU (1) RU2214902C2 (fr)
TW (1) TW382609B (fr)
WO (1) WO1998005478A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (33)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6112412A (en) * 1999-04-21 2000-09-05 Warner-Lambert Company Razor assembly and cartridge having improved wash-through
US6182366B1 (en) 1999-04-21 2001-02-06 Warner-Lambert Company Flexible razor assembly and cartridge
US6138361A (en) * 1999-04-21 2000-10-31 Warner-Lambert Company Pivotable razor assembly and cartridge
US6772523B1 (en) 1999-04-21 2004-08-10 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Pivotable and flexible razor assembly and cartridge
US6629475B1 (en) * 2000-07-18 2003-10-07 The Gillette Company Razor blade
EP1236547A3 (fr) * 2001-02-28 2003-04-02 Warner-Lambert Company Système de rasage qui fléchit une lame activement
US7621203B2 (en) * 2004-02-09 2009-11-24 The Gillette Company Shaving razors, and blade subassemblies therefor and methods of manufacture
US7690122B2 (en) 2004-03-11 2010-04-06 The Gillette Company Shaving razor with button
EP1937444B1 (fr) * 2005-09-14 2013-04-17 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Éléments de montage de lames pour cartouche de rasoir
US7578217B2 (en) 2005-10-26 2009-08-25 The Gillette Company Manufacturing razor blades
US8061237B2 (en) 2005-10-26 2011-11-22 The Gillette Company Manufacturing razor blades
US8607667B2 (en) 2005-10-26 2013-12-17 The Gillette Company Manufacturing razor blades
JP4950507B2 (ja) 2006-02-14 2012-06-13 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター 剃刀
JP4977374B2 (ja) 2006-02-14 2012-07-18 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター 剃刀
JP4950506B2 (ja) * 2006-02-14 2012-06-13 株式会社貝印刃物開発センター 剃刀
DE602006020502D1 (de) 2006-06-20 2011-04-14 Bic Violex Sa Rasierklingeneinheit-kopf und rasierapparat mit einer derartigen klingeneinheit
US8262755B2 (en) 2007-06-05 2012-09-11 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Staged membrane oxidation reactor system
US8209867B2 (en) * 2008-10-02 2012-07-03 The Gillette Company Shaving razors and cartridges
EP2376261B1 (fr) 2008-12-19 2020-04-15 BIC Violex S.A. Cartouche de rasoir et rasoir mécanique comportant une telle cartouche
US8826543B2 (en) * 2009-03-23 2014-09-09 The Gillette Company Manually actuable liquid dispensing razor
US8061039B2 (en) * 2009-05-19 2011-11-22 The Gillette Company Shaving cartridges having elongated skin contacting members
US20100313426A1 (en) * 2009-06-12 2010-12-16 Terence Gordon Royle Safety razor with pivot and rotation
US9193080B2 (en) * 2009-08-03 2015-11-24 The Gillette Company Shaving blade unit with self-leveling trimmer
EP2366507B1 (fr) 2010-03-15 2015-05-13 The Gillette Company Cartouche de rasoir
CN102452094A (zh) * 2010-10-28 2012-05-16 吉列公司 分配液体的毛发移除套件
EP2537649B1 (fr) * 2011-06-21 2013-07-17 The Gillette Company Cartouche de rasoir dotée d'un élément qui vient en contact avec la peau
RU2693970C2 (ru) * 2014-10-20 2019-07-08 Бик-Виолекс Са Кассета с лезвиями для бритья и бритва, содержащая такую кассету с лезвиями для бритья
EP3237156B1 (fr) * 2014-12-22 2020-04-22 BIC-Violex S.A. Cartouche de lames de rasage et rasoir comprenant une telle cartouche de lames de rasage
JP6499294B2 (ja) * 2014-12-24 2019-04-10 ビック・バイオレクス・エス・エー 剃毛ブレードカートリッジ及び当該剃毛ブレードカートリッジを具備するシェーバー
KR20200019121A (ko) * 2017-06-16 2020-02-21 빅-비올렉스 에스아 면도기 카트리지
PL3912772T3 (pl) 2020-05-20 2024-05-13 BIC Violex Single Member S.A. Główka maszynki z ulepszonymi sprężystymi palcami
EP3912773B1 (fr) 2020-05-20 2024-03-06 BIC Violex Single Member S.A. Tête de rasoir dotée de doigts à ressort améliorés
EP4311637A1 (fr) * 2022-07-29 2024-01-31 BIC Violex Single Member S.A. Tête de rasage

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3019399A1 (de) * 1979-05-25 1981-04-23 The Gillette Co., 02199 Boston, Mass. Kopf eines sicherheitsrasierapparates
JPS5627290A (en) * 1979-05-25 1981-03-17 Gillette Co Head portion for safety razor
US4774765A (en) * 1986-09-02 1988-10-04 Warner-Lambert Company Blade assembly featuring variable span
DE9108212U1 (de) * 1991-07-03 1992-10-29 Wilkinson Sword GmbH, 5650 Solingen Rasierapparatekopf, insbesondere Rasierklingeneinheit eines Naßrasierapparates
DE9108214U1 (de) * 1991-07-03 1992-10-29 Wilkinson Sword GmbH, 5650 Solingen Rasierapparatekopf, insbesondere Rasierklingeneinheit eines Naßrasierapparates
US5222600A (en) * 1992-07-28 1993-06-29 Stoddard James T Autoclave pouch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1227520A (zh) 1999-09-01
TW382609B (en) 2000-02-21
WO1998005478A1 (fr) 1998-02-12
AR008109A1 (es) 1999-12-09
EG21083A (en) 2000-10-31
JP2000515406A (ja) 2000-11-21
AU4046097A (en) 1998-02-25
CA2261759C (fr) 2003-09-30
DE69718184D1 (de) 2003-02-06
CN1142050C (zh) 2004-03-17
RU2214902C2 (ru) 2003-10-27
JP4267071B2 (ja) 2009-05-27
ID19214A (id) 1998-06-28
ATE230331T1 (de) 2003-01-15
CA2261759A1 (fr) 1998-02-12
MY132495A (en) 2007-10-31
AU738107B2 (en) 2001-09-06
BR9710805A (pt) 1999-08-17
DE69718184T2 (de) 2003-08-21
ES2185982T3 (es) 2003-05-01
EP0929382A1 (fr) 1999-07-21
GB9616402D0 (en) 1996-09-25

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