GB2166380A - Razors - Google Patents

Abstract

A razor blade unit comprises a rigid hollow body 1 which houses a plurality of cutting blades or cartridges 2. The cartridges are moved from the upper compartment 4 into the lower compartment 12 when dulled by a change over button 11 which engages into a hole on the side of the cartridge. Cartridges are moved forward in the upper compartment by a pressure plate 5 and spring 6 held in place by a guide rod 7; in the lower compartment take up tension is provided by a pressure plate 19 and spring 17 which is held together by a guide rod 7. A protective visor 9 is encorporated for added safety. The cartridges may be housed in a cassette 20 which slides into the body 1 and locks into place. A spare cassette may be stored in the handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Razor This invention relates to a razor, preferably a disposable safety razor.

Razors are well known items for the removal of unwanted facial or bodily hair. Safety razors of the disposable kind usually comprise of a blade moulded onto a platform which also contains a handle. These razors usually come with a separate guard to protect the user. As they are generally sold in packets of five or ten the bathroom soon becomes cluttered up with shavers and their protective guards.

According to the present invention there is provided a shaver comprising a body in which is contained a plurality of razor blades or razor cartridges, and means for moving each blade or cartridge in turn into a shaving position and for moving each blade or cartridge into a position stored within the body when dulled.

More preferably, the present invention provides a safety razor comprising an array of cartridges with cutting blades, a body and handle of a generally 'L' shaped design, optionally a moveable protective visor, two compartments, upper and lower in an approximately parallel position, upper compartment stacked with an array of cartridges with their blades kept in tension towards the face of the body, provision for changing cartridges into the lower compartment when failing to give satisfactory shaves, and optionally a means in the take up compartment, provision for the indication of the last razor blade cartridge left.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a transverse vertical section of the razor unit without protective visor; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view showing relevant parts of cartridge compartments; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of razor with protective visor in use position; Figure 4 is a cross section of cartridge change over button; Figure 5 illustrates a transverse vertical section of the razor employing a spare cassette unit of blades in its base which is interchangeable with the top cassette unit of blades, with protective visor in closed position.

Referring to the drawings the razor comprises an array of cartridges 2 housed in a body 1 of a plastics mould having a hollow form and of a generally 'L' shaped design with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3. The blade 3 is suitably secured in the cartridge 2. Figure 1, 2, 3 and 5 shows the cartridge with two blades. The cartridges are stacked in the upper compartment 4 and kept in tension by pressure plate 5 and spring 6. A guide rod 7 keeps the spring 6, pressure plate 5 and cartridges 2 with their respective holes 10 in alignment.

By sliding the protective visor 9 in the direction of arrow 8 in figure 5 the razor is in the use position. The cartridge is kept in place at the front opening by the tension provided from the spring acting upon the pressure plate and cartridges.

When the blades in the cartridge become dulled a slide button 11 engages into the cartridge and slides it into the bottom compartment 12. When this happens the spring 6 and pressure plate 5 pushes a new cartridge towards the front opening.

The push button 11 is a suggested means of changing over the dulled razors. The button is kept in place by a small spring 13 and a washer 14.

When the button is pressed in the slot 15 it engages in a hole 16 on the side of the cartridge.

To avoid rattles and/or letting the cartridges fall into the base of the body, a spring 17, guide rod 7 and pressure plate 19 are used in the lower compartment 12. Slots 21 are provided so that lather and shavings can pass through, which can later be washed out after a shave. The last cartridge 2A shown in figure 5 is made of a different coloured plastics which is used to indicate it's time to buy another shaver unit.

With reference to figure 5 it shows an optional form of the invention whereby the whole shaving assembly is housed in a cassette 20 which slides into the side of the body 1 and locks into place by suitable means not shown. Another cassette is stored in the lower part of the body which forms the handle. When the first cassette is used up it is interchanged with the one in the handle part of the body. After the second cassette is used up the whole unit is disposed.

Though not illustrated a reusable body can be used in the form of figure 1, 2 or 3 and a disposable cassette assembly which when exhausted is replaced and a new supply cassette is inserted ready for use.

1. A safety razor comprising a rigid hollow body of suitable design in which is contained a plurality of razor blades or razor cartridges, and means for moving each blade or cartridge in turn into a shaving position and for moving each blade or cartridge into a position stored within the body when dulled.

2. A safety razor as claimed in claim 1, wherein appropriate tension is provided to move the blades or cartridges forward.

3. A safety razor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein suitable tension is provided to retain dulled blades or cartridges within the body.

4. A safety razor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a change over button of suitable means is provided to move the razor blades or cartridges from one compartment to another.

5. A safety razor as claimed in any of the previous claims, wherein a cassette assembly of the main works is housed separately to the body and which can be releasably placed into the body and retracted when all the blades or cartridges are dulled.

6. A safety razor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is provided with a protective visor.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Razor This invention relates to a razor, preferably a disposable safety razor. Razors are well known items for the removal of unwanted facial or bodily hair. Safety razors of the disposable kind usually comprise of a blade moulded onto a platform which also contains a handle. These razors usually come with a separate guard to protect the user. As they are generally sold in packets of five or ten the bathroom soon becomes cluttered up with shavers and their protective guards. According to the present invention there is provided a shaver comprising a body in which is contained a plurality of razor blades or razor cartridges, and means for moving each blade or cartridge in turn into a shaving position and for moving each blade or cartridge into a position stored within the body when dulled. More preferably, the present invention provides a safety razor comprising an array of cartridges with cutting blades, a body and handle of a generally 'L' shaped design, optionally a moveable protective visor, two compartments, upper and lower in an approximately parallel position, upper compartment stacked with an array of cartridges with their blades kept in tension towards the face of the body, provision for changing cartridges into the lower compartment when failing to give satisfactory shaves, and optionally a means in the take up compartment, provision for the indication of the last razor blade cartridge left. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a transverse vertical section of the razor unit without protective visor; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view showing relevant parts of cartridge compartments; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of razor with protective visor in use position; Figure 4 is a cross section of cartridge change over button; Figure 5 illustrates a transverse vertical section of the razor employing a spare cassette unit of blades in its base which is interchangeable with the top cassette unit of blades, with protective visor in closed position. Referring to the drawings the razor comprises an array of cartridges 2 housed in a body 1 of a plastics mould having a hollow form and of a generally 'L' shaped design with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3. The blade 3 is suitably secured in the cartridge 2. Figure 1, 2, 3 and 5 shows the cartridge with two blades. The cartridges are stacked in the upper compartment 4 and kept in tension by pressure plate 5 and spring 6. A guide rod 7 keeps the spring 6, pressure plate 5 and cartridges 2 with their respective holes 10 in alignment. By sliding the protective visor 9 in the direction of arrow 8 in figure 5 the razor is in the use position. The cartridge is kept in place at the front opening by the tension provided from the spring acting upon the pressure plate and cartridges. When the blades in the cartridge become dulled a slide button 11 engages into the cartridge and slides it into the bottom compartment 12. When this happens the spring 6 and pressure plate 5 pushes a new cartridge towards the front opening. The push button 11 is a suggested means of changing over the dulled razors. The button is kept in place by a small spring 13 and a washer 14. When the button is pressed in the slot 15 it engages in a hole 16 on the side of the cartridge. To avoid rattles and/or letting the cartridges fall into the base of the body, a spring 17, guide rod 7 and pressure plate 19 are used in the lower compartment 12. Slots 21 are provided so that lather and shavings can pass through, which can later be washed out after a shave. The last cartridge 2A shown in figure 5 is made of a different coloured plastics which is used to indicate it's time to buy another shaver unit. With reference to figure 5 it shows an optional form of the invention whereby the whole shaving assembly is housed in a cassette 20 which slides into the side of the body 1 and locks into place by suitable means not shown. Another cassette is stored in the lower part of the body which forms the handle. When the first cassette is used up it is interchanged with the one in the handle part of the body. After the second cassette is used up the whole unit is disposed. Though not illustrated a reusable body can be used in the form of figure 1, 2 or 3 and a disposable cassette assembly which when exhausted is replaced and a new supply cassette is inserted ready for use. CLAIMS

1. A safety razor comprising a rigid hollow body of suitable design in which is contained a plurality of razor blades or razor cartridges, and means for moving each blade or cartridge in turn into a shaving position and for moving each blade or cartridge into a position stored within the body when dulled.

2. A safety razor as claimed in claim 1, wherein appropriate tension is provided to move the blades or cartridges forward.

3. A safety razor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein suitable tension is provided to retain dulled blades or cartridges within the body.

4. A safety razor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a change over button of suitable means is provided to move the razor blades or cartridges from one compartment to another.

5. A safety razor as claimed in any of the previous claims, wherein a cassette assembly of the main works is housed separately to the body and which can be releasably placed into the body and retracted when all the blades or cartridges are dulled.

6. A safety razor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is provided with a protective visor.

7. A safety razor substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.