AU603182B2 - Razor with blade protection means and a facial treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

A razor head (10) comprising a blade support (5), at least one blade (11, 13) disposed above the blade support (5) and a cap (20) disposed above the or each blade (11, 13). The cap (20) and blade support (5) are movable relative to each other between a first position in which the or each blade (11, 13) is exposed and a second position in which the or each blade (11, 13) is covered. A shaving aid (30) is provided which is disposed in a position for engaging a face when the cap (20) and support (5) are in the first position.

Description

Iv Ift _,j A~L -P AUST<ALIA L, PATENTS ACT 1952 n 65 0; Am Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. CI: a SApplication Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Sa Accepted: Lapsed: Published; r- 'ij, 't I t~ri o opriority; Rglated Art: 0 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Npme of Applicant: WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, of 201 Tabor Road, Morris Plains, New Jersey, United States of America.

Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: PETER BOWMAN FRANK A. FERRARO s fr S Care of: COWIE, THOMSON CARTER, Address for Service: Patent Attorneys, 71 Queens Road, Melbourne, Vic., 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: RAZOR WITH BLADE PROTECTION MEANS AND A FACIAL TREATMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me-* -1 SNote: The description Is to be typed In double spacing, pica type face, in an area not exceeding 250 mm In depth and 160 mm In width, on tough white paper of good quality and It Is to be Inserted inside this form.

14599/78-L Printed by C J. TIOMNPSON, Commonwealih Oyvernment Printer, Cinhberra 11 fAOQA 0 o W fl-l f 8ara 040@ 0 0 41D Field of the Invention This invention relates to a disposable razor and particularly disposable razors having blade protective covers with areas on the covers for facial treatment compound.

Background of the Invention Recently, disposable razors have been manufactured in which the razor cap also serves as a blade protective cover. This is accomplished by moving either the cap or 10 the blade and blade support relative to the cap so that either the cap or the support can be locked in place in two positions; the first placing the cap forward of the blade to protect it when the razor is being stored and the second with the cap retracted from the blade edge exposing the edge for shaving.

U.S. Patents 4, 328,615 issued May 11, 1982 and 4,443,938 issued April 2,4, 1984 to Peter Bowman and Allen F. Frieze describe a razor in which the cap moves relative to the blade support surface and locks in the blade protective as well as the blade exposed position.

This is accomplished by extending the cap sides downward over the blade support portion with lugs protruding inward from the cap size to engage suitable mating elements in the blade support portion sides.

25 One of the mating elements is a slide surface which engages one of the lugs and defines the linear movement of the cap. Another lug engages a series of spaces defined by projections in the forward portion of the side of the seat. The projections and the lug form two 30 detent positions. One of the detent positions locks the cap in its retracted-blade exposed position, while the other; when the lug is engaged with it, locks the cap in the blade protective position. This configuration allows the cap to serve as a protective cover and does so 4" a pa a 8 0 PP 00a a a aa a b a a P O p op a OP 8 p 1 C8 8 4 P p 'M 'QK 2 without using additional elements or substantial modification in disposable razor design. Problems have, however, been encountered in molding the side of the blade support portion particularly the side flanges.

British Patent Application 2,113,594 describes a razor having a pivotal blade support portion which is anchored along the sides of the single piece cap sides and handle. The blade support portion, as it pivots through its arc, moves the blades forward to expose the blade at its counter clockwise-most position and «rearward to shield the blade at its clockwise-most j o position. Detenting means are provided by a finger which extends outward from the rear of the blade support portion and engages either in mating slot on the cap, or 15 the downward extending cap lip. The former positions provides a locking detent exposing the blade while the later provides a locking detent for blade protection.

This center position finger tends to wear during use j 0 o" and, as a result, the first i.e. covered locking position tends to produce a set which loses its firm positioning in its socket. Also, pivoting occurs as a 2a 4o result of the mating of the separate blade portion with the one piece cap-side-handle configuration and precise internal measurements are needed for the lugs on the o0 25 sides of the inserted platform to engage the receiving i slots at the sides of the one-piece configuration.

These relatively small lugs can break off during the force required for insertion.

U.S. Patent 4,464,835 describes a razor with a moveable cap with the cap being positioned by a central ramp detent.

U.S. Patent 4,170,821 issued October 16, 1979 to Anthony R. Booth describes the addition of a shaving aid in the form of a lubricant, whisker softener razor cleaner, medicinal agent or the like and its addition to 3 a razor. Booth also describes a water soluble lubricant such as polyethylene oxide which is leachable from F ;nicroporous substrate applied as part of the cap.

Summary of the Invention According to this invention there is provided a razor comprising: at least one blade; a cap overlaying said blade and comprising a skin treating component; a blade support positioned beneath said blade; said cap, said blade, and said support affixed to be operatively connected to each other; said cap and said blade support being moveable relative to each other between a cutting position in which said blade is exposed and a treatment position in which said blade is covered, wherein said skin lo i treating component is disposed in face engaging relationship at least when said cap is in said treatment position.

S In a preferred embodiment the skin treating component is disposed in face engaging contact when said cap is in the cutting or blade exposed position. Thus the skin treating component is capable of being appliecd to the face during or after shaving.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the razor of this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blade support portion in combination with the handle used for the razor of this invenion; Fig, 3 is a side view with the sliding cap removed; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the subassembly shown in Fig,3; Fig. 5 is a front view of the cap; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the cap; Fig. 7 is a cross section of the razor head of the razor of this invention; Fig, 8 is a plan view of the razor of this invention; and

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K l 4 Detailed Description of the Invention The moveable cap system depicted and discussed .low is similar to that set forth in U.S. Patent 4,464,935 issued August 14, 1984 to Peter Bowman and Allan S.

Frieze and is preferred as an embodiment of a razor with a blade exposed and blade covered configuration because of its simplicity and ease of manufacture. It is to be understood that, for purposes of this invention, any of the prior art razors which produce a blade covered and blade exposed locking configuration such as those found in U.S. Patents 4,443,938; 4,328,615 and British Patent 2,113 594 are also useful.

Further according to this invention, a razor generally of the disposable type is used as an applicator for a skin treating component applied during shaving and/or an oapplicator for a skin treating component to be applied after shaving is completed.

0 :o As shown if Fig. 1, razor 10 had a handle 18 extending upward so that it joins o:.O a razor head having cap 20 and blade support portion 5 (see also Fig. As can be o, seen further with reference to Fig. 1 and 8, a skin treating component 30 is present on the handle in a face engaging relationship so that when the blade is covered and when the blade is exposed for shaving, the skin treating component is in contact with the fv,.e.

The blade support portioi 5 as shown in Fig. 2, includes upwardly extending circular support surface 7 and pins or stakes 6 centrally positioned and upwardly depending from surfaces 7, Pins 6 hold utipper blade 11, lower blade 13 and spacer 12 and define spatial relationships through slots at the right and left hand side of upper blade 11. Corresponding slots exist in lower blade 13 and holes corresponding in size of pins 6 are to be found in spacer 12. The pins extend upward from the bottom of seat blade 13 which is wider than top blade 11, and through corresponding slots (not shown) in spacer 12 are positioned by to fit through slots 15 and 19 in cap blade 11 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

As shown in Fig,. 2, guard bar 17 is attached to the

A.

ii seat of the blade support portion by forwardly extending ribs 4. The edge of the guard bar 17 forms a raised area (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which shields the corner of the blade and also defines the forward wall.

stop for sliding cap movement. As can best be seen by reference to Fig. 3, projection 8 upstanding from ledge 16 provides the rearward stop for the cap slide.

As can best be seen by reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the cap 20 has sides 26 with a pair of inwardly extending flanges 22 surrounding the blade support i o, 5assembly 5. Cap 20 is designed to move essentially oI linearly and reciprocally around the seat and blade o O subassembly. Rearwardly extending lip 27 engages ramp portion 14 at the bottom of downwardly extending ramp face 14b to expose the blades 11 and 13 (see Fig, 7).

The cap has a series of recesses 23 which correspond to upstanding pits 6 to provide clearance for movement.

S, When cap back 27 is in the positions shown in phantom lines and Fig, 7, it abuts against upward projection 14a with the upward face 14a serving as a detent for the bottom of the cap lip 27. The blade is exposed by exerting rearward pressure against the cap and the cap sides which allows the cap back portion 27 to ride up and over upward face 14a and down faca 14b, As can best be seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8, a strip of material is positioned on the top portion of the cap of the invention shown in these Figs., the skin treating component 30 is held in place by forward position ribs 29 and rearwardly positioned wall 28. The strip of skin treating component is prevented from S. sliding transversely across the cap by the presence of fine 31. The wall 28 is used to prevent dislodgement by shaving forces directed against the strip in the rearward direction.

6 Examples of skin treating components which are applied during shaving are polyethylene oxide such ac disclosed in the Booth patent, certain silicones and other lubricating agents. These lubricating agents provide a barrier between the blade and the face after the blade has made its initial pass to remove shaving cream. Shavers in variably shave the same location repeatedly to pick up hairs that were missed during the initial stroke where the face was covered with lather.

The idea of presenting such a lubricating barrier is I generally disclosed in the Booth patent. However, due i to the ability to use the razor of this invention as an o applicator, the lubricant can be applied without the face being in direct contact with the blade. This enables the user to put down a secondary coating of S* lubricant before a subsequent blade stroke as well as during the blade stroke. 'Other agents which may be aoa added to the strip alone or in combination with lubricants are bacteriostats or other antiseptics, i 20 suntan lotions containing for example, para aminobenzoic acid, benzoyl 6-peroxide, after shave lotions, emollients and cologne.

When lubricants such as polyethylene oxide are used or other additives which may be desirable to be added to the face during shaving, e.g. emollients or similar skin conditioners the lubricating strip is positioned as shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, since this use is designed to be correlated with the repeated shaves inherent in current blade technology, a timed release feature such as disclosed in Booth or Gillette British Patent No. 2,427,184 is desired. (Both of these patents are incorporated by reference.) A preferred way to accomplish timed release is to imbed these materials which must be water soluble to be released into a 7 microporous strip by processes such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,075,033 and 3,181,973. These patents disclose the concept of leaching a water soluble material, particularly polyethylene oxide from a water insoluble microporous matrix such as suitable thermoplastics such as polystryene. The combination of the polyethylene oxide and polystyrene or other thermoplastic is formed either by extruding the polyethyleneoxide and thermoplastic together or by injection molding them together in the strip. Delivery levels suitable i for repeated shaving is obtained when the percentage of rti" polyethylene oxide by weight is between 30 and 80% and generally between about 40 and 70% of the mixture with the thermoplastic.

15 A particularly preferred method of uniting the strip to the cap is by sequential molding wherein an injection molded cap is formed with a suitable recessed area covered by a suitable portion of the mold. The covering portion is withdrawn and the mating strip is formed in place in the mold generally attached by suitable slots formed in the recessed area which engage mating anchors extending downward from the strip when the molding in place occurs. The recess should provide a rear.ward stop to result shaving forces as is the case with the structure wherein the strip is added on and attached by being held in place by wall 28.

After the cap has been molded a second molding step generally at temperatures below the first molding step occurs utilizing the cap as a substrate for a moldable blend of thermoplastic and skin treating component, eg.

polyethylene oxide. A second molding step is then performed which shapes the mixture into a solid which conforms to and is attached at the recess and slots in the cap formed during the first molding.

wl, I i i-i ~;una For purposes of this invention the term "skin treating component" is limited to compositions which are used during or after shaving. The definitions also includes delivery systems for the composition such as microporous strips or microencapsulated such as disclosed in Booth. Since it is desired that the delivery system be small, self contained and process compatible with the manufacturer of disposable plastic razors, the utilization of complex delivery systems such as required for shaving creams or foams is specifically excluded from the ambit of this invention.

By using a delivery system e.g. microporous water insoluble strips, the delivery system can be sequentially molded or attached to the cap and the 15 disposable razor can be made with minimal cost increase.

oThis is not possible when large volumes of material are to be added to the face such as occurs with the addition of shaving cream or foam.

"It is particularly preferred that the strip be t°,oo 20 positioned so as to have minimal effect on shaving geometry when it is designed to contact the face, and therefore it should be positioned either with a recess in the cap so that only the surface is exposed or the surface should only be slightly elevated above the cap.

This restricts the size and capacity of the delivery system and therefore eliminates the possibility of delivering shaving creams or foams in this manner. It is also preferred that the plane of the strip be essentially that of the cap or, alternatively that the rearward portion be higher than the frontward portion.

Of course, due to the fact that the strip itself is water insoluble, the shaving geometry will not change through repeated use of the .azor.

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Claims (9)

1. A razor comprising: t at least one blade; A a cap overlaying said blade and comprising a skin treating component; I a blade support positioned beneath said blade; said cap, said blade, and said support affixed to be operatively connected to each other; Isaid cap and said blade support being moveable relative to each other between a cutting position in which said blade is exposed and a treatment position in which said blade is covered, wherein said skin treating component is disposed in face j engaging relationship at least when said cap is in said treatment position.

2. A razor according to claim 1 wherein said skin treating component is also disposed in face engaging relationship when said cap is in said cutting position.

3. A razor system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the skin treating component is a facial lubricant,

4. A razor system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the skin treating component contains polyethylene oxide.

A razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the skin treating components is leached out of an insoluble microporous carrier strip attached to said cap.

6. A razor according to claim 5 wherein said strip is held in place by tabs positioned along the periphery of said strip.

7, A razor according to claim 5 wherein the microporous strip is molded on the cap. a

8. A razor according to claim 1 or any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the skin treating component is at least one member selected from the group consisting of emollients, antiseptics astringents, acne treatments, sun screen containing solutions and scented solutions.

9. A razor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 3rd day of August, 1990. AA 0~ 0 4 0 4 WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY. IA I A IUS t 'i v '4