AU676890B2 - Barber's razor - Google Patents

Description

P/00/O 1l 20W9 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT IvninTte 4 The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, including the best .4p1ethod of performing it known to me:e 0.00 00..

C BARBER'S RAZOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to barber's razors, sometimes referred to as straight-edge razors and cut-throat razors.

Prior art barber's razors generally comprise an elongate blade member having a single elongate cutting edge and a protective cover strip, the cover strip and blade member being pivotally interconnected about a common pivot axis in the vicinity of the rear end of the blade member to enable the cover strip and blade member to be folded closed or folded open. In the folded closed state, the cutting edge of the blade member comes to rest within the protective cover strip. To use the razor, the cover strip is folded away from the cutting edge by more than ISO degrees to form a projecting extension to the blade member, relative to which a user holds the blade member on both sides with his fingers. However in order to safely fold the razor to its folded open position the user is generally required to hold the blade member with the fingers of one hand and the cover strip with those of the other hand. Accordingly both hands of the user are occupied with the folding open procedure and the risk of contamination of the cutting edge by the use of two hands during this procedure is enhanced.

Conventionally barber's razors are used by barbers on a number of consecutive clients without 3 0 sterilisation. With a growing awareness of the nature and character of transmittable blood diseases and of the likelihood of minor cuts being occasioned during 4-' 'rNT oY 2 shaving and hair cutting barber shop clients are increasingly concerned that razors be clean prior to reuse. Further, cleaning and/or sterilisation prior to use is time consuming and accordingly costly.

Additionally clients are caused to wonder whether adequate sterilisation procedures have been effected even when appropriate procedures have been undertaken.

A number of barber's razors have been proposed which include guards for the cutting edge. The guards are generally additional components of the razor thereby adversely affect cost. Further provision of said guards enhances the number of possible contact or contamination points on a razor .I3 and accordingly enhances the risk of contamination.

S"Y OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to substantially overcome or alleviate one or more deficiencies of the prior art.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a disposable barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member, the blade member and the handle member being telescopically interconnected to permit relative longitudinal displacement therebetween, the razor having at least one :inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and an operative extended position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed, the members also being pivotally interconnected to permit the blade member to be swung to said operative extended position about a common pivot axis disposed 3 towards one end of the blade member characterised in that the blade member is provided with a longitudinally extending cutting edge a6apted to be substantially fully sheathed within the handle member in said at least one inoperative retracted position and in that the blade member is swung to an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle member to effect said operative extended position, the razor further characterised in that the bhLde member is provided with a pin means exten'i,g from both sides thereof and the handle member is provided with a longitudinally extending track means in each of two opposite internal walls within which said pin means is accommodated to provide for sliding telescopic movement between the members and each track terminates towards one end of the handle member to limit withdrawal of the blade member from the handle member and to provide said common pivot axis about which said swinging is 0'o effected.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a disposable barber's razor in combination with a tamper-proof container characterised in that the container is hermetically sealed to protect from contamination a sterilised razor disposed therein.

Rupture or tearing of the walls of the container or breakage of the seal is evident upon inspection.

Accordingly the combination is well adapted to enable a client or user to witness the condition of the razor immediately prior to use.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a barber's razor comprising a blade member and a r 4 4 handle member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed wherein the blade member and the handle member are pivotally interconnected to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about a common pivot axis intermediate the length of the handle member and disposed towards one end of the blade member thereby to provide a pivoted extended operative position of the razor wherein Y' further the blade member includes towards said one end a pin extending equilaterally on both sides of the blade member and the handle member includes a longitudinally extending cavity within which the blade member is accommodated, said cavity opening towards one end of the handle member and being defined by two pairs of opposed walls, one of said pairs of walls having a longitudinally extending track means in each wall within which said pin is accommodated to provide for sliding movement between the members, the track means terminating S.towards said one end of the handle member thereby Sto limit withdrawal of the blade member from the cavity and to provide said common pivot axis about which folding and pivoting of the blade member is effected and the blade member includes an extension formed at said one end of the blade member to enable the user to hold the razor in a pivoted extended

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operative position wherein the members are held to form an acute angle between a longitudinal axis of the blade member and a longitudinal axis of the handle member.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a disposable barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member, the blade member and the handle member being telescopically interconnected to permit relative longitudinal displacement therebetween, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and an operative extended position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed, the members also being pivotally interconnected to permit the blade member to be swung to said operative extended positon about a common pivot axis disposed towards one end of the blade member characterised in that the blade member is provided with a longitudinally extending cutting edge adapted to be substantially fully sheathed within the handle member in said at least one inoperative retracted position and in that the blade member is swung to an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle member to effect said operative extended position, S. the razor further characterised in that the blade member is provided with a pin means extending from both sides thereof and the handle member is provided with a longitudinally extending track means in each of two opposite internal walls within which said pin means is accommodated to provide for sliding telescopic movement between the members and each r 6 track terminates towards one end of the handle member to limit withdrawal of the blade member from the handle member and to provide said common pivot axis about which said swinging is effected.

Preferably the blade member is provided with a rigidly mounted blade and comprises a shank portion and a blade holder portion.

More preferably the blade holder portion comprises a longitudinally extending body and a longitudinally extending plate adapted to rigidly mount a blade therebetween to present an exposed cutting edge along a longitudinal edge thereof. In alternative embodiments the blade may be releasably secured to 2i'5 the blade member.

i Preferably the body and the shank portion are integral.

In other embodiments (not shown), the blade member is lockable against accidental movement relative to the handle member.

Preferably further the handle member may be provided with a longitudinally extending Slot along an upper edge wall thereof through which an operating member, preferably integral with the blade member, may protrude to facilitate telescopic displacement between the members.

Preferably the blade member includes an extension formed in one end of the shank portion.

The handle member may comprise a pair of opposed parallel handle panels of similar longitudinally extending shape releasably attached to each other along portions of their edge margins. The IIIII~ i blade member may include a pair of oppositely extending pins one to each side of the blade member to provide for said pivotal movement, and may be provided with said operating member proximal to said pins and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pins and wherein said operating member protrudes through a slot.

According to another aspect the invention provides a barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed and wherein the members are also interconnected pivotally to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about a common pivot axis and the blade member is provided with an operating member protruding through the handle member to facilitate said relative displacement.

According to yet another aspect the invention provides a barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle •member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed •and wherein the members are also interconnected pivotally to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about a common pivot axis.

o: G** ii The invention will now be particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS figure 1 is a perspective side view of a barber's razor according to the invention illustrating the razor in an operative position with the blade member fully extended and fully folded open.

figure 2 is a perspective exposed side view of the barber's razor of figure 1 having one panel of the handle member removed illustrating the razor in said operative position with the blade member fully extended and folded in an intermediate position of folding.

figure 3 is a perspective exposed side view similar to that of figure 2 but illustrating the razor in an inoperative position with the blade member retracted into the handle member together with a perspective top view of the assembled razor.

figure 4 is a perspective exposed side view of the components of the razor of figures 1 to 3 in an unassembled configuration.

figures 1 to 4 are for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

0o** U..o 0U*U* o U i I I 8 DETAILED DESCFRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As may be seen from figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 a razor according to the invention comprises a handle member 1 and a blade member 2 wherein the blade member 2 is provided with a rigidly mounted razor blade 3. The blade member 2 comprises a shank portion and a blade holder portion. The blade holder portion comprises a longitudinally extending body having three studs 15 extending from one face thereof and a longitudinally extending plate 16 having three corresponding holes therein, so that each hole may be brought into register with and may receive a respective stud 15 therethrough to effect a rigid connection therebetween. The blade 3 is held in parallel face to face relationship between the body and the plate by the studs 15. Accordingly the blade 3 is provided with three holes corresponding to those of the plate 16. In assembly the leading end of each stud 15 is brought into register with the corresponding hole of the blade 3 and the corresponding hole of the plate 16, then moved forward to snap fit into said corresponding hole of the plate 16 to hold the plate 16 to the body thereby rigidly mounting the blade 3 to the blade member 2.

The elongate steel blade 3 presents an exposed :cutting edge along one longitudinal edge of the body portion. The other longitudinal edge of the body portion is well adapted to be held by the fingers of the user as is usual with conventional barber's razors.

The blade member 2 and accordingly the cutting edge are fully sheathed within the handle member 1 when in the inoperative retracted position and is i 9 slidably displaced or withdrawn therefrom to be swung to an open position in which the cutting edge is exposed The shank portion includes pin means in the form of a pair of coaxial pins 6 formed integral therewith, one to each side of the shank portion, extending equilaterally in opposite directions. The shank portion further includes an extension 12 formed in the end of the shank portion remote from the blade holder portion. The extension 12 enables a user to hold the razor in one hand in the same way as a conventional razor would be held and permits the razor to behave and to feel like a conventional razor.

For example, a user may hold the blade member 2 on .both sides of the pivot axis defined by pins 6 with a finger and thumb clamping opposite sides of the longitudinal edge of the blade member 2 with the handle member 1 folded or swung to sit in the hand S" and with another finger sitting on the extension 12 to facilitate control of the razor in a conventional fashion.

In the vicinity of pins 6 the shank portion is provided with an operating member 13 extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pins 6. As may be seen from figures 2 and 3 the S"operating member 13 projects outwardly of the handle member 1 and is accommodated within a slot 9 formed along the upper longitudinal edge of the handle member 1. In use the operating member 13 is activated to move the blade member 2 lengthwise in the handle member' 1 between a retracted position within the handle member 1 and an extended VT O< position. Movement of the operating member 13 is restrained to movement to and fro longitudinally of the handle member except at the fully extended position of the blade member 2 where the operating member 13 may be swung into the slot 9, thereby behaving as a lever to initiate the swing procedure to bring the blade member to its swung open operative position. As may be seen from figure 2 restraint in the direction of movement of the operating member is controlled by the shape and orientation of the slot 9, of the ribs 11 and by the provision and disposition of slot 10 in the edge of the handle member 1.

opposite to the edge incorporating slot 9. Attempts to pivot the blade member 2 in positions other than that specified results in portions of the blade member .2 contacting edge margins 7. The provision of the operating member 13 facilitates and enables opening of the razor with one hand.

The handle member 1 comprises two opposing 7'b parallei handle panels 4, 14 of similar longitudinally extending shape attached to each other by means of snap fit couplings positioned along the edge margins 7 of the panels 4, 14. The edge margins 7 of the panels 4, 14 are inwardly directed and the snap fit couplings are formed by portions of the edge margin of one panel 4 engaging corresponding portions of the opposite edge margin of the other panel 14. The snap fit couplings are in the form of lugs 5, each lug having a barbed end (not shown) adapted to engage a 3 3 lip on the undcieside of the opposite edge margin 7 of the other panel 14.

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11 When assembled the handle member 1 may be said to comprise a hollow housing closed at one end, open at the other.

Slots 8, 9 and 10 in the longitudinal edge of the assembled handle member are formed by discontinuity of the inwardly directed edge margin 7 of each panel 4, 14.

Slot 8 at one end of the handle member 1 provides an opening through which blade mernmber 2, and more particularly blade 3 may protrude.

Slot 10 provides an opening through which extension 12 may protrude.

The inner face of each panel 4, 14 is provided with a longitudinally extending track means in the form of a pair of substantially parallel ribs 11 joined at one end. Accordingly the tracks are each closed at one end 17, 18 respectively. When assembled, the pins 6 of the blade member 2 are slidably mounted within S• the tracks. Accordingly outward axial sliding movement of the blade member within the handle member is limited by the terminations 17, 18 of the tracks.

To achieve the extended operating position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the blade member 2 is axially extended from the handle member to a terminal position determined by track terminations 17, 18 respectfully then swung or folded about the pin pivot axis until a portion of the blade member comes in contact with an end of the slot 8. The angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the blade member and that of the handle member in this embodiment is about 60 degrees. It has surprisingly 12 12 been found that this pivotal angle is well adapted for use by professional hairdressers and barbers.

Accordingly the blade member 2 is slidably and hingedly mounted to the handle member 1 by means of said pins 6 and tracks. The blade member 2 is prevented from pivoting other than when the pins 6 are moved to sit within the terminations 17, 18 of the tracks by the longitudinal edge margins 7 of the handle 1. The blade member 2 may pivot only in the full extracted position defined by the terminals 17, 18 of the tracks. In said position the blade member 2 may hinge about the axis of the pins 6.

Component parts of the handle member 1 and the shank portion and the blade holder portion of the blade member 2 are moulded items of low cost material such as plastics material and the blade is V. made of stainless steel or other low cost material to produce a low cost disposable barber's razor.

Accordingly the invention provides a disposable 2 0 barber's razor having a small number of component parts which, in use, is well adapted to be opened with one hand.

•According to another aspect, the invention provides a disposable barber's razor in combination with a tamper-proof container (not shown) characterised in that the container is hermetically 0:'i sealed to protect from contamination a sterilised razor disposed therein. The container is formed of sheet plastics material. Rupture or tearing of the walls of the container or breakage of the seal is evident upon inspection. Accordingly the combination is well adapted to enable a client or user 111 13 to witness the condition of the razor immediately prior to use.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described above, variations and modifications canr be made without departing from the presen inventive concept. For example, the handle member may be formed of lightweight paper material, for example, cardboard.

Further again, the handle member may include means to resist sliding displacement of the blade member. This may take the form of one or more resilient projections along the track or may be achieved by closely controlling manufacturing tolerances between pins and track and/or between slots and component parts adapted to protrude therethrough to effect snug fit and/or slight interference fit to facilitate controlled sliding 2. movement between the members by applying finger pressure. A friction lock or other catch means may be incorporated to prevent or ameliorate accidental retraction or withdrawal. In order to instil confidence in customers of barber shops and hairdressing salons razors may be individually packaged and hermetically sealed for once only use or packaged in blister packs having a plurality of individually hermetically sealed razors.

Further the blade member may include a safety device to preclude deep cuts from the cutting edge.

Further the track means may take the form of, for example, a groove extending longitudinally along the inner face of the handle panel. The track and pin coupling illustrated may take the form of, for 1 14 14 example, a slidable pivot coupling or groove and protrusion coupling wherein a groove is provided along the length of the blade holder and one or more pairs of protrusions are provided within the handle member. Alternatively the groove may be formed to extend along the inner face of the handle member.

The above described embodiment provides an elegant, visually unobtrusive barber's razor having a small number of moving parts that may be simply and easily assembled. The razor is well adapted to function as a conventional barber's razor, to be produced at low cost, to be sterilised and stored in a hermetically sealed container. The container remains sealed until opened in the presence of a client thereby allaying fears of contamination.

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Claims (16)

1. A barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within tha handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed and wherein the members are also interconnected pivotally to permit relative pivotal movement thereLatween about a common pivot axis and the blade member is provided with an operating member protruding through the handle member to facilitate said relative displacement.

2. A barber's razor according to claim 1 wherein the maximum angle of pivot is acute.

3. A barber's razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle member comprises a pair of opposed paraiiel handle panels of similar longitudinally shp rlsalaln extending shape releasably attached to each other along portions of their edge margins.

4. A barber's razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade member includes a pair of oppositely extending pins one to each side of the blade member to provide for said pivotal movement, and said operating member is proximal to said pins and extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pins and wherein said operating member protrudas through a slot in a longitudinal edge of the handle.

5. A barber's razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade member comprises a blade holder portion, a shank portion and a razor blade having an exposed cutting edge forming one longitudinal edge thereof.

6. A barber's razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade member and the handle member ore interconnected pivotally by a slot and pivot coupling. NT 0> 16

7. A barber's razor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade member includes an extension formed in one end of the blade member.

8. A disposable barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member, the blade member and the handle member being telescopically interconnected to permit relative longitudinal displacement therebetween, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and an operative extended position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed, the members also being pivotally interconnected to permit the blade member to be swung to said operative extended position about a common pivot axis disposed towards one end of the blade member characterised in that the blade member is provided with a longitudinally extending cutting edge adapted to be substantially fully sheathed within the handle member in said at least one inoperative retracted position and in that the blade member is swung to an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle member to effect said operative extended position, the razor further characterised in that the blade member is provided with a pin means extending from 17 17 both sides thereof and the handle member is provided with a longit; .aally extending track means in each of two opposite internal walls within which said pin means is accommodated to provide for sliding telescopic movement between the members and each track terminates towards one end of the handle member to limit withdrawal of the blade member from the handle member and to provide said common pivot axis about whichl said swinging is effected.

9. A razor according to claim 8 wherein the handle member is provided with a longitudinally extending slot along an upper edge wall thereof through which an operating member is adapted to protrude to facilitate telescopic displacement between the members.

A barber's razor according to either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the handle member comprises a pair of opposed parallel handle panels of similar 0 longitudinally extending shape releasably attached to each other along portions of their edge margins.

1 1 A barber's razor according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the pin means comprises a pair of integral oppositely extending pins one to each side of the blade member and the blade member is 0' provided with a or said operating member proximal to said pins extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pins.

12. A barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, i 18 18 the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed wherein the blade member and the handle member are pivotally interconnected to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about a common pivot axis intermediate the length of the handle member and disposed towards one end of the blade member thereby to provide a pivoted extended operative position of the razor wherein further the blade member includes towards said one end a pin extending equilaterally on both sides of the blade member and the handle member includes a 1 5 longitudinally extending cavity within which the blade member is accommodated, said cavity opening towards one end of the handle member and being defined by two pairs of opposed walls, one of said pairs of walls having a longitudinally extending track means in each wall within which said pin is accommodated to provide for sliding movement between the members, the track means terminating :towards said one end of the handle member thereby to limit withdrawal of the blade member from the cavity and to provide said common pivot axis about which folding and pivoting of the blade member is effected and the blade member includes an extension formed at said one end of the blade member to enable the user to hold the razor in a pivoted extended operative position wherein the members are held to form an acute angle between a longitudinal axis of the blade member and a longitudinal axis of the handle member.

13. A disposable barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member, the blade member and the handle member being telescopically interconnected to permit relative longitudinal displacement therebetween, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and an operative extended position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed, the members also being pivotally interconnected to permit the blade member to be swung to said operative extended position about a common pivot axis disposed towards one end of the blade member characterised in that the blade member is provided with a longitudinally extending cutting edge adapted to be substantially fully sheathed within the handle member in said at least oiie inoperative retracted position and in that the blade member is swung to an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle member to effect said operative extended position, the razor further characterised in that the blade member is provided with a pin means extending from both sides thereof and the handle member is provided with a longitudinally extending track means in each of two opposite internal walls within which "I said pin means is accommodated to provide for sliding *-:telescopic movement between the members and each track terminates towards one end of the handle member to limit withdrawal of the blade member from the handle member and to provide said common pivot axis about which-said swinging is effected.

14. In combination a barber's razor in accord with any one of the preceding claims and a tamper-proof container characterised in that the razor is disposable, sterilised and is disposed within the container and in that the container has walls and is hermetically sealed to protect from contaminati~ said razor disposed therein whereby rupture or tearing of the wall or walls of the container or breakage of the seal is evident upon inspection.

A barber's razor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of the accompanying drawings.

16. A barber's razorcm ga blade member-and handle member which are telescopically interconnected t permit relative displacement between the blade e er and the handle member, the razor having at I one inoperative retracted position in which the b member is sheathed within the handle memb d at least one operative position :in which at leas aortion of the blade member is exposed Sand w the members are also interconnected pivotally tpermit relative pivotal movement therebetween about a 9 common pivot axis. 9 **eea o* 9 S S** Dated this 29 th day of December 1996 Frank Nocera and Anton Lurbaca ABSTRACT A barber's razor comprising a blade member and a handle member which are telescopically interconnected to permit relative displacement between the blade member and the handle member, the razor having at least one inoperative retracted position in which the blade member is sheathed within the handle member and at least one operative position in which at least a portion of the blade member is exposed. ue *o *eo o *o* now