EP2588282B1

EP2588282B1 - Razor handle

Info

Publication number: EP2588282B1
Application number: EP11803989.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gregg A. Micinilio
Original assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
Current assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
Priority date: 2010-06-29
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2019-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-01
Also published as: EP2588282A4; EP2588282A2; WO2012005839A2; PL2588282T3; AU2011276739A1; WO2012005839A3; AU2011276739B2; JP2013530012A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to wet shaving devices, and more specifically to the form and structure of a razor handle for such a device.

BACKGROUND

Many modern wet shaving razors, also known as safety razors, comprise a handle and a cartridge joined to handle. The razor may be disposable where the handle and cartridge together are disposed of after use. Alternatively, the razor may be in the form of a so-called system that comprises a longer term use handle that is reused and a removable and disposable cartridge that is disposed after use and can be replaced with a new cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing having razor blade(s) with sharpened cutting edge(s) typically disposed between a guard forward of the cutting edges and a cap aft of the cutting edges. The cartridge can be pivotal about a pivot axis with respect to the handle and a pivot mechanism can permit the cartridge to pivot about the pivot axis. Such safety razors are well known in the art, see for example US 2002/0026720 A or US 6 115 902 A .
Many modern cartridges for wet shaving razors include a shaving aid body which can comprise a shaving aid material that can include a water soluble polymer such as polyethylene oxide. One suitable polyethylene oxide is manufactured by the Dow Corporation under the trade name POLYOX™. Polyethylene oxide is available in a range of molecular weights from about 100,000 to about 8 million. Higher molecular weight polyethylene oxides are preferred for wet shaving applications as these can be more lubricious when wet which is a desirable characteristic for a shaving aid body on a razor cartridge. A blend of high and low molecular weight polyethylene oxides can also be used.
After a normal wet shaving operation, typically conducted in a wet environment, many users will rest their (initially wet) safety razor on a horizontal surface such as a bathroom vanity, the rim of a bathtub or a shelf of a cabinet for storage. When rested as such, the points of contact of typical safety razors are an end portion of the handle and a wall of a housing of the razor cartridge that can, for example, be in the guard region of the cartridge, forward of the cutting edges of the razor blades. In some applications a guard of a razor cartridge can be provided with a shaving aid body. Thus, in some situations a wetted shaving aid containing portion of a razor cartridge can be rested on or close to a horizontal surface. If the shaving aid body of the rested razor is on or close to the horizontal surface, a film of water can be retained between the shaving aid body and the horizontal surface due to e.g. surface tension effects of the water. This can be exaggerated if the horizontal surface is also wet and/or if the initially wet razor drains by gravity at least partially through the e.g. guard region of the cartridge. This retained film of water increases the wet exposure time of the shaving aid material of the shaving aid body beyond that of the duration of a normal shaving operation and can prematurely deplete a water soluble shaving aid material from the shaving aid body. Extended exposure to water can also soften the shaving aid material, for example if the shaving aid material is a soap-type material, such that its wear rate upon subsequent use is increased and thus the expected life of the shaving aid body and in turn the user-perceived life of the razor cartridge is reduced. The retained film of water between the shaving aid body and the surface will also include some dissolved water soluble shaving aid material. Eventually the water portion of the retained film will evaporate, however the residual shaving aid material at the area of contact can act as weak glue and can leave an undesirable residue on the surface and can undesirably adhere the razor to the horizontal surface.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has for its objective to eliminate, or at least substantially alleviate the limitations of the prior art by providing a handle for a safety razor having a form and structure wherein an attached razor cartridge is spaced away from any horizontal surface the razor can be rested upon after use. Retention of any film of water between the razor cartridge and thus any shaving aid body of the razor cartridge and the horizontal surface is avoided.
According to the invention, a safety razor according to claim 1 is provided. Individual embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The safety razor according to the invention comprises a razor cartridge having a housing with an upper surface and a shaving aid body including a water soluble shaving aid material connected to a razor handle. The razor handle has a head portion having razor cartridge connecting structure, and a grip portion including an opposed end with a first external surface and a first end including a foot having a terminating surface. When the safety razor is in an at rest position on a generally horizontal surface, areas of contact of the safety razor to the horizontal surface include the first external surface and the terminating surface of the foot and furthermore the razor cartridge is spaced from the horizontal surface.
The safety razor can be rocked away from the at rest position on the horizontal surface by application of an external force (e.g. by a user's digit) to a rocked position. In the rocked position the areas of contact of the safety razor to the horizontal surface include an edge portion of the first external surface, an edge portion of the terminating surface of the foot and the upper surface of the razor cartridge. The safety razor defines a center line and a center of mass. When the safety razor is in the rocked position the center of mass is within a region normal to the horizontal surface and bounded at opposed sides by the centerline of the razor in the at rest position and lines connecting sequentially the edge portion of the first external surface, the edge portion of the terminating surface of the foot and the upper surface of the razor cartridge. In this way the safety razor will self-right to its at rest position when released from its rocked position.
These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a safety razor in an at-rest position.
Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front view of a safety razor of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of a safety razor in a rocked position.
Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6A is an enlarged portion of another embodiment of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular Figs. 1-3 a safety razor 10 is depicted. The safety razor 10 comprises a razor handle 20 and, connected thereto, a razor cartridge 30. The safety razor 10 defines a center line 12 and a center of mass 14. The razor cartridge 30 includes a housing 31 having an upper surface 32 and a guard 34 and cap 36 disposed respectively forward and aft of razor blades 38 mounted in the housing 31. One or both the guard 34 and cap 36 can be provided with a shaving aid body including a water soluble shaving aid material. Some shaving aid bodies can be formed (e.g. extruded) to provide a water soluble polymer in a matrix of a water insoluble polymer. Other shaving aid bodies can comprise a compacted water soluble polymer within a perforated shell or sheath.
Typical water soluble polymers include polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, modified hydroxyalkyl cellulose, polyvinyl imidazoline, polyvinyl alcohol, polysulfone and polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate. A preferred lubricious water-soluble polymer is polyethylene oxide. The more preferred polyethylene oxides generally are known as POLYOX (available from Dow Corporation) or ALKOX (available from Meisei Chemical Works, Kyoto, Japan). These polyethylene oxides will preferably have molecular weights (MW) of about 100,000 to 8 million. It is preferred to use a blend of polyethylene oxides, typically a blend having at least one polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight in the range of 100,000 to 500,000 and at least one polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight in the range of 3 million to 8 million. The most preferred polyethylene oxide comprises a blend of about 40% to 80% by weight of polyethylene oxide having an average molecular weight of about 5 million (e.g. POLYOX COAGULANT) and about 60% to 20% of polyethylene oxide having an average molecular weight of about 300,000 (e.g. POLYOX WSR-N-750). A 60:40 blend of these two polyethylene oxides (5 million: 300,000) can be especially preferred.
The water soluble shaving aid material can also include a soap-type material, e.g. a synthetic detergent or a saponified material. The water soluble shaving aid material can also include materials that swell when wetted. Some examples of water swellable shaving aid materials are disclosed in U.S.-A-5,626,154 . Other water swellable shaving aid materials include polyethylene oxide particularly with a relatively high molecular weight (e.g. POLYOX COAGULANT) if this material is e.g. provided in a compacted form in a perforated shell.
The razor handle 20 includes a head portion 40 including razor cartridge connecting structure (not identified), this structure preferably provides connection to the razor cartridge (30) such that a user may selectively replace the razor cartridge 30 when he or she finds this appropriate. Alternatively, the safety razor 10 may be disposable where the razor handle 20 and razor cartridge 30 together are disposed of after use. The handle 20 also includes a grip portion 50 having a first end 60 adjacent the head portion 40, and an opposed end 70. The grip portion 50 includes a first external surface 80 having laterally opposed edge portions 82, 84. Preferably the first external surface 80 is located close to the opposed end of the grip portion 50. The first external surface 80 can alternatively be located away from the opposed end of the grip portion 50 as indicated by dashed lines 86. The first end 60 includes a foot 62 having a terminating surface 64 with laterally opposed edge portions 66, 68. Referring in particular to Fig. 2, when the safety razor 10 is in an at rest position on a generally horizontal surface depicted as 90, for example upon which the razor 10 can be stored between periods of use, areas of contact of the safety razor 10 to the horizontal surface 90 include the first external surface 80 and the terminating surface 64 of the foot. The razor cartridge 30 is spaced from the horizontal surface 90 preferably by a distance 88 at least 1mm, more preferably at least 3mm and most preferably at least 5mm. The higher value spacing distances are more preferred as some shaving aid materials can swell when wetted which can effectively reduce this spacing for a wet safety razor compared to a dry safety razor.
By application of an external force, e.g. by a user's digit, the safety razor 10 on the horizontal surface 90 can be rocked away from the at rest position by to a rocked position, as depicted in Figs. 4-6. In the rocked position the areas of contact of the safety razor 10 to the horizontal surface 90 include an edge portion (82 or 84) of the first external surface 80, an edge portion (66 or 68) of the terminating surface 64 of the foot 62 and the upper surface 32 of the razor cartridge 30. The centerline of the razor in its at rest position is identified as 12. Wherein, when the safety razor 10 is in the rocked position the center of mass 14 is within a region normal to the horizontal surface 90 and bounded at opposed sides by the centerline 12 of the razor 10 in the at rest position and hypothetical lines connecting sequentially the edge portion 82, 84 of the first external surface 80 and the edge portion 66, 68 of the terminating surface 64 of the foot 62 and the edge portion of the terminating surface 64 of the foot 62 and the upper surface 94 of the razor cartridge 30. In this way the safety razor 10 will self-right to its at rest position when released from its rocked position.
Preferably one or both the terminating surface 64 of the foot 62 or the first external surface 80 include a flat or concave region (see Fig. 6A). When the safety razor 10 is released from a rocked position it will tend to not excessively oscillate about the at rest position before it becomes stationary in the at rest position. As used herein the term concave is intended to not be limited to a continuously smoothly curved surface but to include any recessed surface.
The razor handle 20 of the safety razor 10 has form and structure such that a retained film of water between a shaving aid material containing element of the razor cartridge 30 and a generally horizontal resting surface 90 the razor 10 can be stored upon between periods of use can be prevented. If the safety razor 10 is disturbed from its at rest position to a rocked position by application of an external force the safety razor 10 will self-right to its at rest position. If the safety razor 10 were to maintain the rocked position a portion of the razor cartridge housing 31 will be in contact with the resting surface 90 and provide an opportunity for an undesirable retained film in the vicinity of the point of contact of the razor cartridge housing 31 to the resting surface 90 that can be caused by e.g. surface tension effects.
Although the disclosure has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims that follow. For instance, features disclosed in connection with any one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with each feature of the respective other embodiments.

Claims

A safety razor, comprising:
a razor cartridge (30) comprising a housing (31) having an upper surface (32) and a razor handle connecting structure; and a shaving aid body including a water soluble shaving aid material;

a razor handle (20) having a head portion (40) including a razor cartridge connecting structure and a grip portion (50) including a first end (60) including a foot (62) having a terminating surface (64) and an opposed end (70) having a first external surface (80);

and characterized in that, when the safety razor (10) is in an at rest position on a generally horizontal surface (90), areas of contact of the safety razor (10) to the horizontal surface (90) include the first external surface (80) and the terminating surface (64) of the foot (62) and wherein the razor cartridge (30) is facing the horizontal surface (90) and is spaced therefrom.
The safety razor of claim 1, wherein the safety razor (10) on the horizontal surface (90) can be rocked away from the at rest position by application of an external force to a rocked position, wherein in the rocked position the areas of contact of the safety razor (10) to the horizontal surface (90) include an edge portion (82, 84) of the first external surface (80), an edge portion (66, 68) of the terminating surface (64) of the foot (62) and the upper surface (32) of the razor cartridge (30);
wherein the safety razor (10) defines a center line (12) and a center of mass (14) and wherein, when the safety razor (10) is in the rocked position the center of mass (14) is within a region normal to the horizontal surface (90) and bounded at opposed sides by the centerline (12) of the razor (10) in the at rest position and lines connecting sequentially the edge portion (82, 84) of the first external surface (80), the edge portion (66, 68) of the terminating surface (64) of the foot (62) and the upper surface (32) of the razor cartridge (30) such that the safety razor (10) will self-right to its at rest position when released from its rocked position.
The safety razor of any of preceding claim, wherein the first external surface (80) is located close to an extreme end of the opposed end of the grip portion (50).
The safety razor of any preceding claim, wherein the terminating surface (64) of the foot (62) is substantially flat.
The safety razor of any preceding claim, wherein the terminating surface (64) of the foot (62) is concave.
The safety razor of any preceding claim, wherein shaving aid material swells upon contact with water.
The safety razor of any preceding claim, wherein a shaving aid of the razor cartridge (30) is spaced at least 1 mm from the horizontal surface (90).
The safety razor of claim 7, wherein a shaving aid of the razor cartridge (30) is spaced at least 3 mm from the horizontal surface (90).
The safety razor of any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein a shaving aid of the razor cartridge (30) is spaced at least 5 mm from the horizontal surface (90).
The safety razor of any preceding claim, wherein the spacing of the razor cartridge (30) from the horizontal surface (90) prevents the formation of a retained film of water between the shaving aid body of the razor cartridge (30) and the horizontal surface (90).