GB2318725A - Reservoir shaving brush - Google Patents

Abstract

In a shaving brush, finger pressure moves base 20 up handle reservoir 16 so that shaving foam flows from flexible tubes 18 within bristles 12. One tube may be used. A mechanical pump may be used, or a pressurised can of foam releasable from a valved bristle head.

Description

TITLE: Improvements in and relating to shaving brushes DESCRIPTION This invention relates to shaving and, in particular, to improvements in and relating to shaving brushes.

A conventional shaving brush is utilised in combination with soap and water in order to form a lather which is then applied by the brush to the face. This two step operation is both cumbersome and time consuming. It is usual to form the lather in a bowl or such like and hence it can be difficult to accurately gauge the amount of lather that needs to be produced. Also, it can be difficult to transfer all the lather which has been produced to the brush thereby resulting in at least some wastage.

Alternatively, a pressurised can of shaving foam can be used with the foam sprayed onto the shaver's finger tips and then applied directly to the face. However, this requires a two handed operation.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a shaving brush which overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a shaving brush comprising bristles, a shaving substance reservoir and means for conveying said shaving substance from the reservoir to the bristles.

The shaving substance reservoir may form a handle for said shaving brush.

It is preferred that said conveying means allows the amount of shaving substance conveyed to the bristles to be controlled. Hence, the present invention provides a shaving brush which enables the amount of shaving substance used to be controlled thereby ensuring that there is little wastage.

Said conveying means may comprise one or more tubes extending from said reservoir to a position at or spaced from the free ends of the bristles. The tubes may extend parallel to said bristles and are preferably located, at least for part of their length, amongst said bristles.

Preferably, at least the section of each tube which is amongst the bristles is flexible. In a preferred arrangement there is provided a single tube which extends from said reservoir. Said single tube may extend to a position which is at least beyond a position one third along the length of the bristles but spaced from the free ends of the bristles.

The bristles are preferably held together at one end and the brush formed thereby may take the shape of a truncated cone.

In an alternative arrangement, the conveying means coneys the shaving substance to a position at or near the base of the brush L the end of the brush opposite to that of the free ends of the bristles.

The conveying means may further comprise a mechanical pump, the operation of which results in a predetermined quantity of the shaving substance being pumped from said reservoir into the brush.

In an embodiment of the invention, said conveying means further comprises a head to which said brush is secured and preferably releasable therefrom eg for the purpose of cleaning.

In one embodiment of the invention, said reservoir is refillable. In an alternative arrangement, the reservoir forms a disposable unit which is simply replaced once empty. The reservoir may be a pressurised can of a shaving substance eg a conventional can of shaving foam/gel. The head may comprise a plunger for actuating said pressurised can in order to release said shaving substance. The reservoir may be cylindrical and the shaving substance contained therein may be a foam or a gel.

The reservoir may be secured to and releasable from said head. Hence, once the reservoir is empty it can simply be replaced by a new reservoir.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a front sectional view of a shaving brush according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front sectional view of a shaving brush according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shaving brush in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the head and shaving substance reservoir illustrated in figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the head and brush shown in figure 4 and illustrating an alternative brush and head engagement arrangement.

With reference to figure 1 in the first instance, a shaving brush 10 comprises bristles 12, head 14, a cylindrical reservoir of shaving foam 16 and three flexible tubes 18.

The upper end of reservoir 16 has a neck portion having an outer screw thread thereon and which co-operates with a thread on an inner surface of the head. The bristles are secured to and extend from head 14. The bristles together form a brush which has a shape of that of a truncated cone. A surface 24 is formed by the free ends of the bristles.

The lower ends of tubes 18 extend through head 14 and hence the tubes are exposed to the contents of the reservoir. The tubes 18 extend upwardly from the head 14 to a position which is spaced from and below said surface 24.

The reservoir 16 comprises a base 20 which is moveable in the direction of arrow "A" so as to reduce the inner dimensions of the reservoir and thereby expel shaving foam 22 from the reservoir and into tubes 18.

Initially, a full reservoir of shaving foam is screwed into head 14 with the base 20 in its lowest position. The simple application of finger pressure to the base will cause it to move in the direction of arrow "A" thereby expelling foam into tubes 18.

Once the tubes have become filled with foam, further movement of the base will result in foam being forced to the ends of tubes 18. As a result, there is a build up of foam in the upper section of the brush and eventually onto surface 24. The flow of foam to the surface can easily be controlled by finger pressure exerted onto the base. With sufficient foam on surface 24, the foam is then applied to the face as required. Once the reservoir is empty it is a simple matter of unscrewing the reservoir from the head and screwing in a new one. Also, the brush and head can be unscrewed from the reservoir to allow for ease of cleaning.

The invention allows the one handed application of a shaving substance to the user's face.

In a further embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 3 a shaving brush comprises a brush 26 formed by a plurality of bristles which extend upwardly from a head 28 and a pressurised can of shaving foam 30. The pressurised can 30 has a nozzle 32, which extends vertically from a top face thereof, through which shaving foam is released. The nozzle 32 engages in a snap fit locking arrangement with a female member 34 located in head 28.

The female member 34 is connected to flexible tubes 36 which extend upwardly from said head and towards the free ends of the bristles. The ends of the tubes are located close to and below the free ends of the bristles. The head is arranged such that it can be moved downwards with respect to can 30. In use, the head is pressed downwards onto the nozzle which action results in the release of foam from the can through the female member and into tubes 36. Subsequently the foam passes into the body of the brush. The shaving brush is then used in a conventional manner.

With reference to figures 3, 4 and 5 a shaving brush in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The shaving brush 40 comprises a conventional aerosol can 42 of shaving substance ie foam or gel, a head 44 and a plurality of bristles which extend perpendicular to the can and together form a brush 46.

The aerosol can 42 is cylindrical and serves as a handle for the shaving brush.

The can has a nozzle (not illustrated) which extends upwardly from a top surface thereof and is substantially cylindrical. Depression of said nozzle results in the release, under gas pressure, of the shaving foam/gel through the nozzle. The head 44 effectively forms a cap for said can 42.

The head 44 comprises two parts namely a lower portion 48 and an upper portion 50 which are connected together by a hinge 52. The lower portion extends around the upper section of the can and has an inwardly extending circumferential rim 54 which engages with a co-operating formation on the can so as to provide a snap fit locking arrangement. The head is formed of a plastics material which, under hand pressure, is deformable. Hence, the head may be released from the can by the application of finger pressure so as to deform the rim thereby breaking the locking arrangement and enabling the head to be pulled off.

The upper portion is provided with a cylindrical section 56 formed by a wall 58 and which provides a circular mouth 60, see figure 5. The upper portion 50 further comprises a top wall 62 having finger grip ribs 64 formed on its top surface.

The lower surface of the top wall 62 supports a right angled tube 66 having a vertical section 68 and a horizontal section 70. The horizontal section 70 extends to the circular mouth 60, as can be clearly seen with reference to figure 5 and is located along an axis through the cylindrical section 56. The vertical section 68 of tube 66 has an inner circumferential lip 72 formed therein at a position spaced from the free end of the section.

With the head located onto an aerosol can as described above, the nozzle of the can is inserted into the vertical section 68 with the end of the nozzle abutting lip 72. Finger pressure exerted on ribs 64 results in the downward movement of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion Si the upper portion pivots about hinge 52. Hence, the vertical section 68 moves downwards with the consequential depression of the can's nozzle.

A fitting ring 74 comprises an outer cylindrical face 76 and supports a central tubular section 78. The tubular section is of sufficient dimension to locate over the end of the horizontal section 70 of tube 66. The outer cylindrical face 76 is provided with spaced apart studs 80 which ensure that the diameter of the ring, including studs, is approximately that of the inner diameter of the cylindrical section 56. The ring 74 locates within the cylindrical section and is a frictional fit with wall 58. In the arrangement illustrated in figure 4, the outer cylindrical face 76 is provided with an outer rubber ring 82 which achieves the same purpose as the studs Si provides a frictional fit between the ring and the cylindrical section 56.

The end of brush 36 is circular and is secured to one face of the ring by suitable means eg glue.

In use, the shaving brush is assembled as described above and the upper portion 50 pressed downwards which results in the nozzle of the aerosol can being depressed and foam/gel being expelled into and through the supported tube 66, the tubular section 76 of ring 74 into the base of brush 46 Si into the brush at the end connected to head 44. The pressure exerted onto the foam/gel by the can is sufficient to ensure that it reaches the ends of the bristles. Hence, the foam/gel builds up in the end of the brush and when a sufficient amount has formed on the end of the bristles it is then applied directly to the shaver's face.

In an alternative arrangement, a flexible tube is connected to tubular section 78 and extends towards the free ends of the bristles. The tube may extend at least one third of the length of the brush. Hence, in use, the foam/gel released from can 42 the brush enters at a position which is closer to the free ends of the bristles than in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5.

The brush and ring may be removed from head 44 by simply exerting a pulling force on the brush. Once removed, the brush and ring can be easily cleaned.

Also, once the pressurised can is exhausted of shaving substance it is a simple matter to replace it with a new one.

The present invention provides a shaving brush which is simple to use and can be used one handed to apply shaving foam/gel to the shaver's face.

Claims (14)

1. A shaving brush comprising bristles, a shaving substance reservoir and means for conveying said shaving substance from the reservoir to the bristles.

2. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaving substance reservoir forms a handle for said shaving brush.

3. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said conveying means comprises one or more tubes extending from said reservoir to a position at or spaced from the free ends of the bristles.

4. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tubes extend parallel to said bristles and are at least for part of their length located amongst the bristles.

5. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least the section of each tube which is located amongst the bristles is flexible.

6. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein there is provided a single tube which extends from said reservoir.

7. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tube extends to a position which is at least one third along the length of the bristles but spaced from the free ends of the bristles.

8. A shaving brush as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the conveying means comprises a mechanical pump, the operation of which results in a predetermined quantity of the shaving substance being pumped from said reservoir and into the bristles.

9. A shaving brush as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein the bristles are preferably held together to form a brush.

10. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein said conveying means further comprises a head to which said brush is securable.

11. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 10 wherein said brush is releasable from said head.

12. A shaving brush as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein said shaving substance reservoir is securable to said head and releasable therefrom.

13. A shaving brush as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 wherein said shaving substance reservoir is a conventional pressurised can of shaving foam or gel.

14. A shaving brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.