Razor Blade Assembly

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wet shaving implements and is directed more particularly to a razor blade assembly including cap, blade and guard elements connected together and replaceable as a unit on a cooperating razor handle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is generally known in the art to provide a razor blade assembly, which may be connected to, and used in conjunction with, a razor handle to facilitate shaving operations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,893, issued May 9, 1972, shows a blade assembly in which blade means are held at either end thereof and disposed between blade assembly surfaces adapted to engage the surface being shaved in front of and behind, respectively, the blade means cutting edge portions. Such surfaces are generally referred to as "guard" and "cap". U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,316, issued Apr. 18, 1978, discloses a similar blade assembly, but one in which the blade means are supported by thin strips of metal. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,571, issued Sept. 25, 1979, there is disclosed a blade assembly whose blade means are attached to thin metal strips which in turn are mounted for movement in the blade assembly to permit dynamic movement of the blade means during a shaving operation. In addition, the guard and cap means are mounted for similar movement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a blade assembly, generally similar to the blade assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,571, but improved thereover.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear a feature of the present invention is the provision of a razor blade assembly comprising a body member, a guard member mounted on the body member for movement thereon, blade means mounted on the body member for movement thereon, the guard member and blade means being independently movable in response to forces encountered during a shaving operation, and spring finger biasing means integral with the body member and exercising a bias against the guard member and blade means.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular blade assembly embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one form of blade assembly illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof, shown with a razor handle adapted to be used in conjunction with the blade assembly;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another form of blade assembly illustrative of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 5, but showing the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the illustrated razor blade assembly includes a body member 2 having first and second end portions 4, 6 interconnected by front and back wall portions 8, 10. Frame portions 12 extend width-wise of the body member, interconnecting the front and back walls 8, 10.

The back wall portion 10 of the body member 2 has an upper portion 14 which engages skin being shaved behind the cutting means of the assembly, thereby fulfilling the functions and occupying the position of the "cap" portion of conventional razor blade assemblies. Such portion 14 shall, for that reason, be referred to hereinafter as the "cap portion".

Each of the end portions 4, 6 is provided with opposed slots 16 disposed transversely to the frame portions 12. One of the frame members 12 near the first end portion 4 is provided with spring fingers 18 extending therefrom generally parallel to the front and back walls 8, 10. Each of the fingers 18 is provided with an upturned end portion 20 having an upper surface 22. In like manner, another of the frame members 12 near the second end portion 6 is provided with spring fingers 18' of similar configuration, with upturned end portions 20' having upper surfaces 22'. The fingers 18, 18' extend in opposite directions, the fingers 18 extending toward the first end portion 4 of the body member 2 and the fingers 18' extending toward the second end portion 6 of the body member. The fingers 18 and the fingers 18' are aligned with each other and with the slots 16.

The assembly includes a guard portion 24 having a slide member 26 at either end thereof. The slide members 26 are received in a pair of opposed slots 16 nearest the front wall portion 8. The bottom of the guard portion rests upon the surfaces 22, 22' of the spring fingers 18, 18'. The lower edges 28 of the slide members 26 rest above the bottom of their slots 16, allowing the guard portion 24 to be moved further into the slots, against the bias of the spring fingers therebeneath. The spring fingers supporting the guard portion comprise a set of spring fingers, the object of which is to resiliently support the guard portion. In shaving operation, the guard portion travels over the surface being shaved ahead of the cutting means.

The assembly further includes blade means comprising a blade support including a base portion 30, a platform portion 32 extending from the base portion, slide portions 34 at either end of the base portion, and a blade 36 fixed to the platform portion. The slide portions 34 are received in a pair of the opposed slots 16, with a bottom edge of the base portion 30 resting upon the surfaces 22 of the spring fingers 18, 18'. Lower edges 38 of the slide portions 34 are spaced from the bottoms of their slots to permit movement of the blade support base portion further into the slots 16 against the bias of the spring fingers 18, 18' on which the blade support base portion rests. The spring fingers supporting the blade support comprise another set of spring fingers, the object of which is to resiliently support the blade means thereon.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the blade means include a second blade support including a base portion 30', a platform portion 32', slide portions 34' and a blade 36', all anchored similarly to the above described first blade support. The slide portions 34' are received in the opposed slots 16 nearest the cap portion 14 with the base portion 30' resting upon spring finger surfaces. The spring fingers supporting the second blade support comprise still another set of spring fingers, which resiliently support the second blade. In a shaving operation, the second blade travels over the surface being shaved behind the first blade.

The guard portion 24, first and second blades 36, 36' are clamped in place by spring clamps 40, which are received in slots 42 in the end portions 4, 6. The clamps 40 engage the guard portion 24 and blades 36, 36', forcing them into the slots 16 to a point where a slight stress is placed on the spring fingers 18, 18'.

The assembly is provided, on its underside, with connecting means 44 by which the blade assembly may be connected to a cooperating razor handle R, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In use, the blade assembly is connected to the handle R and used for shaving operations, during which the guard portion 24 and blade means 36, 36' are individually movable in the directions in which extend the slots 16. Thus, the guard and blade components of the blade assembly may adjust dynamically to the surfaces being shaved.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there will be noted as alternative embodiment in which the guard portion 24' comprises a cylindrically-shaped roller, and the slide members 26' comprise axial dowels extending from either end of the roller. The dowels are received in the slots 16, with the roller resting on the upper surfaces 22 of a pair of spring fingers 18. In use, the roller 24' is able to move in response to pressure applied thereto further into the slots 16, and to move upwardly in the slots 16 in response to the bias of the spring fingers. In addition, the roller 24' may rotate about its axis during a shaving operation.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is provided an additional pair of slots 16' adapted to receive extensions 50 protruding from the ends of a second roller 52 which in this embodiment comprises the "cap" portion 14' of the unit. The back wall portion 10 of the alternative embodiment includes a concavity 54 shaped to receive the roller 52. In use, the second roller 52 may rotate about its axis during a shaving operation and may move to a limited degree within the confines of the slots 16'.

Thus, in the alternative embodiment the surfaces immediately preceding and following the blades in their movement across a surface being shaved, are rotatable and provide a smooth and relatively frictionless "feel" during the shaving operation.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modification or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.