# US 11,027,443 B2 · Shaving razor cartridge and method of manufacture

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- Number: US 11,027,443 B2
- Document ID: US11027443B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/367,327
- Filed: 2019-03-28
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-30
- Assignees: The Gillette Company
- Applicants: The Gillette Company LLC
- Inventors: Ashok Bakul Patel; Matthew Michael Long
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027443B2

## CPC

- B26B 21/4031: {characterised by special geometric shaving parameters, e.g. blade span or exposure}
- B26B 21/222: {with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit (B26B21/4006 takes precedence)}
- B26B 21/4012: {Housing details, e.g. for cartridges}
- B26B 21/4018: {Guard elements}
- B26B 21/4043: {Contour trimming}
- B26B 21/528: {Manufacture of razor handles}
- B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H)

## Abstract

A shaving razor cartridge with a housing molded from a first polymeric material and having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface. The housing has a wall partially defining an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The wall has a pair of arms each with a distal end extending toward each other defining a gap. A guard is toward a front of the housing. A cap is toward a rear of the housing. At least one blade is mounted between the guard and the cap. A bridge interconnects the distal ends. The bridge is molded from a second polymeric material that is different than the first polymeric material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shaving razor cartridge comprising:
a housing molded from a first polymeric material and having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the housing having a wall partially defining an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the wall having a pair of arms each having a distal end that extending toward each other defining a gap;
a guard toward a front of the housing;
a cap toward a rear of the housing;
at least one blade mounted between the guard and the cap; and
a bridge interconnecting the distal ends, wherein the bridge is molded from a second polymeric material that is different than the first polymeric material, wherein a secant modulus calculated at 1% engineering strain of the first polymeric material is more than 10% different than a secant modulus calculated at 1% engineering strain of the second polymeric material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the distal ends are spaced apart by about 0.1 mm to about 38 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the distal ends are spaced apart by about 0.75 mm to about 3 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the gap is positioned in front of the guard.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the pair of arms and the bridge form a front wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein a rear wall of the bridge is about 2.5 mm to about 7 mm to a cutting edge of the at least one blade.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein a color of the first polymeric material is different than a color of the second polymeric material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the second polymeric material comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 1 wherein the second polymeric material forms a skin contacting surface on the top surface of the housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The shaving razor cartridge of claim 9 wherein the second polymeric material comprises a water leachable shaving aid.

### Claim 11

A method of manufacturing a shaving razor cartridge comprising:
molding a housing having a wall partially defining an opening that extends from a top surface to a bottom surface of the housing;
molding a bridge comprising a polymeric material that is different than a polymeric material that comprises the housing to enclose the opening, wherein said molding of the bridge comprises molding a skin contacting surface over the top surface of the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein said molding of the housing comprises forming two polymer flow fronts flowing towards each other in a non-parallel direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein said molding the bridge comprises attaching a pair of spaced apart arms of the housing to each other.