Shaving system including handle and replaceable cartridges

A shaving razor comprising

• a handle having handle connecting structure, and
• a replaceable cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure connecting said blade unit to said handle connecting structure by movement along a connection axis, said blade unit being pivotally connected to said cartridge connecting structure,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a body and a latching member that is displaceable relative to said body away from said connection axis to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure, displacement of said latching member permitting subsequent movement of said cartridge connecting structure away from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis.

A shaving razor comprising

• a handle having handle connecting structure, and
• a replaceable cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting and disconnecting said blade unit to said handle connecting structure by movement along a connection axis,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a latching member that is movable to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure prior to retraction of said cartridge connecting structure from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis, said latching member including a cantilevered beam structure with a base region and an unsupported end.

A shaving razor comprising

• a handle having handle connecting structure, and
• a replaceable cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting and disconnecting said blade unit to said handle connecting structure by movement along a connection axis,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a latching member that is movable to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure prior to retraction of said cartridge connecting structure from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis,
• wherein said latching member includes a blocking surface that blocks retraction of said handle connecting structure from said cartridge connecting structure when in a latched position and permits retraction of said handle connecting structure from said cartridge connecting structure when in an unlatched position,
• wherein said latching member includes engagement structure that is movable from an initial position to a deflected position, said blocking surface moving from said latched position to said unlatched position as said engagement structure is moved from said initial position to said deflected position,
• wherein said handle connecting structure has an ejector that is extendible therefrom, and said engagement structure is aligned with said ejector when said handle is connected to said cartridge.

A replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising

• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle,
• said cartridge connecting structure having inwardly directed surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces on said handle connecting structure,
• said cartridge connecting structure having a handle-receiving region partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and a connection entrance open to said handle-receiving region, said handle-receiving region having a remote portion that is at an opposite end of said region from said entrance,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a projection that extends into said handle-receiving region and has a blocking surface facing the opposite direction from said connection entrance to retain said handle connecting structure on said cartridge connecting structure, said projection being located closer to said remote portion than said entrance.

A replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising

• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle,
• said cartridge connecting structure having inwardly directed surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces on said handle connecting structure,
• said cartridge connecting structure having a handle-receiving region partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and a connection entrance open to said handle-receiving region,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a projection that extends into said handle-receiving region and has a blocking surface facing the opposite direction from said connection entrance to retain said handle connecting structure on said cartridge connecting structure,
• wherein said cartridge connecting structure has a connection axis passing through said connection axis and into said handle receiving region, and wherein a section through said inwardly directed surfaces in a plane transverse to said connection axis is asymmetrical.

A replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising

• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting and disconnecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle by movement along a connection axis,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a latching member that is movable to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure prior to retraction of said cartridge connecting structure from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis,
• wherein said latching member includes a blocking surface that blocks retraction of said handle connecting structure from said cartridge connecting structure when in a latched position and permits retraction of said handle connecting structure from said cartridge connecting structure when in an unlatched position,
• wherein said latching member includes engagement structure that is movable from an initial position to a deflected position, said blocking surface moving from said latched position to said unlatched position as said engagement structure is moved from said initial position to said deflected position,
• wherein said handle connecting structure has an ejector that is extendible therefrom, and said engagement structure is aligned with said ejector when said handle is connected to said cartridge.

A method of connecting a cartridge to a handle comprising

• providing a replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle,
• said cartridge connecting structure having inwardly directed surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces on said handle connecting structure,
• said cartridge connecting structure having a handle-receiving region partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and a connection entrance open to said handle-receiving region, said handle-receiving region having a remote portion that is at an opposite end of said region from said entrance,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a projection that extends into said handle-receiving region and has a blocking surface facing the opposite direction from said connection entrance to retain said handle connecting structure on said cartridge connecting structure, said projection being located closer to said remote portion than said entrance,
• connecting a handle to said cartridge by moving said handle into said handle-receiving region past said projection and said blocking structure and mating said inwardly directed surfaces with said outwardly directed surfaces, and
• retaining said cartridge on said handle by said blocking surface acting on said handle at a location remote from the entrance.

A method of disconnecting a cartridge from a handle comprising

• providing a replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle by movement along a connection axis, said blade unit being pivotally connected to said cartridge connecting structure,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a body and a latching member that is movable away from said connection axis to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure, and
• a handle connected to said cartridge,
• displacing said latching member relative to said body away from said connection axis to release said cartridge from said handle, and
• thereafter removing said cartridge from said handle by moving said cartridge connecting structure away from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis.

A method of disconnecting a cartridge from a handle comprising

• providing a replaceable razor blade cartridge comprising
• a blade unit, and
• cartridge connecting structure for connecting and disconnecting said blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle by movement along a connection axis,
• said cartridge connecting structure including a latching member that is movable to release said cartridge from said handle connecting structure prior to retraction of said cartridge connecting structure from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis, said latching member including a cantilevered beam structure with a base region and an unsupported end, and
• a handle connected to said cartridge,
• displacing said unsupported end of said latching member away from said connection axis to release said cartridge from said handle, and
• thereafter removing said cartridge from said handle by retracting said cartridge connecting structure from said handle connecting structure along said connection axis.