Loading patent…
AssigneeThe Gillette Company
InventorsMingchih M. Tseng, Philip J. Sweeney, Alfred Porcaro, Domenic Apprille
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a skin engaging member for use in a razor blade cartridge assembly or shaving systems of the wet shave type comprising an elongated flexible sheath region and at least one elongated, rigid core region. The core region is surrounded by the sheath such that the outer surface of the core does not intersect the outer surface of the sheath. Generally, the core or cores extend axially throughout the sheath and provide sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength to the entire skin engaging member, as initially produced, during the shaving operation and after a significant amount of shaves.
A razor cartridge comprising a blade and an elongated polymeric skin engaging member immovably affixed adjacent said blade, said skin engaging member being a unitary polymeric member comprising a rigid or semi-rigid inner polymeric layer surrounded by a flexible, elastomeric outer layer, said outer layer having an interrupted skin-engaging surface, said inner layer extending axially through said outer layer and providing mechanical strength to said skin engaging member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Means integral with, or attached to, the razor for storing shaving-cream, styptic, or the like: lubricating strips attached to the razor head
Housing details, e.g. for cartridges: guard elements
Hand-held cutting tools not otherwise provided for
Term ended 1 Jul 2014 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to an improved skin engaging member for use in razor blade cartridge assemblies or shaving systems of the wet shave type. The present invention resides broadly in providing a skin engaging cap and/or guard surfaces with configurations or textures designed to promote pleasant tactile sensations, in use of the razors, which tend to mask the sensations caused by contact of the blade edge(s) with the skin and more significantly with the facial hairs as they are severed. This invention also relates to a novel method of manufacturing the skin engaging member of the present invention
It is known in the prior art to provide a razor blade assembly which may be connected to and used in conjunction with a razor handle to facilitate shaving operations. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,070, issued Apr. 3, 1973, in the name of Francis W. Dorion, Jr., there is shown a blade assembly in which blade means are held between the blade assembly surfaces adapted to engage the surface being shaved in front of and behind, respectively, cutting edge portions of the blade means. Such surfaces are generally referred to in the prior art as “guard” and “cap” surfaces.
In various blade assemblies shown in the prior art the guard, cap and blade means have been disclosed in various forms. In order to increase shaving efficiency, in some instances, the individual components have been designed to move in response to forces encountered during shaving. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,571, issued Sep. 25, 1979, in the name of John F. Francis, there is shown a blade assembly in which the guard, cap and blade means are each movable independently of each other in dynamic fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,268, issued Jun. 2, 1981, in the name of Chester F. Jacobson, shows a blade assembly in which the guard and blade means are independently movable. Various other patents show a combination of guard, blade. and cap arrangements which are known, for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,268, U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,357, U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,024, U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,025, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,235, U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,916, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,266, U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,255, U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,634, U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,729, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,424, all issued in the name of Chester F. Jacobson and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shaving system of the wet shave type to which the invention may be applied;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a skin engaging member according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an end cross-sectional view of the skin engaging member of FIG. 2.
As used herein, the term “core” refers to a central portion of a skin engaging member as examined at the cross-section. The Fig's. designate the core as 13. Embodiments of the present invention have at least one core element. Also, as used herein a “rigid core” has sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength to the entire skin engaging member, both as initially produced, during the shaving operation and after a significant amount of shaves.
As used herein, the term “sheath” refers to an outer coating layer or layers over the core material 13. The Fig's. designate sheath as 14.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an elongated razor cartridge assembly 1. Commercial razor blade cartridges of this type are common in the market place. These commercial cartridges comprise one or more blades 2, 3 and a rigid body structure 10 comprised of a lower base member 9 and two end units 5 and 5′. Affixed to the body depicted are two razor blades 2 and 3. It is common for these blades to be supported on the springs or other movable members which allow the blade edge to conform to the contours of the face. Anterior to the leading edge of the blades is found the guard assembly 4 and posterior to the leading edge of the blades is the cap assembly 6. It is on the guard and/or cap members that the skin engaging surface 7 and 8 of the present invention may be positioned, respectively.