# US 7,610,683 B2 · Oval frame razor

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- Number: US 7,610,683 B2
- Document ID: US7610683B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/650,025
- Filed: 2007-01-05
- Published: 2007-05-17
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 1995-11-10
- Assignees: The Gillette Company
- Inventors: Frank Edward Brown; Brian Oldroyd
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610683B2

## CPC

- B26B 21/222: {with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit (B26B21/4006 takes precedence)}
- B26B 21/00: Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
- B26B 21/4012: {Housing details, e.g. for cartridges}
- B26B 21/4018: {Guard elements}
- B26B 21/4025: {Cap elements}
- B26B 21/4031: {characterised by special geometric shaving parameters, e.g. blade span or exposure}
- B26B 21/44: Means integral with, or attached to, the razor for storing shaving-cream, styptic, or the like
- 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 razor blade unit for safety razor has optimized shape and dimensions for body shaving, especially the regions of the axillae. The blade unit has an elongate blade with a rectilinear sharpened edge, and a skin contacting surface at which the length is 1 to 4 times the width and not greater than about 60 mm, e.g., 40 to 45 mm. The skin contacting surface has a footprint area of at least 450 mm2, e.g., 600 to 750 mm2, and a circularity which is not less than the lower of (i) 65%, and (ii) the circularity of a rectangle with the same length and width as the skin contacting surface and with corner radii of 30% of the width. In a plane perpendicular to the blade edge the skin contacting surface is convex and shaped to make at least a three point contact with an imaginary circumscribing circle with a radius of 15 to 70 mm, e.g., 25 mm. Guard cap surfaces in front of and behind the blade edge each have a skin contact area of at least 140 mm2,and their combined area is preferably at least 400 mm2, e.g., 450 to 500 mm2. A useful shape is rectangular with semi-circular ends.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blade unit housing for use in a safety shaving assembly, comprising:
a frame defining an aperture configured to receive and support a razor blade carrier; and
a skin contacting surface surrounding the aperture and including skin-engaging forward and rearward surfaces, the skin-engaging forward surface being in front and the skin-engaging rearward surface being at the rear of the frame, and the aperture located between the forward surface and the rearward surface,
the aspect ratio of the length to width of the skin contacting surface being in the range of from 1:1 to 2.8:1, said shaving assembly during shaving being substantially inflexible over a major longitudinal dimension,
the skin contacting surface having a circumscribing perimeter confining a footprint area of at least 450 mm2, the forward surface having an area of at least 140 mm2 within the footprint area and being at least about 18.6% of said footprint area, and
the circumscribing perimeter being so shaped that the footprint area confined by said perimeter has a circularity, wherein circularity (C) is a ratio between the area (A) of a shape enclosed by its perimeter (P) to the length of the perimeter as defined by the relation C=A/P2×4 π×100, not less than 70%.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blade unit housing according to claim 1, including a guard component and a cap component each mounted on the frame, wherein the guard component defines the skin-engaging forward surface, and wherein the cap component defines the skin-engaging rearward surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The blade unit housing according to claim 2, wherein the guard component comprises a first elastomeric element, and wherein the first elastomeric element defines the skin-engaging forward surface; and
wherein the cap component comprises a second elastomeric element, and wherein the second elastomeric element defines the skin-engaging rearward surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The blade unit housing according to claim 3, wherein the first elastomeric element is molded onto a first support mounted on the frame, and
wherein the second elastomeric element is molded onto a second support mounted on the frame.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The blade unit housing according to claim 1, wherein the footprint area is substantially oval.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The blade unit housing according to claim 5, wherein the skin contacting surface has an elliptical profile.