Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED CLEAN-OUT MECHANISM
FOR TWIN BLADE SHAYING I~NIT
Background of the Invention
1 The present invention relates generally to a shaving
iblade unit for use in or forming part of safety razors and, more
specif~ically, to a twin-bladed shaving unit having means for
~ejecting debris includislg shaved hair particles deposited in and
Iclogging the space between the leading and following outting edges
¦Iprovided by the pair of blades.
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~ Twin-bladed safety razors are believed to possess
desirable shaving characteristics. Such razors include two blade
.~ elements disposed parallel to each other in spaced relation and
~each having a cutting edge such that the pair provide leading and
I(following cutt1ng edges so that both cutting edges are successivel~ r
15 ¦i active with respect to the hair elements or whiskers being cut
lduring a shaving stroke. A representative example of a twin-
ibladed shaving cartridge is illustrated in U. S. Patent 3,890,704
by Ferraro for Razor Blade Cartridge issued June 24, 1975.
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I While shaving with a twin-bladed safety razor, various
¦types of debris such as shaved hair and whisker particles and il
shaving lather are gradually deposited in and thus clog the space ¦
'between the leading and following cutting edges o the twin-bladed
shaving unit. These deposits may adversely affect the shaving
, charac~eristics of the razor so tha~ i~ customarily must be removed
!- at some appropriate time or times before, during or after shaving.
' Until recently~ most prior art twin-bladed shaving units did not
! in general include a means for e~ecting the shaving debris and,
accordingly, removal of that debris had to be accomplished by
l relatively difficult and time-consuming techniques, such as
;washing, or examp~e.
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One effort dixected to overcoming the above problem
is disclosed in U.S. Pa-tent 3,972,114 to Chao et al for Self-
Cleaning ~lechanism for Twin Blade Razors issued August 3, 1976,
wherein a self-cleaning mechanism is arranged between the blades
of a twin blade razor whereby the area between the blades can
; be made clean and free of debris by movement of the cleaning
mechanism with a person's fingers. ~his cleaning mechanism,
however, is operated by manual reciprocatory mo-tion in a direction
parallel to the blade edges. Teeth on the forward edge of the
mechanism have inclined surfaces for forwardly displacing debris
from between the blades; however, such arrangement is less
than totally efficient in removing debris due to the limited
~ number of teeth, the incline angle of the teeth, and the limited
; range of lateral displacement of the cleaning mechanism.
In one mechanism for removing debris from spaced blades,
an elongated spacer member serves to maintain the pair of blades
in spaced relation and a separate ejector member with an opening
loosely fitting around the spacer is displaceable between a
forward or advanced and a rearward or retracted position for
clearing debris.
The U.S. Patent 4,047,296 to Ishida et al for Two-Edge
Shaving Blade Unit Having Anti-Clogging Means issued September 13,
1977, discloses a clean-out mechanism which additionally includes
biasing means for normally retaining the ejector in its retracted
position. However, the spacer, -the ejector, and the biasing means
comprise three separate
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elements which serve to complicate the assembly of the shaving
unit.
jAccordingly, it i9 a primary object of the present
¦` invention to provide an improved twin blade razor system whicb
1 overcomes the above disadvantages encountered with the prior
1 art units~
i` It is a further object of the invention to provide a
twin blade shaving system having improved means for cleaning
! debris from between the blades. Included in this object is the
1provision of spacer and ejector means having a reduced initial
cost, affording reduced assembly costs in the manufacture of the
shaving system, providing increased durability, and10r affording
superior debris clean-out characteristics.
IlSummary of the Invention
lS llIn accordance with the present invention, there is
provided an improved raæor blade system of the type employing a
pair of spaced razor blades with cutting edges on the forward
iedges thereof fixedly positioned between seat and cap portions.
, More specifically, the improvement comprises unitary means
1 interposed between the pair of razor blades for maintaining the
1blades in their spaced relation and for ejecting shaved hair from
`therebetween.
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More specifically, the unitary spacer and ejecting
means comprises a spacer portion fixed between the seat and cap
1 portions, an ejector portion for dlsplacement between advanced
!and retracted posltions relative thereto, and a biasing portion
fixed to the spacer portion and the ejector portion for normally
retaining the ejector portion in the relatively retracted position,
i the ejector portion being manually displaced to the advanced
position for ejecting shaved hair. The ejector and biasing
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portions may be of slightly lesser thickness between the blades
than the spacer portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the spacer portion comprises
l'two laterally spaced and laterally elongated segments each
,connected to the ejector portion by a respective beam spring.
! Each beam spring is 80 configured and connected to the ejector
i portion and respective spacer segment to reduce distortion during
~ displacement of the eiector portion.
¦ Brief Description of the Drawings
I Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a twin
.~ ,blade shaving unit in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cap portion of
the unit shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspec~ive view of an upper blade
~element of the unit shown in Figure l;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a one-piece spacer
,and ejector in accordance with the invention and utilized in the
'spscer of the unit of Figure 1;
j, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a lower blade element
,of the unit of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the seat portion of
l`the unit of Figure 1
j Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the unitary spacer
l and ejector member of Figure 4;
I Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8
in Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9
in Figure 1.
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Description of Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Figures 1~ 2, 6 and 9, the twin blade
shaving unit or system illustrated includes a seat portion 10 and
I a cap portion 12, both of which may be of plastic material. An
~ upper or cap blade element 14 and a lower or seat blade element 16
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¦ are fixed between the platform and cap portlons 10, 12 in a
,parallel and spaced relation with the one-piece or unitary spacing
and clean-out mechanism 19 of the invention interposed there-
I'between. The cap 12 9 the seat 10, and the upper and lower blade
elements 14, 16 are substantially of the type illustrated and
¦,described in the aforementioned U. S. Patent 3,890,704 to Ferraro
- 'an exception being the tapered extension to the rear surfaces of
cap 12 and seat 10 and a relief slot 20 centered therein to
lifacilitate location and operation of the clean-out or ejector
portion 22 of the unitary member 19.
! As partially illustrated in Figures 2 and 9, the cap 12
¦,has four posts 24 projecting from its inner wall surface, the
Ilateral spacing betweep the first and second and the third and
'~fourth posts being the same and less than that between the second
1 and third posts. The posts 24 serve as members for fixing in
position the upper and lower blade elements 14, 16 and the spacer
;portion 18 of the unitary spacing and clean-out mechanism 19.
Figure 3 shows the upper blade element 14 formed towards its
~ opposite lateral end portions with laterally extending slots 26A
' and 26B respectively. The upper blade element 14 is disposed
;with its upper surface contacting the inner wall surface of cap
12 and with its cutting edge 28 directed forwardly. Further, the
upper blade element 14 is fixed in position with its slots 26A,
26B fitted onto respective equ~lly spaced pairs of posts 24, as
, by vertically assembllng the elements of Figures 2 and 3.
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The lower blade element 16 of Figure 5 is disposed
betwee~ the seat and cap 10, 12 respectively with its lower
surface contacting the inner wall surface of the seat lO, and
with its cutting edge 30 dlrected forwardly. The lower blade 16
is substantially identical in structure with the upper blade 14,
except that slots 32A and 32B of the lower blade 16 are positioned
slightly more rearward relativP to cutting edge 30 than are slots
26A, 26B relative to cutting edge 28. For assembly, the slots
32A, 32B are fitted onto respective equally spaced pairs of posts
24 of cap 12. Consequently, when the upper and lower blade
elements 14, 16 are assembled, the cutting edge 30 of the lower
; blade 16 is slightly advanced as compared with the cutting edge 28
of the upper blade element 14, thus providing the leading and
following cutting edges, respectively.
Referring now to Figures 4, 7 and 8, the unitary spacing
and clean-out member 19 is comprised of a spacer portion 18, an
ejector portion 22, and interconnecting biasing means 50. The
combination spacer-ejector member 19 is formed of a material which
is preferably easy and inexpensive to mass-produce, yet readily
resists the high temperatures of shaving rinse water and the
chemical attack of various toiletries and possesses high strain
resistance and the capacity to act as a spring in thin sections.
Applicants have found high temperature thermoplastics such as
acrylic-butyl styrene (e.g., CYCOLAC-~ by Borg-Warner) to be
particularly satisfactory. Of course, other materials such as
the 400 series of stainless steels and 4000, 5000 and 6000 series
of aluminum alloys might also be generally suitable but would
possess certain obv~ous limitations. The plastic member 19 of
the i]lustrated embodiment is conveniently formed by injection
molding.
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* Trademark
The geometry of the combined spacer and clean-out
member l9 is now considered in greater detail. The spacer portion
~18 is comprised of a pair of identical, thin, laterally spaced and
Ijlaterally elongated spacer segments 18A and 18B respectively. The
11 lateral elongation of each spacer segment 18A, 18B is sufficient
¦ for the formation of a pair of post holes 25A, 25B respectively
I therein. Post holes 25A, 25B are positioned and sized for a
i respective pair of posts 24 to pass therethrough and fixedly
jjposition the respective spacer segments relative to cap 12 and
l'seat 10. The thickness of spacer segments 18A9 18B is selected f
llas the desired spacing between upper and lower blades 14, 16
- I~thereby to establish such spacing when positioned in mutual
jcontact therebetween. Typically, the thickness of the spacer
portlon 18 will be about .020 inch.
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I The ejector portion 22 is substantially flat and, in
this embodiment, has openings 23A, 23B adapted to fit partially
around spacer segments 18A, 18B respectively. Ejector portion 22
is slightly thinner than spacer segments 18A, 18B and is of
l laterally elongated shape. More specifically, the ejector portion
¦~22 of this embodiment comprises a generally rectangular, rigid
"~framework comprlsing a forward ejector bar 27 spanning a generally
E-shaped supporting framework. The middle arm 22E of that frame- ~
work extends or passes between the laterally spaced spacer segments
lf 18A, 18B to transfer displacement to ejector bar 27. Additionally,
, the end arms 22A and 22B of the E-.shaped framework contribute
' additional support to ejector bar 27. A push tab 36 dependfi from
! the rear edge of ejector portion 22 for manual actuating engage-
ment9 as by a user1s thumb. It will be appreciated that end
~ support arms 22A and 22B might be omitted and yet retain the
I general functionality and operability of the mechanism.
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Alternatively, center arm 22E migh~ be omitted.
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The biasing means 50 connecting the spacer portion 18
with the ejector portion 22 is comprised of beam springs 50A and
~ 50B connecting the ejector portion 22 with spacer segments 18A
l,and 18B respectively. Like the ejector portion 22, beam springs
j 50A, 50B are slightly thinner than spacer segments 18A, 18B to
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` allow their relative forward and back movement between blades 14,
i 16. Typically, both the ejector portion 22 and beam springs 50A
jjand 50B are about .018 inch thick. It will be appreciated,
¦Ihowever, that in cartridges of typical construction, such reduc- '
~tion in thickness may not be necessary. Springs 50As 50B are
about .035 inch wide along their length.
, In the illustrated embodiment, beam springs 50A, 50B
l each have a so-called dogleg shape, one portion of the dogleg
I being anchored at an end through integral connection with the
,laterally-inboard end o~ a respective spacer segment and extending
~,rearwardly therefrom and the other portion of the dogleg extending
laterally outward behind the respective spacer segment and being
Ilanchored at its end by integral connection with ejector portion 22
` rearwardly of the respective spacer segment. The rearwardly
extending portion of each spring 50A, 50B is capable of a small
angular deflection toward the respective laterally-outward end of
spacer segment 18A, 18B when the e~ector portlon 22 is advanced,
thereby to compensate for any laterally-inward movement of the
~5 ` ejec~or-connected end of the respective spring as it deflects
angularly about the intersection of the two portions of the dogleg
during the advance. The dotted-line position of spring 50B in
~igure 7 illustrates these angular deflections of the respective
portions of the dogleg of the spring, revealing that the ejec~or-
connected end of the spring moves substantially normal to the
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' cutting edges 28, 30. This action reduces distortion of the
' ejector portion 22 and excessive stressing of springs 5~A, 50B
j~which could otherwise result if there was but one pivoting portion
.~to a spring. In such instance, the e~ector portion 22 ~ould be
I forced to deform to accommodate the non-llnear displacement path
of thè "moving" end of the spring.
¦l Referring further to Figure 7, the ejector portion 22 1,
if member l9 in its relatively retracted position to which it is
~`normally biased is shown in solid-line form. In that configuration,
¦Ithe spacing normal to cutting edges 28, 30 between the e~ector bar
¦¦27 and the spacer portion 18 is denoted Wl and is typically .017
,linch? between spacer portion 18 and the laterally extending
I portions of the springs 50A, 50B is denoted W2 and is typically
~.050 inch, and between that same portion of the springs and the
lrear cross-member of ejector portion 22 ls denoted W3 and typically
increases from .025 to .050 lnch toward ~he midline of member l9. j
Further, the lateral length L between center arm 22E of ejector
.portion 22 and the lnboard end of a respective breakaway tab 52
Illmay be .575 inch and is sufficiently greater than the lateral
Iilength Ll of a spacer segment 18A, 18B to facilitate relative
ifore and aft moveme~t of ejecting portion 22.
Side breakaway tabs 52 and front breakaway tabs 53 are
integrally formed with and connect ejector portion 22 with spacer ,
'~portion 18 to stabilize these elements during assembly of the
I.shaving unlt. The breakaway tabs 52, 53 are quite thin at their
point of connection with spacer~ 18A, 18B (see Figure 8). ~pon
"completion of assembly, a forwardly directed manual or mechanical
force is applied to the push tab 36 sufficient to cause tabs 52
and 53 to break away from their engagement with spacer portions 18,
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thereby and ~hereafter permitting fore and aft displacement of
ejector portion 22 relative to spacer portion 18.
~, The dotted-line section of Figures 7 and 9 illustrates
ejector portion 22 displaced from its normally retracted position
,;to its advanced positlon. Typica]ly the magnitude of that dis-
placement is about .050 inch and is determined by the push tab 36
t contacting the rear surface of seat 10 and/or the laterally
¦,outboard end of springs 50A9 50B contact-lng spacer portion 18.
I~The primed reference numerals refer to the corresponding elements '
I,displaced to the relatively advanced position. In this advanced
¦Iposition, the lead~ng edge of ejector bar 27' is positioned
forwardly of the upper or following cutting edge 28 to clear and
¦lexpose debris deposited between the blades for simple rinsing away
Iiwith a stream of water. The thickness of ejector bar 27, being
l~nearly that of spacer portion 18, is sufficient to sweep debris
¦!from substantially the entire space between blades 14, 16 when
¦Imanually actuated. When the actuating force is released from
¦'push tab 36, beam springs 50A, 50B act to return ejector portion
i22 to its normally retracted position entirely to the rear of
icutting edges 28 and 30, whereupon shaving may be resumed.
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' The various curves and corners in the aforedescribed
spacer and clean-out member 19 are contoured to permit easy and
reliable operation without overstressing any portion of it. The
j resulting member is particularly suited to use with existing twin
blade cartridge designs, requiring relatively little modification
thereof.
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!~ The invention may be embodied in yet other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. For instance, the beam springs might be positioned
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forwardly raeher than rearwardly of the spacer portion if other
geometry permits. Thus, the present embodiments are to be con-
sidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
ilscope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
ilrather than by ~he foregoing description, and all changes which
¦,come within the meaning and range of equivalency of thP claims
ar~ thereiore intended to be embr-ctd therein.
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