Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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W~ ~/04325 PCr/US93/0767~ ~ ~
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SE~AVING_ AID WIT~ INCR3~ASED F~EgIBILITY ,:
.
B~CRGROUND OF TRE INVEN~XON
The present invention relates to a shaving aid for a
flexibl~ ~et-shaving razor unit and, more particularly, to
an improved shaving aid having at least one groo~e to
enhance the flexing of the sha~ing aid in response to
forces encountered during shaving.
Variou types of shaving aids are known in the razor
industry. One~popular type of -having aid contains at
least~one water insoluble polymeric matrix, along with a
water soluble:material which exudes out of the ins41uble
matrix upon contact with:water during shaving.
In the pastj shaving aids have been attached to
various parts of a wetshaving razor uni~. For example,
sh~Ying~aids have been mechanically attached to the cap
por~ion of the razor unit. Shaving aids ha~e also been
mechanically attached forward of ~he blade cutting edge,
e.g., on the guard bar. ~ ~
: Today, the use of~flexible wet-shaving razox units,
su~h~as disposable raæors and cartridges~ h s ~ecome ~uite
common.~These~flexible razor units, such as the ones '
disclos~ed~in~commonly-owned U.S. Paten~ ~o. 4,854,043 and
U.S- Pat~nt~Applica~ion Serial No. 07~5~3,926 filed on
August 7:, l990,:represen~ a significant advance in the
sha~ing ~ield~ In particular, thè flexible razor unit
;flexes in response~to forces encountered during shaving,
the~eby enabling ~he razor unit to canform ~o ~he na~ural
contour of the surface being shaved. In turn, this brings
a greater portion of the ~lade(s) into effective, cutting
contact with the surface being shaved.
Until now, there has been a need in the art for a
shaving aid suitable for a~tachment to a razor unit of the
t
2139922'-'-' ' ~ '"
W0~4/04325 ;^ ~ PCT/US93/07678
-2
flexible dPsign. In this regard, the shaving aids of the
prior art, if attached to a flexible razor unit, would
substantially reduce,~if not eliminate, the flexibility of
such unit. This reduction ln fl~xibility would limit the
effe~tiveness o~ the razor unit. There is therefore a
need:in the art~for a shaving aid capable of attachment to
a ~lexible~wet-shaYing razor unit without reducing the
flexibili~y of~such unit.~
8~MAn~ INVENTION
The:~present~invention,~which~add~esses the problems
associated~with the~pri;o~r art, rel2tes ~o a flexible wet-
shaving razor unit;~having:at least one blade with an
exposed~edg~ a~1exibl~e blad~e;~support structure and a
shaving~a~id~h ~ i~ng;~at~least one active ingredient and
orm~d~with~:a:~groove~extending in a direction
`substantlally~perp~ndieular~to~the~;axi.s of f~lexing of the
b1ade~" up~ort.~
A~cording~to on~è~preferr:ed e ~ diment of the present
inyentio~,:the~f~lex~ é~blade support structure~is a
~aily ~a~lnUOUs ~thermoplastic body in;wh:ich the
bl ~-è s~ecu~ su~s~antially r:igidly against movemPnt
a~d~ ~ ion`:~ ~ lng~shaving~,~ In~particular, the
`su ~ antia1~ly-continuous~thermoplastic body is formed with
a~plurali~ of:~`d~i~scre~e~blade~supports ~or supporting the
botto~:~of~th~ lade.: At~leas~ two of these~blade supports
are~l connec ~ d by~a:~flèxi~le corrugation. ~Blad~ ! r~tainers~,
whi~h~are~in~egrally~ol:ded-to:th2 blade supports, exte~d
o~er~thè~top~of th~:blade.~ ~he ~shaving aid o~ tha pr~sent
inyenrion~is;~pFeferàbly;~sequentially mold@d in a ~ingle -:
step~ moldi~ng opèration~onto the blada retainers.
Aocording~to~this~embodiment of the present invention, a
plurality of grQoves:~are::fo:rmed in the shaving.aid and are
advantageously positioned~between neighboring blade
ré~ain~rs~
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W094/~43~ - PCT~US93/07678 .
-3-
Another embodiment of the present inven~ion is
directed to a mekhod for forming a flexible razor head
having a shaving aid with increased flexibility. The
method includes the first step o~ positioning at least one
blade having an exposed edge into a mold cavity having
male mold members. A thermoplastic material is then
injected into the mold cavity to form a flexible blade 1-
support around the blade. Next, at least one of the male
mold me~bers is removed from the mold cavity. ~ second
cavi~y is then defined wherein the second cavity is I ::
defined by a~ least a portion of the flexible blade
support. Finally, a polymeric material Aaving at least
one active ingredient is injected into t~e second mold
cavity, thereby forming a shaving aid which is attached to
the flexible blade:support and which has at least one
groo~e extending in a direction substantially
perpendieular to the axis of flexiny.
: ,
The sha~ing aid of the prasent invention may ba .
employed with many types of flexible wet-shaYing razor
units designed to follow the contour of an irregular
surface.: The groove disposed in the shaving aid redu~es
the resis~anc~ of the shaving aid ~o fl~xing, thereby
enabling the ~lexible razor unit to more readily follow
,~
:ths contour of the surface being shaved. l:n turn, this
brings a greater portion of ~he ~lade into effet:tive,
cutting c:ontact with the surfac:e heing shaved,
: : ~:
RIE~ D~8CRIPT~ON OF T~E_~ ~ NG~
: Figure 1 i~ a top,:perspectiv~ view of a preferr~d .
: embodiment of ~he present invention;
~: ~ : Figure 2 is a right, elevated side view of the razor
unit illustrated in Figure l;
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W~94/04325 - 2 1 3 g 9 2 2 PCT/US~3~07678 .
f
Figure 3 is a top view of the razor unit illustrated
in Figure 1; - ;
igure 4 is a front, elevational view of the razor
unit~illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 5~is~a rear,~elevational view of the razor
unit~ lustrat~ed~in~Figure~
Figure~ 6 is~a~otbom~view of:the razor unit
illust~ated~in~:~F~igur~
iFigure:7 is~:a~left,~elévated side view of the razor
unit~illus;trated~in~Fiqure~l;~ : ;
F~' ~ e~8~i~s~a~ front,~elevational view of the r zor
`unit~o~the~pr~seré~lnveni~ioD Ir a~flexed position; and
igu~a~-:g~i~s~:~a~cross-sectional Yiew~of a:molding
~n~accord~nce with~the oethod of ~ the p~esent
of il:lustration, one embodiment of t~e~
iliust~ated ~ra~zor unIt ~ l . e .:, cartridge :
lO~ is:~désignéd~ or~: attachment to a s~parate handle
m~chanism.~ C ~ ri~ é~lO~lncludes two sharpened blad~s,
that:~is, ;a:~s~e t~:bl ~2 ~and
21 are-~sùpportèd~by;~a~flex;ible blade support structu~e, .
whic~h:~in~th~ llustrated:~embodiment is a subs~antially
continuous~body~whereln;the~blades~are secured
substantially~:~;rigid~y~against~movement and vibration
durin~sha~ing~ A:~raZor~;unit having a substantially
c~nt-inuous~sdy is~ ~escr:ibed in commonly owned co-pendin~r
S.~Patent Appl;ication~Serial No. 0~/S63,~26 filed on
W094/04325 ~ ~9 9 2~2 PCT/US93/07678
--5-- .
August 7, 1990, incorporated herein by reference. The
substantially continuous body includes upper blade
retainers 30 twhich together form the Gap of the razor
unit), s~de walls 50, 51 and lower blade suppor~s 60.
Disposed forward of seat blade 20 are a plurality of guard
bar segments 70. The entire blade support structure is
designed to flex in response to forces encountered during
shaving, thereby allowing the blades to conform to the
con~our of the surface being shaved.
,,
Shaving aid 90 is formed along the top of fle~:ible
cartridge 10 and extends across substantially the entire
length of the car~ridge. The shaving aid is molded into
depressions formed in blade retainers 30 in order ~o
provide a smooth surface conforming to the ge~metry of the
cap of the cartridge. As best shown in Figur~ 4, blade
retainers 30 are advantageously formed sueh that spaces
remain b~tween neighboring blade retainers 30. This space
increases the flexibility of the overall fl~xible blade :
support strueture, while providing a convenient location
for grooves 95 in the shaving aia~. Since ::artridge lo is ~:
designed to fl~x along an axis substantially parallel to
the ~xposed edges o~ blades 2 0, 21, grooves 95 are .
ad~ant geously disposed substantially perpendicular to th~ -
blade edge~. ~-:
According ~o this illus~rated embodim~n~, as best
shown in Fiyure 5, neigh~oring blade supports 60 are
attached by:corrugations 65. The illustra~ed embodimen~ ~:
includes a flexi~le blade support structurq which i5
integrally mold~d in a single moldin~ step. ~ method for
integrally molding a blade support structure is descri~ed
in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
07/541,~25 filed June 20, 1990, incorpora~ed herein by :
ref~r~nce. ~l~ernatiYe blade support structures formed of
a plurality of separately formed elements would al~o
benefi~ from the present inYention.
~94/04325 `~ PCT/US93/0767g
~139922
;~ . While the illustrated embodiment of the present
invention discloses four grooves disposed in the shaving
aid, the present invention may be practiced with a greater
or fewer number of such grooves. The shaving aid may be
formed of various sub tances known to those in the shaving
industry. One popular aotive ingredient is polyethylene
:: oxide which has been found to provide desirable lubricity
:to sh~aving d VlC~S during wet-shaving.
: !
The polyethylene oxide active ingredien~ may include
a~mixture oP high molecul~ar~weight polyethylene oxide and
low mol~ecular weight polyethylene oxide. For example, a
mixture of PO~YOX COA~ULANT polye~hylene oxide having a `~
molecular weight of about 5 million and POLYOX WSR-N-750
pol:yethylen~oxide h:aving:a molecu}ar weight of about
300~,000~has~been found suitable.
Other oompatible actiYe ingredients which may also be
;inco~ orated~into the shavin~ ;aid include:
a)i~ lubrica~t:ing agent~for ~educing the frictio~al
forces~between~:the~razor~:and the skin, e.g.~, a micro-
encapsulated:~:sil~ione:oil~,~polyurethane-
poly~lnylpyrr-l~don- Int~rpoly= er ~ etc.
b)~ :An ad~it:îonal~agent which reduces the drag
between~the~razor~parts~and~the shaver's face, e.g., a .
natural polysaccharide deriYed from plant materials such :
ag guar gu~
~ ~ : `
`(c) ~n agen~ whi~h~modifies the ch~mical structur~
: of the~ hair~to~allow~the razor blade to pass easily
through:th~ whiskers, e.g.,: a depilatory agent. .
W094/04325 '~399 ~ - PCT/U593/07678 1~
-7-
(d) A cleaning agent which allows the whiskers and
skin debris to be washed more easily ~rom th~ razor parts
during shaving, e.g., a silicone polyethylene oxide bl~ck
copolymer and detergent such as sodium lauryl sulpha~e.
(e) A medicinal agent for killing bacteria, or
repai.ring skin damage and abrasion~.
'f~ ~ cosmetic agent ~or softening, smoothing,
conditi:oning or improving the skin.
(g) ~ blood coagulant ~or the suppression of
bleeding that occurs from nicks and cuts.
(h~) ~An astringent for constricting b}ood ~essels,
thereby stemming the flow of bodily fluids such as lymph, .
which:may:exude from skin that has be~n irritated during ~
shaving. :~ 3
A~ lexible razor unit ha~ing a shaving aid according
to~the;;present~invention~may be fo~med through an insert :
moldiny;~procedure. RPferrinq to Fig. 9, the procedure
:includes::the first step of positioning seat ~lade 20 into
a:~first mold ~a~1~y. Seat ~lade ~0 is suppor~d by a
guàrd~bar~lnsert;~110 and a male mold support member 112.
A:~spacer ba~r 114 is~positloned ov@r ssat blade 20. Spacer
bar~114 allows cap blade :21 to be fixPd in a spaced
relati~nship~with x~spect to seat blade 20. ~n ~pper mold
me ~ er 1~6.~is then positioned ov~r the blade arrang~ment;,
thereby enc10sing and comp1eting ~he first m.old cavity.
Upper mold m~mber 116 includes a cap forming cavity 118.
Included in cap forming cavi~y 118 are male mold member
20, which are capable of forming a continuous
substantially rectangular depression in the cap of ~he
ra~or unit. The depressi~n is formed subs~antlally
parallel to the blade edge.
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W094~0432s.~ t ll ' ' " PCT~US93/07~78 ~'
: -8-
:
After the upper mold member is positioned in place, a -~
ther~oplastic material is injected into the first mold .,
cavity. The thermoplastic material fills the mold cavity, , :;'
:thereby encasing the blades and forming the flexible blade .
: support~ ~fter the thermoplastic material has set,, the , 5
:upper:mold~=ember~is rem~ved. Because ~of male mold - ,
members~120, a c:ontinuaus su~stantially rectangular , ."
depression:is formed~in the cap of the:razor unit. -, ;
At~this point~a~,second~'upper~mold member is ,
positioned~o~er~:~the~blade~ arrangement. This second upper
mold:enal'oses,thé~-;dépression~previously formed in the cap.
A polyme~ic:materi~al:having at least one active ingredient
is~;;then~injected~lnto the depression, thereby forming the
:Th e~sk l:led~ n~the~art~of~molding will appreciate ';
that~b~y~redu~:ing~thé~number,:'o~f:~separ:ate sitPs at which',~
: shaving~àid~mate~ial~is~positioned:on the~razor unit, the
n ~ e~-:of~inlet~ports~wh;ich~must~be designed into:a mold
m~er.~a e~min' i ed.;~ :In~ :pres ~ t inve~ 'on,:~a : -'
i,co~ntinu~us~s'ubsta;ntial~ly~ rectangular depression is form~d
n ~ ~cap~of~,the~::r~azor~unlt and,~hus,~ the~shaving aid of
the~ ~ èd; ~ o~lment:can~be~formed using:a single
inl ~ ~po ~ T~e:'sec~ond~:up er;:mold~me~ er:lncludes male j ~
m ~ d~:me ~ s ~ t~fo ~ ~grooves~9~5~in:;th~ sh~a~ing aid. ~ ~
,`'Thèsè~ ooves~ o ~` ùbs anti~al}y~perpe:ndicular to ~ :
the'~:axis of flexing::~and.décrease the resistance of the
s~àving'~àid~ to''f~ièxing'.~
As~d~scribed~above,~a~poly~er_c =aterial having at
least~on~ active~ingredient is iniected:into the /,,
depres~slon~'formed~in~the: cap.~ After the pol~meric -,
material~:has~ set~ the:~second upper mold:member is rsmoved,
2110win~ ~he~molded:~razor unit to be rem~ved from the ,
~old.;~
W094/043~ g 9-2 2 PCT/U~3/07~78
While there have ~een described what are presently
belie~ed to be the preferred embodiments of tho invention,
those skilled in the art will realize that various changes
and modifications may be made to the invention without
departing from the spirit of tha invention, and it is
intended to claim all su h changes and modifications as
f~ll within the scope of the invention.
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