Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADAPTER UNIT FOR A SHAVING RAZOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the construction of shaving razors, in which
an
adapter unit provides an interface between a razor blade carrier and a razor
handle
engaging member.
A manufacturer of shaving razors may manufacture shaving razors of a wide
variety of designs. In particular, many designs have been developed with
respect to the
interconnection of razor blade carriers and razor handles. In many
circumstances, it
would be advantageous for a manufacturer to be able to use razor blade
carriers and razor
handles of various designs together.
For example, for the sake of manufacturing efficiency, it would be
advantageous
for a manufacturer to be able to use a standardized razor blade carrier with
multiple razor
handle designs or a standardized razor handle with multiple razor blade
carrier designs.
In addition, it would be commercially attractive for a manufacturer to produce
a
standardized razor handle that would be compatible with various commercially
available
razor blade carrier designs. In addition, it would be advantageous for a
manufacturer to
be able to use new razor handle designs with older razor blade carrier designs
to extend
the life of the older razor blade carrier designs. Furthermore, it would be
advantageous
for a manufacturer to use new razor blade carrier designs with older razor
handle designs
to facilitate the transition to new razor blade carrier designs.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a device and method for allowing razor
blade
carriers and razor handles of various designs to be used together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a razor cartridge for use with a razor handle having a handle
engagement
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member extending from one end thereof. The razor cartridge includes a razor
blade
carrier having a carrier engagement member thereon, and an adapter unit having
a first
side and a second side. The first side of the adapter unit has an adapter
engagement
member that is lockingly mateable with the carrier engagement member. At least
one of
the adapter engagement member and the carrier engagement member are
resiliently
yieldable, such that the adapter engagement member and the carrier engagement
member
may be snapped into non-detachable engagement with each other. The second side
of the
adapter unit has means for attachably mating the razor cartridge with the
handle
engagement member.
Advantageously, with the adapter unit of the present invention, a manufacturer
of
shaving razors may mass produce a standardized razor blade carrier for all of
its various
models of shaving razors, and use different adapter units to adapt the
standardized razor
blade carrier to different designs of razor handle engagement members. Since
the
economies of scale of mass producing the standardized razor blade carrier will
typically
outweigh the added cost of producing the relatively simple adapter unit of the
present
invention, a manufacturer may reduce its overall costs of manufacturing
different razor
designs.
The carrier engagement member of the razor cartridge may comprise one or more
claws, and the adapter engagement member may comprise an elongated projection.
Alternatively, the carrier engagement member may comprise one or more slots,
and the
adapter engagement member may comprise one or more tabs.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
razor cartridge for use with a razor handle having a handle engagement member
extending from one end thereof. The razor cartridge includes a razor blade
carrier having
a carrier engagement member thereon, and an adapter unit having a first side
and a
second side. The first side of the adapter unit has a first adapter engagement
member
lockingly mateable with the carrier engagement member, with at least one of
the first
adapter engagement member and the carrier engagement member being resiliently
yieldable, such that the first adapter engagement member and the carrier
engagement
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member may be snapped into non-detachable engagement with each other. The
second
side of the adapter unit has a second adapter engagement member pivotably
mateable
with the handle engagement member, at least one of the second adapter
engagement
member and the handle engagement member being resiliently yieldable, such that
the
second adapter engagement member and the handle engagement member may be
snapped
into pivotable engagement with each other.
The carrier engagement member of the razor blade carrier may comprise one or
more claws, and the first adapter engagement member may comprise an elongated
projection. Alternatively, the carrier engagement member may comprise one or
more
slots, and the first adapter engagement member may comprise one or more tabs.
The second adapter engagement member of the adapter unit may be detachable or
non-detachable from the handle engagement member. Moreover, the handle
engagement
member may comprise a projection with a rounded end, and the adapter
engagement
member may comprise a socket for receiving the projection. Preferably, the
socket
comprises a plurality of resilient fingers.
In yet another preferred embodiment, there is provided a razor cartridge for
use
with a razor handle having a handle engagement member extending from one end
thereof.
The razor cartridge includes a razor blade carrier having first and second
carrier
engagement members th:,reon. The second carrier engagement member is pivotably
engageable with the handle engagement member. The razor cartridge also
includes an
adapter unit having a first side and a second side, the first side having an
adapter
engagement member lockingly mateable with the first carrier engagement member,
with
at least one of the adapter engagement member and the first carrier engagement
member
being resiliently yieldable, such that the adapter engagement member and the
first carrier
engagement member may be snapped into non-detachable engagement with each
other.
The second side of the adapter unit has an aperture for guiding the handle
engagement
member into pivotable engagement with the second carrier engagement member.
The first carrier engagement member may comprise one or more claws, and the
adapter engagement member may comprise an elongated projection. In addition,
the first
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carrier engagement member may comprise one or more slots, and the adapter
engagement
member may comprise one or more tabs. Preferably, the aperture comprises
tapered inner
walls.
In each of the embodiments described above, the razor handle may have a
central,
projecting tongue, and the adapter unit may have a socket for loosely
receiving the
tongue, such that when the handle and the adapter unit are engaged, the
central, projecting
tongue and the socket cooperate to limit the pivoting range of the handle with
respect to
the razor cartridge.
The adapter unit of the present invention may advantageously be an injection-
molded, plastic piece.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a
method of manufacturing razor cartridges for use with a first razor handle and
a second
razor handle. The method includes the steps of manufacturing first and second
substantially identical razor blade carriers having substantially identical
first and second
carrier engagement members thereon, respectively; manufacturing a first
adapter unit
having two sides, a first side having a first adapter engagement member
mateable with
the first carrier engagement member, with at least one of the first adapter
engagement
member and the first carrier engagement member being resiliently yieldable,
and a second
side having means for attachably mating the first razor blade carrier with the
first razor
handle; and manufacturing a second adapter unit having two sides, a first side
having a
second adapter engagement member mateable with t.he second carrier engagement
member, with at least one of the second adapter engagement member and the
second
carrier engagement member being resiliently yieldable, and a second side
having means
for attachably mating the second razor blade carrier with the second razor
handle.
Preferably, the method also includes the steps of forming a first razor
cartridge for use
with the first razor handle by engaging the first adapter unit with the first
razor blade
carrier through the resiliently yieldable cooperation of the first adapter
engagement
member with the first carrier engagement member and forming a second razor
cartridge
for use with the second razor handle by engaging the second adapter unit with
the second
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razor blade carrier through the resiliently yieldable cooperation of the
second adapter
engagement member with the second carrier engagement member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of manufacturing razor handles for use with a first razor blade
carrier and a
5 second razor blade carrier. The first razor blade carrier has a first
carrier engagement
member thereon, and the second razor blade carrier has a second carrier
engagement
member thereon. First, the method includes the step of manufacturing first and
second
substantially identical razor handles having substantially identical first and
second handle
engagement members thereon, respectively. Second, the method includes the step
of
manufacturing a first adapter unit having two sides, a first side having a
first adapter
engagement member mateable with the first handle engagement member, with at
least
one of the first adapter engagement member and the first handle engagement
member
being resiliently yieldable, and a second side having a second adapter
engagement
member mateable with the first carrier engagement member, with at least one of
the
second adapter engagement member and the first carrier engagement member being
resiliently yieldable. Third, the method includes the step of manufacturing a
second
adapter unit having two sides, a first side having a third adapter engagement
member
mateable with the second handle engagement member, with at least one of the
third
adapter engagement member and the second handle engagement member being
resiliently
yieldable, and a second side having a fourth adapter engagement member
mateable with
the second carrier engagement member, with at least one of the fourth adapter
engagement member and the second carrier engagement member being resiliently
yieldable. Preferably, the method also includes the steps of engaging the
first adapter unit
with the first razor handle through the resiliently yieldable cooperation of
the first adapter
engagement member with the first handle engagement member and engaging the
second
adapter unit with the second handle through the resiliently yieldable
cooperation of the
third adapter engagement member with the second handle engagement member.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. 1 and 2 are isometric views of an adapter unit according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 3 and 4 are exploded isometric views of a shaving razor including the
adapter unit according to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figs. 5 and 6 are isometric views of the shaving razor of Figs. 3 and 4 with
the
razor blade carrier, adapter unit, and handle engaged;
Figs. 7 and 8 are isometric views of an adapter unit according to another
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an exploded isometric view of a shaving razor including the adapter
unit
according to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8;
Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the shaving razor of Fig. 9, with the razor
blade
carrier, adapter unit, and handle engaged;
Figs. 11 and 12 are exploded side views of a shaving razor including the
adapter
unit according to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8;
Figs. 13 and 14 are isometric views of an adapter unit according to another
preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 15 is an exploded isometric view of a shaving razor including the adapter
unit
according to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figs. I and 2 show isometric views of an adapter unit 10 according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The adapter unit 10 includes an
elongated, generally rectangular base 12 having a bottom side 14a and a top
side 14b.
The bottom side 14a includes two groups of resilient fingers 16a and 16b
disposed
on opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of the base 12. The two groups of
resilient
fingers 16a and 16b form the boundaries of two spherically-shaped cavities 26a
and 26b,
respectively. Depending on the position and size of the spherically-shaped
cavities 26a
and 26b, the bottom side 14a may include rounded depressions further
delineating the
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boundaries of the spherically-shaped cavities. As shown in the figures, four
resilient
fingers for each group is preferred, but any number of fingers operable to
form the
boundaries of a spherically-shaped cavity may be used. The bottom side 14a
also
includes a central socket 18. The central socket 18 includes a notch 20
running
perpendicular to the plane of the bottom side 14a.
The top side 14b includes projections extending outwardly from its
longitudinal
edges. Along the length of one longitudinal edge of top side 14b, there is
disposed an
elongated projection 22. Along the other longitudinal edge of top side 14b,
there are
disposed a pair of projecting tabs 24a and 24b, as shown in Fig. 2. Referring
to Fig. 2,
the tabs 24a and 24b are disposed on opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of
the base 12.
The top side 14b also includes a pair of projections 28a and 28b extending
from the top
side 14b and running perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of top side 14b.
Figs. 3 to 6 show isometric views of a shaving razor including a standardized
razor blade carrier 30, the adapter unit 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, and a razor
handle end 50. In
Figs. 3 and 4, the shaving razor is shown before engagement of the razor blade
carrier 30,
adapter unit 10, and razor handle end 50. In Figs. 5 and 6, the shaving razor
is shown
with the razor blade carrier 30, adapter unit 10, and handle end 50 engaged
together.
As shown in these figures, the razor blade carrier 30 is an elongated,
generally
rectangular structure. The axis of elongation is parallel to the cutting edge
of the razor
blade or blades contained in the razor blade carrier (blades not shown). The
razor blade
carrier 30 may include any of the blade, guard, and cap features that are well-
known in
the art (not shown). Referring to Fig. 3, the razor blade carrier 30 includes
a bottom base
32 with a resilient lip 44 formed around it. In the center of the base 32, a
plateau-like
projection 34 extends from the base 32. The plateau-like projection 34 is
shaped to fit in
between the projections 28a and 28b on the adapter unit 10.
On either side of the plateau-like projection 34, a pair of support structures
40a
and 40b extend from the base 32. As best shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of claws
36 are
disposed on the lip 44 along one of the longitudinal sides of the razor blade
carrier 30.
As best shown in Fig. 4, a pair of slots 38a and 38b are formed in the support
structures
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40a and 40b, respectively, on the side of the razor blade carrier 30 opposite
from the
claws 36. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the standardized razor blade carrier 30
also includes
a pair of cylindrical shafts 42a and 42b formed in the support structures 40a
and 40b,
respectively, which together defme a pivot axis for the razor blade carrier 30
for certain
handle designs. The cylindrical shafts 42a and 42b are not utilized in the
embodiment of
Figs. 3 to 6, but will be utilized in a later embodiment.
In the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 6, the razor handle end 50 is bifurcated into
two
arms 54a and 54b, which form a V-shape. The two arms 54a and 54b are joined at
their
outer ends by a bridge portion 62. Each arm 54a and 54b includes a ball-like
projection
56a and 56b, respectively, at its end. The bridge portion 62 includes a
central, projecting
tongue 58, which is T-shaped in cross-section.
To engage the adapter unit 10 with the razor blade carrier 30, the tabs 24a
and 24b
of the adapter unit 10 are placed within the slots 38a and 38b, respectively,
of the razor
blade carrier 30. The adapter unit 10 is then pivoted about the longitudinal
edge on
which the tabs 24a and 24b are located until the elongated projection 22
contacts the
claws 36. Pressure is then exerted on the adapter unit 10 so that, by camming
action of
the elongated projection 22 on the claws 36, the claws 36 and the lip 44 are
pushed
outwardly. After the elongated projection 22 has passed the claws 36, the
claws 36 and
the lip 44 return to their original positions, thus locking the adapter unit
10 into the razor
blade carrier 30, and thereby forming a razor cartridge. During this
procedure, the
plateau-like projection 34 of the razor blade carrier 30 cooperates with the
projections 28a
and 28b of the adapter unit 10 to guide and stabilize the adapter unit 10 into
position.
It will be seen that once the adapter unit 10 is engaged with the razor blade
carrier
30, the adapter unit 10 permits the razor cartridge formed thereby to be
engaged with the
handle end 50 by snapping the ball-like projections 56a and 56b of the handle
end 50 into
the spherical cavities 26a and 26b formed by the groups of resilient fingers
16a and 16b,
respectively, of the adapter unit 10. Once engaged, the ball-like projections
56a and 56b
and the groups of resilient fingers 16a and 16b form a pair of ball-and-socket
joints. In
addition, the tongue 58 of the handle end 50 fits into the socket 18 of the
adapter unit 10,
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with the T-shape of the tongue 58 cooperating with the notch 20 of the socket
18 to guide
the razor handle end 50 into the adapter unit 10 in the correct orientation
for shaving.
Preferably, the socket 18 is slightly wider than the tongue 58 leaving room
for play
between the tongue 58 and the socket 18 so that the razor cartridge,
consisting of the
razor blade carrier 30 and the adapter unit 10, may be pivoted on the ball-and-
socket
joints. The play between the socket 18 and the tongue 58 determines the pivot
range of
the razor cartridge.
Figs. 7 and 8 show isometric views of an adapter unit 110 according to a
second
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The adapter unit 110 includes
an
elongated, generally rectangular base 112 having a bottom side 114a and a top
side 114b.
With reference to Fig. 7, the bottom side 114a includes two pairs of resilient
fingers 116a and 116b disposed on opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of
the base 112.
Each pair of resilient fingers 116a and 116b are adapted to receive a
cylindrically shaped
structure. The bottom side 114a also includes a central socket 118. The
central socket
118 includes a notch 120 running perpendicular to the plane of the bottom side
114a.
With reference to Fig. 8, the top side 114b of the adapter unit 110 includes
projections extending outwardly from its longitudinal edges. Running along the
length of
one longitudinal edge, an elongated projection 122 is disposed on the top side
114b. On
the opposite longitudinal edge, there are disposed a pair of projecting tabs
124a and 124b.
The top side 114b also includes a pair of projections 128a and 128b extending
from the
top side 114b and running perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the top
side 1 14b.
Figs. 9 and 10 show exploded and assembled isometric views, respectively, of a
shaving razor including the standardized razor blade carrier 30 previously
described with
regard to the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 6, the adapter unit 110 of Figs. 7 and
8, and a
razor handle end 150. Figs. 11 and 12 show exploded side views of the same
shaving
razor.
As shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the handle end 150 is bifurcated into two arms 154a
and 154b, which form a V-shape. The two arms 154a and 154b are joined at their
outer
ends by a bridge portion 162. The arms 154a and 154b include recesses 160a and
160b,
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respectively, at their ends. The recesses 160a and 160b include therein
cylindrically
shaped portions 156a and 156b, respectively. The bridge portion 162 includes a
central,
projecting tongue 158, which is T-shaped in cross-section.
It will be seen that the projections on the top side 114b of the adapter unit
110 are
5 similar to those of the adapter unit 10 of Figs. 1 to 6. Thus, the adapter
unit 110 is
engaged to the standardized razor blade carrier 30 in the same manner as has
been
described with respect to the adapter unit 10 to thereby form a razor
cartridge. The
handle end 150 is engaged with the adapter unit 110 by snap fitting the
rounded portions
156a and 156b into the two pairs of resilient fingers 11 6a and 116b,
respectively. As in
10 the prior embodiment of the present invention, the tongue 158 fits into the
socket 118,
with the T-shape of the tongue 158 cooperating with the notch 120 of the
socket 118 to
guide the handle end 150 into the adapter unit 110 in the correct orientation
for shaving.
Preferably, the socket 118 is slightly wider than the tongue 158 leaving room
for play
between the tongue 158 and the socket 118 so that the razor cartridge may be
pivoted
about the cylindrically shaped portions 160a and 160b. The play between the
socket 118
and the tongue 158 determines the pivot range of the razor cartridge formed by
the
adapter unit 110 and the razor blade carrier 30.
Figs. 13 and 14 show isometric views of an adapter unit 210 according to a
third
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The adapter unit 210 includes
an
elongated, generally rectangular base 212 having a bottom side 214a and a top
side 214b.
With reference to Fig. 13, the bottom side 214a includes a pair of guiding
structures 216a and 216b disposed at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of
the base
212. The guiding structures 216a and 216b are generally rectangular structures
with
central openings 226a and 226b, respectively, and inner walls that taper
towards the
central openings. The bottom side 214a also contains a pair of extending
tapered
projections 215a and 215b, located between the guiding structures 216a and
216b.
With reference to Fig. 14, the top side 214b includes projections that extend
outwardly from its longitudinal edges. Extending outwardly along one
longitudinal edge
of the top side 214b, there are disposed a pair of elongated projections 222a
and 222b.
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On the opposite longitudinal edge, a pair of projecting tabs 224a and 224b are
disposed
on the top side 214b. The top side 214b also includes a pair of projections
228a and 228b
extending therefrom and running perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the
top side
214b.
Fig. 15 shows an isometric view of a shaving razor including the standardized
razor blade carrier 30, the adapter unit 210 of Figs. 14 and 15, and a razor
handle end
250. In Fig. 15, the adapter unit 210 is shown engaged with the razor blade
carrier 30.
The manner of engagement of the adapter unit 210 with the razor blade carrier
30 is the
same as described for the prior two adapter unit embodiments 10 and 110. When
the
adapter unit 210 and the standardized razor blade carrier 30 are engaged, the
central
openings 226a and 226b are aligned over the openings of the cylindrical shafts
42a and
42b (see Figs. 3 and 4), respectively, on the inside walls of the support
structures 40a and
40b of the standardized razor blade carrier 30.
The razor handle end 250 includes a main casing 255 and, extending from one
end
of the main casing 255, two arm members 254a and 254b and a central, spring-
loaded
tongue 258. Extending from the sides of the main casing 255 are two buttons
253a and
253b, which are operatively coupled to the arm members 254a and 254b, in a
manner
well-known in the art, so as to be able to move the arm members inwardly
towards each
other. The arm members 254a and 254b are normally separated under spring
tension
from one another by a distance determined by the main casing 255.
The arm members 254a and 254b contain outwardly extending rounded pins 256a
and 256b, respectively, which define a pivot axis for the handle end 250. The
dimensions
of the rounded pins 256a and 256b are such that they fit into the cylindrical
shafts 42a
and 42b of the standardized razor blade carrier 30, enabling the razor
cartridge formed by
the standardized razor blade carrier 30 and the adapter unit 210 to pivot with
respect to
the handle end 250.
To engage the razor cartridge with the handle end 250, the arm members 254a
and
254b are pushed into the guiding structures 216a and 216b of the adapter unit
210. As
the arm members 254a and 254b are pushed into the guiding structures 216a and
216b,
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the tapered walls of the guiding structures 216a and 216b guide the rounded
pins 256a
and 256b into the openings of the cylindrical shafts 42a and 42b (see Figs. 3
and 4) of the
razor blade carrier 30, respectively.
Once the handle end 250 and the razor cartridge are engaged, the central,
spring-
loaded tongue 258 cooperates with the bottom side 214a of the adapter unit 210
to bias
the razor cartridge to a neutral, rest position. When the razor cartridge is
pivoted, the
camming action of the central tongue 258 against the bottom side 214a
compresses the
spring-loaded, central tongue 258 into the main casing 255. When the forces on
the razor
blade carrier 30 are released, the compressed, spring-loaded, central tongue
258 acts in
reverse against the bottom side 214a to return the razor cartridge to its
original, rest
position. During the pivoting movement, the projections 215a and 215b prevent
the
central tongue 258 from moving side to side.
Preferably, the adapter units of the present invention are composed of plastic
and
are produced by a two-plate injection molding process. Preferably, the mold
has a core
pin that is not mechanically activated. The plastic material is preferably
either
polystyrene or ABS. The razor blade carriers and handles to be used with the
adapter unit
of the present invention can be made with any of the materials and processes
that are
well-known in the art for making such components.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain
preferred embodiments, various modifications, alterations, and substitutions
will be
known or obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of
the invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, although the
preferred
embodiments as described are used to attach various handle designs to a
standardized
razor blade carrier, the present invention may also be used to attach a single
handle
design to various razor blade carriers. In addition, although the various
embodiments of
the adapter units have been described and shown in connection with detachable
and
pivotable razor handles, non-detachable and non-pivotable razor handles may
also be
used with the adapter units of the present invention with appropriate
modifications to the
engaging means. As another example, although preferred configurations of
projections
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and tabs have been described with regard to the engagement of the adapter
units and the
standardized razor blade carrier, other configurations may be used. Thus, the
preferred
embodiments described and illustrated are in no way intended to limit the
scope of the
invention, as defined by the appended claims.
