Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02447158 2003-11-18
SIl-IAVIN~ IBAZ(~~t I-IIA,N1~LL
The invention relates to shaving razors having handles and replaceable
cartridges as well as to the
razor handles themselves. This application is a division of copending commonly
owned Canadian Patent
Application Serial No. 2,279,187 of February 18, 198.
Shaving systems often consist of a handle and a replaceable cartridge in which
one or more blades
are mounted in a plastic housing. After the blades in a Cartridge have become
dull from use, the cartridge
is discarded, and replaced on the handle with a new cartridge. In some shaving
systems the blades are
resiliently mounted with respect to the cartridge housing and deflect under
the force of skin contact during
shaving. In some shaving systems the connection of the cartridge to the handle
provides a pivotal mounting
of the cartridge with respect to the handle so that the cartridge angle
adjusts to follow the contours of the
surface being shaved. In such systems, the cartridge can be biased toward an
at rest position by the action
of a spring-biased plunger (a cam follower) carried on the handle against a
cam surface on the cartridge
housing.
In one aspect of the invention according to the parent application there is
provided a cartridge-
t 5 connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle comprising a cartridge
connecting structure having outer,
cartridge-supporting side surfaces that mate with inwardly directed cartridge
surfaces of a recess on a
replaceable cartridge, the cartridge connecting structure including cartridge
holding Structure for releasably
holding a replaceable cartridge, a movable component within the cartridge
connecting structure for
interacting with the cartridge when connected to the cartridge connecting
structure, and a handle connecting
structure having outer, handle-supporting side surfaces that mate with
inwardly directed handle surfaces on
an elongated hand gripping structure of the razor handle, the cartridge
connecting structure and the handle
connecting structure having contiguous portions, whereby the subassembly is
substantially covered when the
handle connecting structure is connected to the elongated hand gripping
structure, and the cartridge
connecting structure is connected to the cartridge.
In another aspect of the invention according to the parent application there
is provided a cartridge-
connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle, comprising a housing and a
movable component within
the housing for interacting with a replaceable cartridge when connected to the
subassembly. The housing
includes a handle connecting structure for making a permanent connection to a
subassembly connecting end
of an elongated hand gripping structure of the razor handle, a cartridge
connecting structure for making a
releasable connection to the replaceable cartridge, an assembly opening at the
handle connecting structure
for receiving the movable component during assembly, a cartridge interaction
opening at the cartridge
connecting structure through which the component is rnovabte for interaction
with the cartridge, and blocking
CA 02447158 2003-11-18
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structure retaining the movable component in the housing.
In yet another aspect of the invention according to the parent application
there is provided a
cartridge-connecting subassembly for a shav ing razor handle, comprising a
housing having handle connecting
structure for making a permanent connection to a subassembly connecting end of
an elongated hand gripping
structure of the razor handle, the housing having a cartridge connecting
structure for making a releasable
connection to a replaceable cartridge, an ejector structure that is separate
from the cartridge connecting
structure and is movably mounted in the housing with respect to the cartridge
connecting structure so as to
eject the cartridge from the cartridge connecting structure when moved to an
ejection position, the ejector
structure being U-shaped and having area portions that are extendible from the
cartridge connecting structure
to eject the cartridge form the cartridge connecting structure, a spring
within the housing that biases the
ejector structure away from the cartridge, and a plunger that is movably
mounted in the cartridge connecting
structure between the arm portions of the ejector structure, extends from the
cartridge connecting structure
for biasing the cartridge and is biased toward the cartridge by the spring.
In another aspect of the invention according to the parent application there
is provided a shaving
razor handle for connection to a replaceable cartridge, comprising an
elongated hand gripping structure
having a subassembly connecting end with inwardly directed handle surfaces,
and a subassembly that is
permanently connected to the elongated had gripping structure. The subassembly
comprises a handle
connecting structure having outer, handle-supporting side surfaces 9:hat mate
with the inwardly directed
handle surfaces, a cartridge connecting structure having outer, cartridge-
supporting side surfaces that mate
with inwardly directed cartridge surfaces of a recess on a replaceable
cartridge, the cartridge connecting
structure including cartridge holding structure for releasably holding the
replaceable cartridge, and a movable
component with the cartridge connecting structure for interacting with the
cartridge when connected to the
cartridge connecting structure, the cartridge connecting structure and the
handle connecting structure having
contiguous portions, whereby the subassembly is substantially covered when the
cartridge is connected to
the cartridge connecting structure.
In still another aspect of the invention according to the parent application
there is provided a shaving
razor handle comprising an elongated hand gripping structure having a
generally straight portion and a
subassembly connecting portion that is offset with respect to the straight
portion and is generally flat, and
a subassembly that has a generally flat hanndle connecting structure
permanently connected to the
subassembly connecting portion, a cartridge connecting structure for making a
releasable connection to a
replaceable cartridge, and a movable component within the cartridge connecting
structure for interacting with
the replaceable cartridge when connected to the handle.
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The invention of the parent application also relates to a method of
manufacturing a razor handle
comprising: providing a cartridge-c~r~necting subassembly comprising a
cartridge connecting structure
having outer, cartridge-supporting side surfaces that mate with inwardly
directed cartridge surfaces of a
recess on a replaceable cartridge, the cartridge connecting structure
including cartridge holding structure for
releasably holding the replaceable cartridge, a movable component within the
cartridge connecting structure
for interacting with the cartridge when connected to the cartridge connecting
structure, and a handle
connecting structure having outer, handle-supporting, side surfaces, the
cartridge connecting structure and
the handle connecting structure having contiguous portions; providing an
elongated hand gripping structure
having inwardly directed handle surfaces thatmate with outer, handle-
supporting, side surfaces ofthe handle
1(? connecting structure, and securing the handle connecting structure to the
elongated hand gripping structure,
the inwardly directed handle surfaces mating with the outer, handle-
supporting, side surfaces, whereby the
subassembly is substantially covered when the cartridge connecting structure
is connected to the cartridge.
Furthermore the invention of the parent application provides a method of
manufacturing a shaving
razor handle comprising: providing a cartridge-connecting subassembly
comprising a housing and a movable
t5 component within the housing for interacting with a replaceable cartridge
when connected to the
subassembly, the housing including a handle connecting structure, a cartridge
connecting sstructure for
making a releasable connection to the replaceable cartridge, an assembly
opening at the handle connecting
structure for receiving the movable component during assembly, a cartridge
interaction opening at the
cartridge connecting structure through which the component is movable for
interaction with the cartridge,
20 and blocking structure retaining the movable component on the housing; and
securing the subassembly to
a subassembly connecting end of an elongated hand gripping structure of the
razor handle, the assembly
opening being covered by the subassembly connecting end after the securing
step.
Additionally, the invention ofthe parent application contemplates a method of
assembling a cartridge
connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle, comprising: providing a
housing having a handle
25 connecting structure for making a permanent connection to a subassembly
connecting end of an elongated
hand gripping structure of the razor handle, a cartridge connecting structure
for making a releasable
connection to a replaceable cartridge, an assembly opening at the handle
connecting structure, a cartridge
interaction opening, and blocking structure at the cartridge connecting
structure; and inserting a movable
component into the housing through the assembly opening, the component being
movable through the
30 interaction opening for interaction with the cartridge when connected to
the subassembly, the blocking
structure retaining the movable component in the housing.
The present invention on the other hand may be considered as providing a
shaving razor handle
CA 02447158 2003-11-18
comprising: an elongated had gripping structure, and a cartridge support
structure at an end of the hand
gripping structure, the elongated hand gripping structure including a frame
structure with apenings and a
plurality of gripping pads that each camprise an elastomeric plastic outer
gripping layer and a nonelastomeric
plastic support layer thereunder, each opening having a restricted area
leading to a larger area region within
the frame structure, each gripping pad having a locking tab received in the
opening, each locking tab having
a portion that is located in the larger area region and is jarger than the
restricted area, wherein the gripping
pads are crescent shaped with a broad area on an upper surface of the frame
structure and two narrowing
portions on two side portions, and wherein there is a locking tab at each
narrowing portion, and wherein the
broad area carries an interlocking portion that interlacks with structure on
the frame structure, and wherein
the nonelastomeric plastic support Layer has a lower surface that is concave
between the locking tabs,
wherein the frame structure has respective recessed areas in an outer surface,
wherein the gripping pads are
located in the recessed areas, and wherein the openings that receive
respective locking tabs are located in the
recessed areas.
'Fhe present invention may also be considered as providing a shaving razor
handle comprising: an
elongated had gripping structure, and a cartridge support structure at an end
ofthe hand gripping structure,
the elongated hand gripping structure including a frame structure with
openings and a plurality of gripping
pads that each comprise an elastomeric plastic outer gripping layer and a
nonelastomeric plastic support layer
thereunder, each opening having a restricted area leading to a larger area
region within the frame structure,
each gripping pad having a locking tab received in the opening, each lacking
tab having a portion that is
located in the larger area region and is larger than the restricted area,
wherein the one gripping pad has two
locking tabs and has an interlocking partion between the locking tabs for
interlocking with structure on the
frame structure.
Additionally, the present invention may be considered to provide a shaving
razor handle comprising:
an elongated had gripping structure, and a cartridge support structure at an
end of the hand gripping structure,
the elongated hand gripping structure including a frame structure with
openings and a plurality of gripping
pads that each comprise an elastomeric plastic outer gripping layer and a
nonelastomeric plastic support layer
thereunder, each opening having a restricted area leading to a larger area
region within the frame structure,
the nonelastomeric plastic support layer of each gripping pad having a locking
tab received in the opening,
each locking tab having a portion that is located in the larger area region
anal is larger than the restricted area.
Other advantages and features of the invention will Ise apparent from the
detailed description of
preferred. embodiments thereof and from the claims.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shaving razor according to the invention.
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Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a handle and a replaceable cartridge
ofthe Fig. l razor separated
from each other.
fig. 3 is an exploded vicw of the components of the Fig. 2 handle.
Figs. 4A and 4B are vertical sectional views of upper gripping pads of the
Fig. 2 handle.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a frame of the Fig. 2 handle.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the Fig. S frame.
Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken at 7-7 of Fg. 5, of the Fig. 5
frame.
Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view, taken at 8-8 of Fig. 6, showing the
connection of locking tabs of
the Figs. 4A and 4B gripping pads to the Fig. 5 frame.
Fig. 9 is an exploded view showing a cartridge connecting subassembly and
button at a cartridge
connecting end of the Fig. 5 frame of the Fig. 2 handle.
Fig. I O is a vertical sectional view of a base member of the Fig. 2
cartridge.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of an ejector of the Fig. 9 subassembly.
Fig. 12 is a horizontal section of a housing of the Fig. 9 subassembly.
Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view, taken at 13-I 3 of Fig. 12, of a housing
of the Fig. 9 subassembly.
Fig. 14 is an elevation of a plunger of the Fig. 9 subassembly.
Fig. 15 is a plan view of the Fig. I4 plunger.
Fig. 16 is an elevation of the button of the Fig. 2 handle.
Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view, taken. at I7-17 of Fig. I3, of the
housing of the Fig. 9
subassembly.
Referring to Figs. I and 2, shaving razor 10 includes handle 12 and
replaceable shaving cartridge
14. As shown in Fig. 2, cartridge 14 is removable from handle i2. Cartridge 14
includes housing 16, which
carries three blades I 8, guard 20 and cap 22. Cartridge 14 also includes
interconnect member 24 on which
housing I6 is pivotally mounted. lnterconncct member l 4 includes base 27,
which removably and fixedly
attaches to cartridge connecting structure 26 of handle 12, and two arms 28
that pivotally support housing
16 at its two sides. Housing 16 has cam surface 25 (Fig. 2j which is acted
upon by spring-biased plunger 23
of handle 12; when base 27 is connected to handle 12, plunger 23 passes
through opening 29 in base 27 to
bias housing 16 to the forward, at rest position shown in Fig. 1. The
construction and operation of shaving
cartridge I4 is discussed in detail in commonly owned U.~. Patent No.
5,787,586. Handle 12 carries button
32 used to eject a cartridge 14 by activating U-shaped ejector 86 (Fig. 9),
causing it to extend from the front
of cartridge connecting structure 26 and push base 27 from structure 26.
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Referring to Figs. 3-7, handle 12 includes elongated hand gripping structure30
to which cartridge
connecting subassembly 31 (described in more detail below) and button 32
a~°e connected. Elongated hand
gripping structure 30 includes metal frame 34 as a primary structural member.
Cartridge connecting
subassembly 31 (Fig. 3) is connected to subassembly connecting end 36 of frame
34. End 36 is generally
flat, in order to match the shape of base 27 (Figs. 1 and 2), and is offset
from. the rest of frame 34, which is
generally straight. The straight portion of frame 34 has three crescea~t-
shaped recesses 38, 40, 42 (see in
particular Figs. 5-6) and associated holes 39, 41, 43 for upper, crescent-
shaped gripping pads 44, 46, 48. It
also includes oval shaped recess 50 for upper logo panel 52 (Fig. 3) and lower
recess 54 (Fig. 7) for lower
gripping pad 56, which carries lower logo pad 57 (Fig. 3).
I O Upper gripping pads 44, 46, 48 and lower gripping pad 56 provide a hand-
gripping structure in the
completed unit and are each made of an eiastomeric plastic outer gripping
layer (e.g., thermoplastic
elastomer) and a nonelastomeric plastic support layer (e.g., of polypropylene
or acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene) thereunder made by two-color molding. The two-layer construction of
front gripping pad 44 and
rear gripping pad 48 (middle gripping pad 46 is similar to pad 48) is shown in
Figs. 4A and 4B, where
elastomeric gripping layers 45 and nonelastomeric support layers 47 are shown
in the sectional portions.
The nonelastomeric plastic support layer 47 of front gripping pad 44 has
rearwardly-directed tab 62
(Fig. 4A) at the front that passes through hole 39 and mates with recess 63 on
front extension 60 of lower
gripping pad 56 (Fig. 3). Tab 62 is optional, and pad 44 can be securely
connected to frame 34 without this
feature at the front. The nonelastomeric plastic support layers 47 of middle
and rear gripping pads 46, 48
have forwardly-directed tabs 64 (Fig. 4B) at the front tha9: pass through
holes 41, 43 and lock under overlying
portions 68 of frame 34 (Fig. 7). All upper gripping pads 44, 46, 48 have
facing locking tabs 70 that are
received in openings 72, 74, 76 of frame 34 (Figs. 6, 7) at the ends of
crescent-shaped recesses 38, 40, 42.
Referring to Fig. 8, frame 34 has opposed barbs 70a at openings 72, 74, 76,
and locking tabs 70 deform as
they are inserted past barbs 70a into the openings. After insertion, the
portions of locking tabs 70 inside of
frame 34 (in a region within frame 34 that is larger than the indi idual
openings) return to a size that is larger
than the restricted area between barbs 70a. Barbs 70a inhibit locking tabs 70
from coming out of openings
72, 74, 76 and thus lock tabs 70 and gripping pads 44, 46, 48 in position an
frame 34.
Upper iogo panel 52 has extensions 58 (Fig. 3) that are press-fitted into
recesses 61 in frame 34
(Figs. 5, 7). The nonelastomeric plastic support layer of lower gripping pad
56 has extensions 60 (Fig. 3)
that are press-fitted into recesses 69 in frame 34 (Figs. 5, 7) and extensions
71 that are press-fitted between
opposed mating surfaces inside of frame 34. Lower logo panel 57 has extensions
73 that are secured in
mating recesses (not shown) in lower ripping pad 56 by staking by pins 73a.
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Referring to Fig. 9, the components of cartridge connecting subassembly 31 are
shown prior to
assembly and prior to mounting of subassembly 31 in recess 80 in subassembly
connecting end 36 of frame
34. Subassembly 31 includes housing 82, plunger 23, spring 84, and U-shaped
ejector 86. Plunger 23, spring
84, and U-shaped ejector 86 are received in recess 87 (Figs. 12, 13) in
housing 82. Housing 82 includes
cartridge connecting structure 26 at the front and handle connecting structure
88 at the rear, as 9. indicated
in Figs. 9 and 12. Handle connecting structure 88 has outer, handle-
supporting, surfaces 90 that mate with
inwardly directed handle surfaces 92 (Figs. 7, 9) of frame 34 when mounted in
recess 80. Handle connecting
structure 88 also has side protrusions 89 for mating with mating recesses 91
of frame 34. Cartridge
connecting structure 26 extends from frame 34 when structure 88 is mounted in
recess 80 (Fig. 2), and has
outer, cartridge-supporting, side surfaces 94 (Fig. 9) that mate with inwardly
directed cartridge surfaces 96
ofrecess 98 ofbase 27 (Fig. I0). Cartridge connecting structure 26 also
includes two depressions 100 (one
shown in Fig. 13) that act as cartridge holding structure for releasably
holding base 27 via engagement of
detents 102 (one shown in Fig. 10) thereon.
Referring to Figs. 9, 11-I5, housing 82 has assembly opening I04 (Figs. 12,
13) at the rear for
receiving the movable components, namely plunger 23, spring 84, and ejector
86, during assembly. At the
front ofhousing 82 are side openings I 06 and central opening 108 through
which arm portions 110 of ejector
86 and plunger 23 are respectively movable for interaction with carta-idge 14.
Ribs 112 (Fig. 12) between
openings 106,108 act as blocking structure retaining ejector 86 and plunger 23
on housing 82. Arm portions
I 10 on each side of plunger 23 are extendible from cartridge connecting
structure 26 to eject cartridge 14
from cartridge connecring structure 26.
Referring to Figs. 9, 1 l and 13, handle connecting structure 88 has opening I
I4 providing access of
bottom extensions 1 I6 of button 32 (Fig. 16) that are received within
rectangular region 118 at the back
narrow portion of ejector 86 (Fig. I 1 ). Raised lip I 20 extends above
surface 90 along opening 114. Lip I 20
and opening 114 are aligned with and tit within recess 122 of subassembly
connecting end 36 of handle 12.
2~ Referring to Figs. 11, 12,14,15, when ejector 86 is mounted in recess 87,
angled stop surfaces 124
at arms 110 are biased against and blocked by angled stop surfaces 126 on the
inside of recess 87. Ends I I 0
can be moved forward to extend slightly through openings 106 when the back of
ejector 86 is pushed forward
by button 32. Plunger 23 is located between arms 110, and front blade 128
extends through opening 108 in
front of cartridge connecting structure 26. 131ade 128 is thicker than the
arms of ejector 86 and slides within
track 129, while arms 110 slide in the narrower space between surfaces I30.
Side projections 132 of plunger
23 (Figs. I4, 15) are blocked. by ribs I 12 and prevented from further forward
movement, and bottom
projection 134 rides within groove 136 (Fig. 12) to guide plunger 23. Spring
84 is located on shaft I40 and
CA 02447158 2003-11-18
pushes against spring rest I 4I at the base of ejector 86. Spring 84 thus
performs the dual functions of biasing
ejector 86 rearward with surfaces 124 of ejector 86 resting against surfaces
I26 of housing 82 and of biasing
plunger 23 forward with side projections I32 of plunger 23 resting against
ribs l l 2 of housing 82.
IW ring assembly of cartridge connecting subassembly 31, spring 84 is placed
on shaft I 40 of plunger
23, and these two components are inserted into recess 87 ofhousing 82 along
track L29. U-shaped ejector
86 is then inserted, with arms I IO straddling plunger 23 in the space between
surfaces 130. Front outer
comers 142 of arms 110 are deflected inward by cam surfaces 144 of housing 82
during insertion of ejector
86. As angled stop surfaces 124 of arms 110 pass angled stop surfaces I26 of
housing 82, arms I 10 spring
outward, and ejector 86 is retained within housing 82 by blocking of angled
stop surfaces L24 by angled stop
surfaces 126. All of the movable components of subassembly 3l are thus Iocked
within housing 82 and
prevented from falling out during part handling in preparation of assembly on
frame 34.
partridge connecting subassembly 31 is mounted on frame 34 by inserting handle
connecting
structure 88 into recess 80 and staking housing 82 to frame 34 using pins 150.
Pins 150 pass through holes
152 in frame 34 and aligned holes 154 in the upper surface 90 of handle
connecting structure 88 outside of
lip 120. The pins are driven into the plastic of housing 82 at lower surfaces
130 outside of the region
occupied by narrow portion of IJ-shaped ejector 86.
Button 32 is then inserted into opening I 14. Referring to Figs. 16 and I7,
each extension 116 of
ejector button 32 has an outwardly directed groove 160 that slides on a
respective track 162 within opening
114. The upper surfaces 16I defining grooves 160 slide on the upper surfaces
L64 of tracks I62, and the
lower surfaces I66 defining groves 160 effect capture on or abut the lower
surfaces I68 of tracks I62.
Extensions I t 6 have inclined surfaces 170 that coact with the curved upper
corners of tracks I 62 to deflect
extensions 116 inward as button 32 is inserted into opening 114. ~JVhen
grooves 160 on extensions I 16 align
with tracks 162, extensions I I6 substantially return to their undeflected
position and lock ejector button 32
in place within opening I 14. The ends of extensions 1 I6 are located within
rectangular region I I 8 and push
against surfaces I72 of ejector 86 when ejector button 32 is pushed toward the
end of handle 12. After
button 32 has been inserted, upper vertical surfaces 174 of extensions I 16
sit within the space between upper
surfaces 176 of opening 114. Bar I 78 serves to capture and guide spring 84.
Button 32 covers openings 154 so that the staking is not visible in the
assembled product. Also, after
a cartridge 14 has been attached, no part of subassembly 31 is visible (see
Fig. 1), and thus the different
materials used for housing 82 and frame 34 are not evident.
CA 02447158 2003-11-18
_g_
Other embodiments of the invention are within the scope of the appended
claims,. In place of a
trapezoidal extension shape for cartridge connecting structure 26, a six-sided
structure, or other asymmetrical
shape could be employed.
