Shaving systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11642804-B2
Application number	US-202117304512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2021
Priority date	Sep 27, 2012
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

Shaving assemblies are disclosed that include a blade unit, an interface element configured to connect the blade unit to a handle, on which the blade unit is pivotably mounted, and a return element disposed between the blade unit and interface element. The return element serves as interface piece, connector and pivot all in one. Shaving systems including such shaving assemblies are also disclosed, as are methods of using such shaving systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A replaceable shaving assembly comprising: a blade unit; and an interface element, configured to removeably connect the blade unit to a handle, the interface element comprising (a) a handle interface portion, having a body configured to receive a distal end of the handle and a first pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions extending from the body, (b) a blade unit interface portion including a second pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions, wherein ends of the first and second pairs of rigid protrusions are positioned facing each other in opposed spaced relation, and the interface element further comprises (c) a pair of generally H-shaped flexible elastomeric return elements, each return element joining the opposed ends of the rigid protrusions and thus flexibly joining the handle interface portion to the blade unit interface portion.

2. The shaving assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade interface portion further includes arms extending to distal ends on which the blade unit is pivotably mounted.

3. The shaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the return elements are configured to bias the blade unit towards a rest position with respect to a pivot axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade unit.

4. The shaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the return elements are pretensioned such that the return elements exert a force on the blade unit at rest of at least 5 grams.

5. The shaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the return elements comprise a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic urethane.

6. The shaving assembly of claim 1 wherein the return elements encapsulate the opposed rigid protrusions.

7. The shaving assembly of claim 1 wherein the return elements are formed of an elastomer having a durometer of about 30 to 60 Shore A.

8. A shaving system comprising: a handle having a distal end and a proximal end; and a shaving assembly, mounted on the distal end of the handle, the shaving assembly including an interface element configured to connect the blade unit to the handle, and a blade unit, the interface element comprising (a) a handle interface portion, having a body configured to receive a distal end of the handle and a first pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions extending from the body, (b) a blade unit interface portion including a second pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions, wherein ends of the first and second pairs of rigid protrusions are positioned facing each other in opposed spaced relation, and the interface element further comprises (c) a pair of flexible generally H-shaped elastomeric return elements, each return element joining the opposed ends of the rigid protrusions and thus flexibly joining the handle interface portion to the blade unit interface portion.

9. The shaving system of claim 8 wherein the blade interface portion further includes arms extending to distal ends on which the blade unit is pivotably mounted.

10. The shaving system of claim 8 , wherein the return elements are configured to bias the blade unit towards a rest position with respect to a pivot axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade unit.

11. The shaving system of claim 8 , wherein the return elements are pretensioned such that the return elements exert a force on the blade unit at rest of at least 5 grams.

12. The shaving system of claim 8 , wherein the return elements comprise a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic urethane.

13. The shaving system of claim 8 wherein the return elements encapsulate the opposed rigid protrusions.

14. The shaving system of claim 8 wherein the return elements are formed of an elastomer having a durometer of about 30 to 60 Shore A.

15. A method of shaving comprising contacting the skin with the blade unit of a shaving system comprising a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, and a replaceable shaving assembly that includes a blade unit, and an interface element configured to connect the blade unit to a handle, the interface element comprising (a) a handle interface portion, having a body configured to receive a distal end of the handle and a first pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions extending from the body, (b) a blade unit interface portion including a second pair of spaced apart rigid protrusions, wherein ends of the first and second pairs of rigid protrusions are positioned facing each other in opposed spaced relation, and the interface element further comprises (c) a pair of generally H-shaped flexible elastomeric return elements, each return element joining the opposed ends of the rigid protrusions and thus flexibly joining the handle interface portion to the blade unit interface portion.

Assignees

• Shavelogic Inc
• Sl Ip Company Llc

Inventors

• Provost Craig A
• Tucker William E
• Griffin John W

Classifications

• B26B21/14 Primary

  Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle · CPC title

• B26B21/225

  the changeable unit being resiliently mounted on the handle · CPC title

• B26B21/521 Primary

  Connection details, e.g. connection to razor heads · CPC title

• B26B21/4081

  Shaving methods; Usage or wear indication; Testing methods · CPC title

• Y10T83/04

  Processes · CPC title