PT1306173E

PT1306173E - Safety razors

Info

Publication number: PT1306173E
Application number: PT03000418T
Authority: PT
Inventors: Brian Oldroyd
Original assignee: Gillette Co
Priority date: 1994-07-13
Filing date: 1995-07-11
Publication date: 2007-01-31
Also published as: ES2266644T3; EP1306173A1; HU220174B; DK1306173T3; DE69530297T2; CN1152889A; KR100392288B1; CA2194278C; KR970704555A; EP0771254A1; NZ290041A; JPH10502845A; MX9700299A; CN1157280C; CA2194278A1; PT771254E; BR9508270A; DE69535198T2; WO1996002369A1; ES2191054T3

Abstract

A safety razor blade unit including at least one elongate blade (1,2), and a skin engaging member (3) extending longitudinally of the blade(s), said member having a skin contacting surface (9) exposed for contact with skin of a user during shaving, characterized in that the skin engaging member includes a multiplicity of openings (10) at the skin contacting surface (9), said openings being adapted to discharge respective portions of a shaving enhancement product therefrom during shaving, said openings being distributed along the skin contacting surface and across the width thereof to span substantially the whole of the area of the skin contacting surface. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIÇÃODESCRIPTION

MÁQUINAS DE BARBEARSHAVING MACHINES

Esta invenção refere-se a dispositivos de barbear e diz respeito a uma unidade lâmina de máquina de barbear tendo pelo menos uma lâmina com um bordo cortante que é movida através da superfície da pele a barbear por meio de um cabo ao qual a unidade lâmina está ligada. A unidade lâmina pode ser montada destacavelmente no cabo para permitir que a unidade lâmina seja substituída por uma unidade lâmina nova quando o aguçamento da lâmina tiver diminuído para um nível não satisfatório, ou pode estar ligada permanentemente ao cabo com a intenção de que a máquina de barbear completa seja descartada quando a lâmina ou lâminas se tenham tornado rombas. As unidades lâmina de barbear incluem geralmente uma guarda que define uma superfície para contactar com a pele na frente da lâmina(s) e uma capa para contactar a pele atrás da lâmina(s), a capa e a guarda desempenhando papéis importantes no estabelecimento da denominada "geometria do barbear", isto é, dos parâmetros que determinam a posição e orientação da lâmina em relação à pele durante o barbear. A presente invenção diz respeito especialmente à guarda e/ou capa de uma unidade lâmina de barbear.This invention relates to razor devices and relates to a razor blade unit having at least one blade having a cutting edge which is moved across the surface of the skin to be shaved by means of a cable to which the blade unit is connected. The blade unit may be detachably mounted to the cable to allow the blade unit to be replaced by a new blade unit when the blade sharpening has decreased to an unsatisfactory level, or may be permanently attached to the cable with the intent that the blade machine be discarded when the blade or blades have become blunt. The razor blade units generally include a guard defining a skin contacting surface in front of the blade (s) and a skin contacting layer behind the blade (s), the cover and the guard, playing important roles in establishing the blade called " shaving geometry ", i.e. the parameters that determine the position and orientation of the blade relative to the skin during shaving. The present invention relates especially to the guard and / or cover of a razor blade unit.

Como um passo preliminar anterior ao barbear é comum aplicar à pele um preparado para barbear, tal como sabão de barbear ou semelhante para facilitar a operação de barbear. Um efeito do preparado para barbear, por exemplo, é lubrificar a pele para permitir que a máquina de barbear deslize mais facilmente sobre a pele. Em algumas situações, contudo, a pele não é preparada tão bem como o deveria ser. Além disso, no final do barbear muito do preparado terá sido removido.As a preliminary preliminary step to shaving it is common to apply to the skin a shaving preparation, such as shaving soap or the like to facilitate the shaving operation. One effect of the shaving preparation, for example, is to lubricate the skin to allow the shaver to slide more easily onto the skin. In some situations, however, the skin is not prepared as well as it should be. In addition, at the end of the shaving much of the preparation will have been removed.

Por conseguinte pode ser vantajoso prover a máquina de barbear com um meio para fornecer durante o barbear uma composição ou instrumento para melhoria do barbear. Assim, é 1 conhecido prover uma unidade lâmina com uma tira de material a partir da qual um lubrificante é muito gradualmente extraído durante o barbear. As vantagens de uma tal tira lubrificante têm sido bem demonstradas, mas os materiais activos que podem ser incorporados nelas é limitado, por exemplo pelo processo de fabrico, e o ritmo a que o lubrificante é descarregado é tão baixo que uma preparação eficaz da pele antes do barbear é ainda necessária. Têm sido também propostas máquinas de barbear que incluem uma câmara contendo um preparado de barbear líquido, e um sistema para descarregar o líquido sobre as partes operativas da máquina de barbear por compressão de uma esponja impregnada com o líquido aplicando pressão de dedo. Contudo, permanece ainda uma necessidade de uma máquina de barbear adaptada para dispensar um produto de ajuda do barbear gradualmente ao longo da vida útil da unidade lâmina de barbear, sem requerer atenção especial por parte do utilizador, tal como reencher um reservatório ou obrigar a que o produto seja descarregado quando requerido. A Patente U.S. N.° 5,134,775 descreve uma câmara de armazenamento que se encontra por trás das lâminas e uma ranhura alongada ou um alinhamento linear de aberturas tendo uma profundidade relativamente substancial que conecta a câmara com as superfícies de contacto da pele nas traseiras das lâminas.Therefore it may be advantageous to provide the shaver with a means for delivering during shaving a shaving improvement composition or apparatus. Thus, it is known to provide a blade unit with a strip of material from which a lubricant is very gradually extracted during shaving. The advantages of such a lubricant strip have been well demonstrated, but the active materials which can be incorporated therein is limited, for example by the manufacturing process, and the rate at which the lubricant is discharged is so low that an effective preparation of the skin before shaving is still required. Shaving machines have also been proposed which include a chamber containing a liquid shaving preparation, and a system for discharging the liquid onto the operative parts of the shaving machine by compression of a sponge impregnated with the liquid by applying finger pressure. However, there remains still a need for a razor adapted to dispense a shaving aid product gradually over the life of the shaving razor unit, without requiring special attention from the user, such as refilling a reservoir or forcing the product is discharged when required. U.S. Patent No. 5,134,775 discloses a storage chamber behind the blades and an elongate groove or a linear alignment of apertures having a relatively substantial depth which connects the chamber to the skin contacting surfaces at the rear of the blades.

De acordo com a presente invenção, é providenciada uma unidade lâmina de máquina de barbear incluindo pelo menos uma lâmina alongada, e um membro de sujeição com a pele desenvolvendo-se longitudinalmente como a lâmina, tendo o referido membro uma superfície de contacto com a pele exposta para contacto com a pele de um utilizador durante o barbear, o membro de sujeição com a pele inclui uma multiplicidade de cavidades na superfície de contacto com a 2 pele sendo as ditas cavidades adaptadas para descarregar as respectivas porções de um produto melhorador a partir daqui durante o barbear caracterizado por as referidas aberturas terem uma profundidade não superior ao diâmetro de abertura e estarem distribuídas ao longo da superfície de contacto com a pele e através da sua largura abarcando substancialmente a totalidade da área da superfície de contacto com a pele.According to the present invention, there is provided a blade razor blade unit including at least one elongated blade, and a skin engaging member extending longitudinally as the blade, said member having a skin contacting surface exposed to contact with the skin of a user during shaving, the skin attachment member includes a multiplicity of cavities on the skin contacting surface, said cavities being adapted to discharge respective portions of an enhancement product from here during the shaving characterized in that said apertures have a depth no greater than the opening diameter and are distributed along the skin contacting surface and through its width spanning substantially the entire surface area of the skin contacting surface.

Um membro de sujeição com a pele providenciado de acordo com a invenção pode permitir o dispensar de materiais que não podem ser incluídos nas tiras de lubrificação da técnica anterior, por exemplo porque eles não podem resistir ao processo de fabrico. 0 produto melhorador do barbear pode ser uma formulação, tal como gel semi-sólido, que tenha sido projectada para ter as desejadas propriedades solubilizantes, e seja convenientemente retida nas cavidades devido às propriedades do produto. 0 produto pode ser um fluido viscoso, ou um gel, e pode ter uma natureza para ser miscível com água, a qual está geralmente presente durante o barbear, ou solúvel em água, para tornar o produto mais fluido para descarga a partir das cavidades.A skin fastening member provided in accordance with the invention may allow the dispensing of materials which can not be included in the prior art lubricant strips, for example because they can not withstand the manufacturing process. The shaving product may be a formulation, such as a semi-solid gel, which has been designed to have the desired solubilizing properties, and is conveniently retained in the wells due to the properties of the product. The product may be a viscous fluid, or gel, and may be water miscible in nature, which is generally present during shaving, or water soluble, to render the product more fluid for discharge from the cavities.

Com vista a providenciar fornecimento adequado de produto melhorador do barbear durante o tempo de vida útil da unidade lâmina, as cavidades podem comunicar nas extremidades interiores com uma câmara reservatório contendo o produto melhorador do barbear a dispensar via cavidades.In order to provide adequate supply of shaving product during the lifetime of the blade unit, the cavities may communicate at the inner ends with a reservoir chamber containing the shaving enhancer product to be dispensed via cavities.

As cavidades estarão dispostas num conjunto ordenado com suficiente densidade de armazenamento para assegurar aplicação satisfatória de produto durante o barbear. Uma largura de superfície entre as cavidades adjacentes de 5% a 100% da dimensão transversal máxima das cavidades será adequada enquanto retendo uma superfície de contacto com a pele suficientemente bem definida. 3The wells will be disposed in an array having sufficient storage density to ensure satisfactory application of the product during shaving. A surface width between the adjacent cavities of 5% to 100% of the maximum transverse dimension of the cavities will be adequate while retaining a sufficiently well defined skin contact surface. 3

Numa construção preferencial as cavidades são cilíndricas, isto é, têm paredes laterais suavemente curvadas, e convenientemente as cavidades são cilíndricas circulares rectas com os seus eixos substancialmente perpendiculares à superfície de contacto com a pele. Contudo, outras formas são também possíveis, tal como hexagonal ou elíptica em secção recta. A profundidade das cavidades é menor que o diâmetro da cavidade, por exemplo aproximadamente igual ao raio da cavidade, e a espessura de material entre cavidades adjacentes é menor que o raio da cavidade.In a preferred embodiment the cavities are cylindrical, i.e., have smoothly curved side walls, and conveniently the cavities are cylindrical straight circular with their axes substantially perpendicular to the skin contacting surface. However, other shapes are also possible, such as hexagonal or elliptical in cross-section. The depth of the cavities is less than the diameter of the cavity, for example approximately equal to the radius of the cavity, and the thickness of material between adjacent cavities is less than the radius of the cavity.

As cavidades são de preferência formadas numa parede da frente de uma câmara para conter um fornecimento de um produto melhorador do barbear fluido, cada uma das cavidades comunicando com a câmara através de uma abertura restringida para controlar o fluxo de produto para dentro das cavidades e por isso libertar-se na superfície de contacto com a pele. 0 membro de_sujeição com a pele pode ser a guarda da unidade lâmina ou pode ser um outro membro, tal como a capa.The pockets are preferably formed in a front wall of a chamber to contain a supply of a fluid shaving enhancement product, each of the wells communicating with the chamber through a restricted aperture to control the flow of product into the pockets and through release onto the surface of the skin. The skin exiting member may be the guard of the blade unit or may be another member, such as the cap.

Uma melhor compreensão da invenção será obtida a partir da seguinte descrição detalhada de uma forma de execução ou realização, sendo feita referência aos desenhos anexos, nos quais: A Figura 1 é uma vista em perspectiva cortada de uma unidade de lâmina de barbear de acordo com a invenção ; A Figura 2 é uma secção transversal através da unidade lâmina. 4 A unidade lâmina de máquina de barbear representada nos desenhos compreende um par de lâminas 1, 2 montadas uma atrás da outra numa moldura de suporte, uma guarda 3 segura à moldura definindo uma câmara de reservatório oca 4, e capa 5 por exemplo na forma de uma tira de material lubrificante suportada pela moldura atrás das lâminas. A guarda inclui uma parede superior 8 com uma superfície exposta 9 a qual está disposta para contactar a pele durante o barbear. Dentro desta parede está formada uma multiplicidade de cavidades 10 posicionadas num conjunto regular desenvolvendo-se sobre o comprimento e largura da superfície de contacto com a pele. As cavidades estão dispostas numa pluralidade de filas longitudinais e, no exemplo figurado, existem três filas com as cavidades em filas adjacentes longitudinalmente conjugadas para permitir que as cavidades estejam compactamente espaçadas. As cavidades têm configuração circular e na forma de execução ou realização ilustrada têm todas o mesmo diâmetro.A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description of one embodiment, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a razor blade unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section through the blade unit. The razor blade unit shown in the drawings comprises a pair of blades 1, 2 mounted one behind the other in a support frame, a guard 3 secured to the frame defining a hollow reservoir chamber 4, and cover 5 for example in shape of a strip of lubricant material supported by the frame behind the blades. The guard includes an upper wall 8 with an exposed surface 9 which is arranged to contact the skin during shaving. Within this wall is formed a multiplicity of cavities 10 positioned in a regular assembly extending over the length and width of the skin contacting surface. The cavities are disposed in a plurality of longitudinal rows and, in the figured example, there are three rows with the cavities in adjacent rows longitudinally conjugated to allow the cavities to be compactly spaced apart. The cavities have a circular configuration and in the illustrated embodiment have all the same diameter.

Cada cavidade 10 está em comunicação com a câmara reservatório 4 através de um furo 12 representado sendo de área restringida na extremidade interior da cavidade. A área de fluxo atravessante do furo é seleccionada para permitir que o produto melhorador do barbear na câmara 4 flua de maneira controlada para dentro das cavidades onde o produto é colectado e permanece contido por exemplo pelas propriedades de tensão superficial do produto fluido, pronto a ser descarregado durante o barbear. O furo restringido serve também para obstruir a passagem do produto de ajuda ao barbear a partir da cavidade para trás para dentro da câmara reservatório, de modo que as cavidades permaneçam carregadas com produto. Na prática a câmara reservatório conterá suficiente volume de produto de ajuda ao barbear para durar a totalidade do tempo de vida útil da unidade lâmina, ou seja 5 até que as lâminas se tenham tornado rombas. 0 produto de ajuda ao barbear tem preferivelmente propriedade lubrificante, mas ele pode ter, ou alternativamente ou adicionalmente, outras, por exemplo propriedades humidificantes consideradas benéficas durante o barbear. Ele terá fluidez adequada para permitir que o produto passe da câmara reservatório para as cavidades, e viscosidade e caracteristicas de tensão superficial adequadas para ser conservado nas cavidades sem fluir livremente para fora a partir das aberturas das cavidades, e para ser dispensado gradualmente durante o barbear, por exemplo por se tornar mais fluido por contacto com água, quando a superfície guarda desliza sobre a pele durante o barbear. Não é uma caracteristica essencial que as cavidades possam ser abastecidas com produto melhorador do barbear, e está dentro do âmbito da presente invenção que as cavidades sejam formatadas e dimensionadas para colectar um produto melhorador do barbear aplicado à pele durante um período de barbear e para reter este produto até ao seguinte período de barbear, por exemplo para providenciar lubrificação melhorada durante as fases iniciais do barbear subsequente. São naturalmente possíveis modificações sem afastamento do conceito inventivo subjacente. Por exemplo, o membro incorporando as cavidades cheias com produto de ajuda ao barbear poderá ser feito com um material resiliente de modo que o membro flectirá ligeiramente durante o barbear para estimular que o produto flua a partir das cavidades. Adicionalmente às vantagens mencionadas acima, o membro aberturado com as cavidades pode ter uma influência táctil benéfica sobre a pele. 20-11-2006 6Each cavity 10 is in communication with the reservoir chamber 4 through a hole 12 shown being of restricted area at the inner end of the cavity. The through-flow area of the bore is selected to allow the shaving enhancer product in the chamber 4 to flow in a controlled manner into the pockets where the product is collected and remains contained for example by the surface tension properties of the fluid product, ready to be discharged during shaving. The restricted bore also serves to block the passage of the shaving aid product from the cavity back into the reservoir chamber so that the wells remain charged with product. In practice the reservoir chamber will contain sufficient volume of shaving aid to last the entire life of the blade unit, i.e. 5 until the blades have become blunt. The shaving aid product preferably has lubricating property, but it may have, or alternatively or additionally, others, for example humectant properties considered beneficial during shaving. It will have adequate fluidity to allow the product to pass from the reservoir chamber into the wells, viscosity and surface tension characteristics suitable to be preserved in the wells without flowing freely out of the apertures of the wells, and to be dispensed gradually during shaving , for example by becoming more fluid upon contact with water, when the surface guard slides on the skin during shaving. It is not an essential feature that the cavities can be supplied with the shaving product and it is within the scope of the present invention that the cavities are shaped and sized to collect a shaving product applied to the skin during a shaving period and to retain this product until the next shaving period, for example to provide improved lubrication during the initial stages of subsequent shaving. Modifications are naturally possible without departing from the underlying inventive concept. For example, the member incorporating the shafts filled with shaving aid may be made of a resilient material so that the member will slightly flex during the shaving to stimulate the product to flow from the cavities. In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the open-ended member with the cavities may have a beneficial tactile influence on the skin. 6-11-2006 6

Claims

A shaving razor blade unit including at least one elongate blade (1, 2) and a skin engaging member (3) extending longitudinally to the blade (s) said member having a contact surface with the blade (3) comprising a plurality of apertures (10) in the skin contacting surface (9), said apertures being adapted for discharging the respective portions of a razor improving product from here during the shaving, characterized in that said apertures have a depth no greater than the orifice diameter and are distributed along the skin contacting surface and through its width to substantially encompass the entire area of the skin contact surface (9).

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the skin engaging member includes a plurality of cavities (10) for containing respective portions of a razor improving product, each of said cavities opening on the skin contact surface.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of apertures are arranged to receive the shaving enhancement product from a common source (4).

Shaving razor blade unit according to claim 3, characterized in that at least some of the multiplicity of apertures (12) communicate with the common source containing shaving enhancement product to be dispersed through the apertures. 1

A razor blade unit according to claim 4, characterized in that each aperture communicates with the common source.

A razor blade unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the apertures are formed in a wall member (8) partially confined to the common source (4).

A razor blade unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the cavities formed in a wall member (8) partially confine the common source (4).

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the apertures have slightly curved side walls.

A shaving razor unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the cavities have slightly curved side walls.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the apertures are cylindrical with the shafts thereof substantially perpendicular to the skin contacting surface.

A razor blade unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the apertures are straight circular cylindrical.

A razor blade unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the cavities are cylindrical with the shafts thereof substantially perpendicular to the skin contacting surface.

A razor blade unit according to claim 12, characterized in that the cavities are straight circular cylindrical.

A shaving razor blade unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the cavities have a depth not exceeding the cavity diameter.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the apertures are positioned in a plurality of longitudinal rows.

Shaving razor blade unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the adjacent row openings are longitudinally superimposed and conjugated. shaving according to the in the cavities if plurality of rows

The machine blade unit of claim 2, characterized in that they are positioned in a longitudinal direction.

A razor blade unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the adjacent row cavities are longitudinally superimposed and conjugated.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the apertures have a depth of at least 50% of the maximum transverse dimension of the apertures. 3

A razor blade unit according to claim 19, characterized in that the apertures have a depth not exceeding the transverse dimension of the apertures.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the skin engaging member comprises a resilient material for flexing during the shaving and exerting tensile force on the surface of the skin during shaving.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the surface between adjacent apertures is less than 50% of the maximum transverse dimension of the apertures.

A shaving razor blade unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least three rows extending longitudinally from the apertures.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the skin engaging member occupies a position of an advancing blade surface of at least one blade.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the skin engaging member occupies a position of a cover surface behind at least one blade.

A razor blade unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the cavities have a depth of at least 50% of the maximum transverse dimension of the cavities. 4

A razor blade unit according to claim 26, characterized in that the cavities have a depth not exceeding the transverse dimension of the cavities.

A razor blade unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the thickness of the surface between adjacent cavities is less than 50% of the maximum transverse dimension of the cavities.

A shaving razor blade unit according to claim 2, characterized in that it has at least three rows extending longitudinally of the cavities.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at least one elongated blade comprises a linear bead blade member.

A razor blade unit according to claim 3, characterized in that each aperture is defined by side wall portions which slope inwardly from the skin contacting surface.

A razor blade unit according to claim 2, characterized in that each cavity is defined by side wall portions depending inwardly from the contact surface.

A razor blade unit according to claim 31, characterized in that the apertures are further defined by base portions formed transversely to the pendant side wall portions. 5

A razor blade unit according to claim 32, characterized in that the cavities are also defined by base portions formed transversely to the pendant side wall portions.

A razor blade unit according to claim 1 or claim 16, characterized in that adjacent apertures of the aperture arrangement are spaced apart from 5% to 100% of the maximum transverse size of the apertures.

A razor blade unit according to claim 2 or claim 18, characterized in that the adjacent cavities of the cavity arrangement are spaced apart from 5% to 100% of the maximum transverse dimension of the cavities.

A razor blade unit according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises a skin engaging member occupying a position of a covering surface behind at least one blade.

A razor blade unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the neighboring rows are relatively offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction by a quantity less than a maximum transverse dimension of the apertures, in which an overlap, as seen projected in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the rows, results between the neighboring openings of the adjacent rows.

A razor blade unit according to claim 18, characterized in that the neighboring rows are conjugated to each other in the longitudinal direction by a quantity less than a maximum transverse dimension of the cavities, resulting in an overlap , between neighboring cavities of the adjacent rows.

A razor blade unit according to claim 33, characterized in that the aperture base portions define restriction apertures of discharge of the product from the common source to the skin contacting surface and constrain a release back towards the skin. source so that the openings remain charged with product.

A shaving razor unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the cavity base portions define release restriction apertures by counting a release of the product from the common source to the skin contacting surface and constricting a release to back to a common source so that the wells remain with product. 7/2/06 7