U.S. patent application number 11/293764 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for blade shaving accessory.
Invention is credited to Tracy J. Aiken.
Application Number | 20070127977 11/293764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38118915 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070127977 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aiken; Tracy J. |
June 7, 2007 |
Blade shaving accessory
Abstract
A shaving accessory for use with a can of shaving cream to
permit the user to evenly spread the cream dispensed from the can
to selected areas of the human body. The accessory comprises an
applicator for spreading cream and a positioner for holding the
applicator and connecting it to the valve of the can in order that
cream may be transmitted through the positioner to the applicator
by depressing the valve.
Inventors: |
Aiken; Tracy J.;
(Felsenthal, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNIS B. HAASE
P.O. BOX 6206
HOT SPRINGS
AR
71902-6206
US
|
Family ID: |
38118915 |
Appl. No.: |
11/293764 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/190 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 27/04 20130101;
A46B 11/0017 20130101; A46B 2200/1033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/190 |
International
Class: |
A46B 11/02 20060101
A46B011/02 |
Claims
1. An accessory for use in conjunction with an aerosol can of
shaving cream, having a dispensing valve for dispensing the
contents of said can to said accessory for selectively spreading
shaving cream dispensed therefrom to selected areas of the human
body in preparation to shave that area, comprising: an applicator;
said applicator being of a soft material, said soft material
capable of receiving shaving cream and holding the same therein
pending application to selected parts of the human body; a
positioner, said positioner engaged with said applicator at one end
thereof and mounted to said valve of the can at the other end
thereof, and a conduit extending between said valve and said
applicator for the passage of shaving cream there through.
2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said applicator is in the form
of a soft bristled brush.
3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said applicator is in the form
of a sponge.
4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner having a ring,
said ring circumscribing said valve to secure said positioner to
said valve.
5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner is formed with
a cap, said cap being dimensioned to fit over said valve.
6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner is formed with
an orifice, said orifice being alignable with an aperture in said
valve so that shaving cream discharged from said valve fills said
applicator.
7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner connects to
said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged from said
valve passes through said tube to said applicator.
8. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said applicator is in the form
of a soft bristled brush.
9. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said applicator is in the form
of a sponge.
10. The accessory of claim 3, wherein said positioner connects to
said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged from said
valve passes through said tube to said applicator.
11. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said positioner having a
ring, said ring circumscribing said valve to secure said positioner
to said valve.
12. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said applicator is in the
form of a sponge.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an accessory for
the blade shaver and, more particularly, to a device for the
uniform application of a soapy material, such as shaving cream, to
the shaver's facial area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Since time immemorial man has scraped and shaped his
appearance with a sharp instrument, now commonly referred to as a
razor. While water, at one time, was the only lubricant, soap
became useful, and thereafter, manufacturer's introduced what they
referred to as shaving cream, first with a bowl and brush, and
later in an aerosol can.
[0004] Even with the advent of the aerosol can, application of
shaving cream has become less than uniform, with the applicator
dealing with clumps and voids as the propellant which expels the
soapy material tending to spit out the material in globs.
[0005] As a result of this characteristic, the applicator finds it
necessary to spread the soap around in order to get a more uniform
shave and avoid, as much as possible, scraping and chafing.
[0006] 2. Overview of the Prior Art
[0007] Perhaps the person with the most vision was a Canadian by
the name of Vallis who, in 1971, caused U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,541 to
issue for a Treating Fluid Container with Applicator Unit. The
Vallis device was seen as an improvement for cleaning upholstery
and shining shoes, and, for that reason, the brush used is of the
same material as the clamp which holds the applicator to the can.
The clamp itself is sturdy and able to resist, to a significant
extent, the pressure that it will be subjected to as it moves to
and fro as it scrubs the surface of the upholstery or surface of a
shoe.
[0008] A similar scrubbing device is depicted in Torkelson design
Pat. No. Des 374,990 for a golf club. Once again, the scrubber, a
brush, is clamped to the side of a liquid dispenser. It is of
interest that the Vallis patent was not cited by the Examiner
during the prosecution of the Torkelson application.
[0009] Finally, Green et al. issued a design Pat. No. Des 376,697
for a combination container and applicator which was, obviously,
for a viscus fluid, as evidenced by the slot in the applicator. The
applicator appears to be integral with the container pump stem. No
purpose is denoted, although the word WAX is visible, and neither
Vallis nor Torkelson were cited, and in the Green et al. and
Torkelson applications, the Examiners were the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has a specific function in the realm
of dispensers, and that is to apply a foaming material to the face
of the blade shaver in a soft and comfortable manner to facilitate
the shaving experience.
[0011] It is an objective of the present invention, intertwined
with the foregoing, to permit application of a foaming shaving
cream to a specific area of one's face so that moustaches, goatees
and like facial hair which is not to be removed, is readily
preserved, while the remaining areas of the face may be shaved.
[0012] The foregoing, as well as other advantages and objectives of
the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art,
from a reading of the following Detailed Description of a Preferred
Embodiment, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,
wherein:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a container of shaving
cream with an applicator, in the nature of a soft brush facing
upwardly and away from the container, attached thereto;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the
applicator being attached in an alternative manner, and facing
generally toward the reader;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which an
alternative applicator is depicted;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the
applicator of FIG. 3, attached; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the top of the can
showing the valve and the accessory attached thereto, partially
sectioned to show details of the interrelationship between the
two.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a
shaving accessory is provided for use in conjunction with an
aerosol can of shaving cream to apply the contents of the can to
selected areas of the human body.
[0019] In accomplishing this objective, a shaving accessory
constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at 10
and comprises an applicator of soft material, such as may be seen
in FIG. 1, in the nature of an elongated brush element 12 secured
at one end of a positioner device 14, at an end thereof, so named
because it positions the brush to receive the contents of a vessel
containing shaving cream through the brush element.
[0020] The brush 14, as illustrated, comprises a series of
uniformly, elongated bristles arranged in a random array in close
proximity to one another. Each bristle is affixed at one end in a
backing plate 16, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of
the bristles and which is economically formed as part of the
positioner 14.
[0021] The positioner 14 is fashioned to be connected at one end
thereof to the valve of a conventional can C of foamable shaving
cream F (FIG. 2). Since all cans are not absolutely uniform,
particularly in the area of the discharge valve 21, some variation
in the size of such valves will necessarily require some
modification of the positioner, but such modifications are within
the contemplation of the invention, and shall not be deemed as a
separate invention.
[0022] Returning to the FIG. 1 embodiment, the positioner 14
includes an attachment element 23, which, in the FIGS. 1 and 2
embodiment, takes the form of a tubular positioning ring. The ring
is dimensioned to fit snugly about the discharge valve 21. By
virtue of the cylindrical structure, the positioner is easily
rotated to align an aperture 25, FIG. 5, formed, or otherwise
provided, in the cylindrical ring, with the discharge orifice 27 in
order that the shaving cream discharged through the discharge
orifice will pass through a conduit in the positioner, through the
orifice and fill the brush 12. Once the foam permeates the bristles
14 of the brush 12, the user will have a simple task to apply
shaving cream F to specific areas of his face, or other areas of
the body to be shaved, in preparation for shaving.
[0023] The positioner 14 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2
represents a positioner that fits over, or about, the relatively
large discharge valve available on the market on various brands of
shaving cream. A second valve is depicted in FIG. 5, and it is
substantially different in size and positioner 114 is illustrated
as the invention's solution to the discharge valve alternative,
which is also prominently available on a variety of shaving cream
brands.
[0024] The positioner 114 includes a brush 112 having a backing
plate 116 which supports the brush 112. A cap 123 is formed with,
or otherwise secured to, and is a part of, the positioner 114. The
cap 123 is so dimensioned as to fit snugly over the discharge valve
121 where it may be rotated so as to align an aperture 125 in the
cap with the orifice in the backing plate 116, whereby the shaving
cream discharged from the aperture 125 in the discharge valve fills
the brush in preparation for application of shaving cream to
specific areas of one's face.
[0025] There are some, particularly on the distaff side, who prefer
a softer applicator for use with legs and underarms. To this end,
and referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a soft, yet porous, applicator is
illustrated at 212. The applicator may be a sponge or similar
material, including a porous cloth like pad. The applicator of FIG.
3 functions in essentially the same way as the brush of FIG. 1,
while providing a perhaps less abrasive surface to spread shaving
cream in a selected location in preparation for shaving.
[0026] The applicator 212 and the attendant positioner 214 of FIG.
3 are both small in size and light weight, thereby providing the
accessory 110 with the capacity to create a connection between the
positioner and the valve of the can C by means of a tube 218
running between the valve 221 and the backing plate 216. It will be
appreciated that shaving cream discharged through the valve 221 is
fed directly through the backing plate 216 to the applicator where
it permeates the applicator and presents the cream to the user
ready for application.
[0027] It will be understood that there may be some variation in
the structure of the accessory of the present invention which will
occur to those skilled in the art. However, such variations are
within the purview of the present invention which is defined by the
claims as set forth hereinafter.
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