Adjustable Razor Blade Cartridge

Abstract

The specific disclosure provides a safety razor system comprising a cartridge having at least one single cutting edge blade and a guard member having a transverse blade guard surface, and a handle including means for releasably engaging the cartridge. The system also includes means for movably supporting the guard member on the cartridge, and means connected to the handle for engaging the guard member to adjust the guard surface with respect to the cutting edge of the blade.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to safety razors of the type having at least one blade permanently bonded in a disposable and replaceable cartridge.

It is known to permanently bond a blade in a disposable and replaceable cartridge. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,864,995 and 3,388,831 each disclose a razor system having a blade permanently bonded in a disposable and replaceable cartridge. Typically, a safety razor has a guard surface situated downwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge of a blade and parallel to the cutting edge. The guard surface may be of the comb variety such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,864,995, or may be formed by an outer surface of an elongated guard bar such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831. The cartridges disclosed in the foregoing patents have factory-set shave angles which are defined by the relationship between a blade cutting edge and a guard surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a safety razor system wherein the shave angle is adjustable to meet a need or preference of a user.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a safety razor system comprising a cartridge including at least one single cutting edge blade bonded thereto and a guard member having a transverse blade guard surface. The system also comprises a handle having means for releasably engaging the cartridge. Means are provided for movably supporting the guard member on the cartridge, and means are connected to the handle for engaging the guard member to adjust the guard surface with respect to the cutting edge of the at least one blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper end of a razor system showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in side elevation of the razor system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a cam member used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the system taken along the arrow of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of an underside of an upper portion of another razor system embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the upper portion of the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view in side elevation of the upper portion of a handle used in the embodiment of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, a disposable and replaceable cartridge 10 is releasably secured to a handle or holder 12. The holder 12 has a transverse generally U-shaped channel member 14 at the upper end thereof, and the member 14 has flange portions 16, 18 for sliding engagement in a T-shaped channel 20 formed in the underside of the cartridge 10. The holder 12 also has a spring member 22 for biasing a detent portion 24 at the upper end of the spring into a notch (not shown) formed in the T-shaped channel 20.

The cartridge 10 comprises a pair of single edge blades 46, 48 separated by a spacer 50 which are sandwiched between a cap member 42 and a blade seat member 44. The spacer 50 can have a plurality of channels (not shown) extending from between the cutting edges of the blades 46, 48 to ports 60 for passage of shaving residue from between the blades.

An elongated serrated guard bar 52 is spaced forwardly and downwardly from the cutting edges of the blades 46, 48 by a plurality of ribs 56. Each end of the guard bar 52 is spaced a slight distance at 58 from the blade seat member 44. The guard bar 52 has a cam follower member 54 extending downwardly therefrom.

A cam member 30 is mounted on a frame 40 of the holder 12 by means of a threaded bolt 38 which is rigidly secured to the cam member 30 and to a knob 36. The cam member 30 has a cam surface 32 for abutting engagement with the cam follower member 54.

The cap and blade seat members 42, 44 are formed of moldable plastic. The guard bar 52 and the ribs 56 are molded integrally with the blade seat member 44 such that the cam follower member 54 is arcuately biased into abutting engagement with the cam surface 32. Thus, rotary movement of the cam member 30 by means of the knob 36 causes the guard bar 52 to move with respect to the cutting edges of the blades 46, 48 to thereby adjust the shave angle of the cartridge 10. A plate 34 having numerals radially displayed thereon is provided to give a user an indication of the shave angle setting of the cartridge 10.

FIGS. 6 through 9 show an alternative embodiment wherein a cartridge 75 constructed in the manner described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 1 through 5 has a follower member 74 integrally formed with a guard bar 70 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted to the cartridge 75 by a plurality of ribs 72. A finger grip 78 is rigidly secured to a threaded insert 80 having a boss 81 in abutting engagement with the follower member 74. The follower member 74 is molded such that it is biased into abutting engagement with the boss 81. Rotary movement of the finger grip 78 causes the threaded insert 80 to move perpendicularly with respect to the frame 76 to thus move the guard bar 70 with respect to the cutting edges of blades 88, 90 and thereby adjust the shave angle of the cartridge 75.

As used herein, the front or forward end of the cartridge 10; 75 and/or the holder 12 is that end having the guard bar 52; 70. Thus, transverse is used herein to identify a side-to-side direction that is at least substantially parallel to the guard bar 52; 70.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety razor system comprising a cartridge including at least one single cutting edge blade bonded thereto and a guard member having a transverse blade guard surface, and a holder adapted to releasably engage said cartridge, the improvement comprising:

means for movably supporting said guard member on said cartridge,

said guard member including a cam follower, and

a cam mounted on said holder and including a cam surface for abutting engagement with said cam follower when said cartridge is engaged by said holder, said cam surface being disengaged from said cam follower when said cartridge is disengaged from said holder,

said cam being manually operable for adjusting said guard surface with respect to the cutting edge of said at least one blade.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises plastic structure molded for biasing said cam follower into abutting engagement with said cam surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said cam follower is biased into abutting engagement with said cam surface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said cam surface is a helical cam surface.

5. In a safety razor system comprising a cartridge including at least one single cutting edge blade bonded thereto and a guard member having a transverse blade guard surface, and a holder adapted to releasably engage said cartridge, the improvement comprising:

means for movably supporting said guard member on said cartridge, and

a manually operable member threadedly mounted on said holder for abutting engagement with a portion of said guard member to adjust said guard surface with respect to the cutting edge of said at least one blade when said cartridge is engaged by said holder, said manually operable member being disengaged from said guard member portion when said cartridge is disengaged from said holder.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said supporting means comprises plastic structure molded for biasing said portion of said guard member into abutting engagement with said member.