U.S. patent number 3,842,499 [Application Number 05/287,515] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-22 for razor blade assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Gillette Company. Invention is credited to Francis W. Dorion, Jr., Paul W. Douglass, Warren I. Nissen, Roger L. Perry.
United States Patent |
3,842,499 |
Dorion, Jr. , et
al. |
October 22, 1974 |
RAZOR BLADE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A razor blade assembly having one or more groups of multiple
cutting edge, tandem acting shaving elements assembled on a
generally rectangular supporting structure or frame. Each group of
cutting elements comprises two or more blades, the cutting edges of
which are located in spaced, parallel, tandem acting relationship.
One or more of the cutting edges of each group is essentially
chisel shaped. The dimensions of the frame and the disposition and
orientation of the cutting edges are such as to cooperatively
provide, in a conventional razor, favorable geometry for tandem
blade shaving operations.
Inventors: |
Dorion, Jr.; Francis W.
(Hingham, MA), Douglass; Paul W. (Winchester, MA),
Nissen; Warren I. (Topsfield, MA), Perry; Roger L.
(Lynnfield Center, MA) |
Assignee: |
The Gillette Company (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23103245 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/287,515 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/50;
30/346.58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B
21/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B26B
21/54 (20060101); B26B 21/00 (20060101); B26b
021/54 (); B26b 021/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;30/32,48,50,346.5,346.55,346.57,346.58,346.59 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,905 |
|
Apr 1909 |
|
GB |
|
478,290 |
|
Feb 1953 |
|
IT |
|
739,501 |
|
Jan 1933 |
|
FR |
|
973,077 |
|
Sep 1950 |
|
FR |
|
1,039,546 |
|
May 1953 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Smith; Al Lawrence
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Gary L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Colman; Philip Bratlie; Oistein J.
Foster; Scott R.
Claims
Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. A razor blade assembly comprising:
a. a frame in the form of a spacer member, said spacer member
having an elongated central base portion and a ramp portion on each
side thereof, said ramp portions having a pair of surfaces thereon
and being permanently inclined at an angle of 13.degree.-16.degree.
relative to said base portion,
b. a planar first blade disposed on one surface of each of said
ramp portions and having a first cutting edge extending beyond an
edge of said frame,
c. a planar second blade disposed on the other surface of each of
said ramp portions and having a second cutting edge extending a
second distance beyond said edge of said frame,
d. said surfaces having a maximum separation of 0.006-0.02
inch,
e. at least one said blades having a cutting edge such that a
bisector of an angle defined by surfaces of the cutting edge is
disposed at an angle to the plane of such blade.
2. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which each of
said ramp portions is inclined at an angle of about 15.degree. to
the plane of said base portion.
3. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which said
spacer member is of metal.
4. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 3 in which said
blade elements are welded to said spacer member.
5. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 4 in which said
blade elements and said spacer are of stainless steel.
6. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which the
thickness of said spacer member between said blade portions is
about 0.01 inch.
7. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which said
spacer member is of metal and is about 1.68 inch in length, about
0.867 inch in width, and is about 0.010 inch in thickness, said
ramp portions being inclined to said base portion at an angle of
about 15.degree..
8. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which said
first distance exceeds said second distance.
9. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 1 in which each of
said blade elements is of metal, is about 1.42 inch in length,
about 0.189 inch in width, and about 0.004 inch in thickness.
10. Razor blade assembly comprising a relatively thin spacer member
having an elongated central planar base portion flanked on each
longitudinal side edge by an integral depending skirt portion, said
skirt portions being permanently inclined at a predetermined
substantially constant angle relative to said central base portion,
first and second separate, distinct, planar blades disposed on the
first of said integral depending skirt portions and separated
thereby, said first and second blades having respectively first and
second cutting edges facing outwardly from said assembly, and third
and fourth separate, distinct, planar blades disposed on the second
of said integral depending skirt portions and separated thereby,
said third and fourth blades having respectively third and fourth
cutting edges facing outwardly from said assembly and in a
direction generally opposite to the direction in which said first
and second edges face.
11. The invention according to claim 10 in which said spacer member
is metal.
12. The invention according to claim 10 in which said depending
skirt portions are permanently inclined relative to the base
portion by about 13.degree.-16.degree..
13. The invention according to claim 10 in which said second blade
cutting edge is recessed relative to said first blade cutting edge
and in cutting operation trails said first blade cutting edge and
said fourth blade cutting edge is recessed relative to said third
blade cutting edge and in cutting operation trails said third blade
cutting edge.
14. The invention according to claim 13 in which the span of said
second blade and said fourth blade is about 0.02-0.055 inch.
15. The invention according to claim 13 in which the blade tangent
angle for said second and fourth blade is less than 30.degree..
16. The invention according to claim 10 in which said spacer member
and said blade are fixed together with said blades contiguous to
said spacer member.
17. The invention according to claim 15 in which said blade tangent
angle is in the range of 22.degree.-26.degree..
18. The invention according to claim 15 in which said blade tangent
angle is about 23.5.degree..
19. A razor blade assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said
spacer is substantially rigid.
20. Razor blade assembly comprising a frame portion, two groups of
blades, each group comprising a planar first blade having a first
cutting edge extending beyond an edge of said frame portion, a
planar second blade having a second cutting edge extending in the
same direction as said first blade, said frame portion having a
thickness of about 0.006-0.02 inch, said first and second cutting
edges having a span therebetween of 0.02-0.055 inch, and said
second cutting edge having a blade tangent angle of less than
30.degree., said first and second blades being assembled on said
frame portion such that said first and second cutting edges are
located in spaced, parallel tandem acting relationship with said
frame portion disposed therebetween, one of said cutting edges
being such that a bisector of an angle defined by surfaces of the
cutting edge is disposed at an angle to the plane of such
blade.
21. The razor blade assembly as defined by claim 20 in which said
second-mentioned angle is about 7.degree..
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is applicable in the field of replaceable,
so-called, double edge and single edge razor blades. The invention
resides particularly in the provision of a blade assembly of one or
more groups of tandem acting, spaced, parallel cutting edges
located along one side, in the case of single edge blades, or, in
the case of double edge blades, oppositely facing sides of a
generally rectangular blade structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has long been desirable to provide a shaving instrument or
system which affords a very close shave as well as a safe shave.
There has recently been developed a multiple, tandem acting,
cutting edge shaving system, in which certain edge characteristics
and geometrical relationships are observed, that provides the
desired closeness with safety. The shaving system includes two
cutting edges disposed parallel to one another, and in spaced
relation, to provide leading and following cutting edges, so that
both cutting edges are successively active with respect to the hair
elements being cut during a single shaving stroke.
The shaving system employs a cartridge wherein two cutting edges,
each formed on a separate blade, are supported in spaced, tandem,
parallel, relationship to one another by structure which extends
along substantially the entire lengths of the blades. As part of
the same cartridge, a guard structure is disposed proximate to the
leading cutting edge and cooperates with the other elements to
define, in part, the desirable geometrical relationships.
Significant components of that geometrical relationship include
"blade tangent angle," "exposure," and "span."
"Blade tangent angle" is defined as the angle between the bisector
of the included angle of a cutting edge and a line from the cutting
edge to the point of tangency of the skin engaging surface
immediately forward of that cutting edge. For example, in a two
bladed tandem acting system, the guard is the "skin engaging
surface immediately forward" of the first acting cutting edge and
the first cutting edge is the "skin engaging surface immediately
forward" of the second cutting edge.
"Exposure" is defined as the distance from a cutting edge to a
reference plane or a line connecting the points of tangency of the
skin engaging surfaces immediately in front of and behind the
cutting edge, the distance being measured perpendicularly to the
reference plane or line. The exposure is considered positive when
the cutting edge is located on the outer or skin side of the
reference plane and is considered negative when the cutting edge is
further from the skin than that plane.
"Span" is defined as the distance between a cutting edge and the
point of tangency of the skin engaging surface forward of that
cutting edge.
In the prior art system referred to, particularly as disclosed in
U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 176,547, filed Aug. 31, 1971, now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,563, in the names of Francis W. Dorion, Jr., et
al., the blades each have tangent angles in the range of
20.degree.-32.degree., an exposure in the range of -0.002 to +0.004
inch and a span in the approximate range of 0.03-0.08 inch. Both
blades are planar and are disposed parallel to one another. In such
multiple blade cartridges, cooperating guard and cap structures are
of molded plastic material and the cap, base and spacer members and
blades are secured together in fixed geometrical relationship to
define a blade unit which is easily attached to and released from a
handle.
The desirability of providing a replaceable tandem acting multiple
cutting edge "razor blade," as distinguished from a cartridge as
taught by Dorion, Jr., et al., for use with conventional double
edge and injector type razors has long been recognized. Providing a
commercially acceptable blade, however, has until now presented
insurmountable problems. This is due primarily to the fact that
since the guard and cap structures of conventional razors, together
with the blades between them, define the geometry of a shaving
system and since the guard and cap cannot be changed, except for
certain spacing adjustments, the blade geometry is the only
variable of the system. This is distinguished from the tandem blade
cartridge in which the cap and guard elements were designed de
novo. Given the fixed relationships between cap and guard portions
of existing double edge razors, the disposition of a tandem
multiple cutting edge blade assembly between those elements has
proven to be incompatible within optimum geometrical relationships
so long as presently available cutting edges are employed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
tandem acting, multiple cutting edge blade assembly for use with
conventional razors.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a blade
assembly in which the cutting edges cooperate with the razor guard
and cap portions to define critical geometric relationships within
desirable ranges.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter
appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a
tandem acting, multiple cutting edge razor blade assembly adapted
to be replaceably clamped between the cap and support means of a
conventional razor. Such razors generally have a guard portion
integral with the support means or separate therefrom but proximate
thereto. The blade assembly comprises a frame, first blade means
permanently joined to said frame and adapted to be engaged by said
razor support means. Second blade means are also permanently joined
to said frame and adapted to be engaged by said cap member. The
cutting edges are substantially parallel, at least one being
substantially of a chisel configuration. The cutting edges and
frame are so configured and arranged relative to the razor's cap
and guard as to define desirable geometric shaving relationships.
In a double-edge embodiment the frame is contoured to be readily
held in any conventional double edge razor.
The above and other features of the invention, including various
novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now
be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that
the particular razor blade assembly embodying the invention is
shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the
invention. The principles and features of this invention may be
employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from
the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown an
illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel
features and advantages will be apparent.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of certain prior art,
illustrating the geometric relationships above described;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of one form of frame member for use in an
illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the frame member shown in FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of a portion of the
frame member shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blade element for assembly with the
frame member shown in FIGS. 2-4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevational view of the blade element
shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a further enlarged end elevational view of the cutting
edge portion of the blade shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic elevational view of an illustrative
chisel edge blade of the present invention compared with a prior
art blade edge shown in phantom;
FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, of a blade assembly
including the frame and the blades;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged end elevational view of the blade assembly
of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an elevational sectional view of the illustrative blade
assembly of FIGS. 9 and 10, shown disposed in a conventional,
non-adjustable double edge razor;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of a portion of
the blade assembly and razor shown in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an elevational sectional view similar to FIG. 11, but
with the illustrative blade assembly of FIGS. 9 and 10 shown
disposed in a conventional adjustable double edge razor;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged section view similar to FIG. 2, of a portion
of the blade assembly and adjustable razor of FIG. 13; and
FIGS. 15 and 16 are similar to FIG. 14, but show the adjustable
razor at alternative selective settings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1, the above mentioned geometrical relationships of blade
tangent angle, span and exposure are defined with reference to two
tandem acting blades in combination with a cap and guard of a
conventional razor. The blade tangent angle for the leading blade,
as herein defined, is the angle L between the bisector a of the
included angle of the cutting edge E' and a line b from the cutting
edge E' to the point of tangency PT.sup.1 of the skin engaging
surface immediately forward of that cutting edge, in this instance
the guard. In like manner, the blade tangent angle for the trailing
blade is the angle M between the bisector c of the included angle
of the cutting edge E.sup.2 and a line d from the cutting edge
E.sup.2 to the point of tangency PT.sup.2 of the skin engaging
surface immediately forward of that cutting edge. In this instance
the point of tangency PT.sup.2 is the leading blade cutting edge
E'.
The exposure of the leading blade is the distance N from the
cutting edge E' to the reference plane e connecting points of
tangency of the skin engaging surfaces immediately in front of
(guard) and behind (trailing blade) the cutting edge E', the
distance being measured perpendicularly to the reference plane e.
In like manner, the exposure of the trailing blade is the distance
P.
The span for the leading blade is the distance R between the
cutting edge E' and the point of tangency PT.sup.1 of the skin
engaging surface (guard) forward of that cutting edge. In like
manner the span for the trailing blade is the distance S.
A conventional double edge razor (without a blade), includes on
both sides, a guard member and a cap member, as diagrammatically
illustrated in FIG. 1. The spacing of these members is
predetermined, though in some instances adjustable, and successful
tandem blade arrangements must be such as to cooperatively define
acceptable geometrical relationships with the pre-existing guard
and cap members. The usual razor blade technology has not proven up
to the task.
For example, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a blade assembly of two
blades and a frame member. If the blades are arranged so that the
exposures N, P, are acceptable, and if acceptable first and second
blade spans R, S, are utilized, and resultant blade tangent angles
L, M, of the leading and trailing blades are of a magnitude such as
to provide a close but less comfortable shave than blade tangent
angles of a lesser magnitude. Accordingly, it is preferable to
decrease the blade tangent angles L, M, by several degrees. The
position of the guard is preset and cannot be moved (except in
adjustable razors where some movement of the guard is permitted) to
reduce the blade tangent angle of the leading blade. A lesser
exposure would reduce the blade tangent angle, but a pronounced
negative exposure generally is not preferred. A thinner frame
member would reduce the blade tangent angle of the second blade
only. Further, as will be discussed herein below, the frame
thickness preferably should not be diminished to a dimension
shorter than the diameter of a hair element. Thus, the problem that
has blocked the development of an acceptable arrangement has been
the inability of such a blade assembly to fit into the given
conventional razor environment and in cooperation with that
environment define suitable geometric relationships. More
specifically, when the various parameters are placed within
acceptable limits, the blade tangent angles of the two blades are
too high to provide a comfortable and safe shave. The problem is
further aggravated in adjustable razors, of either the double edge
or injector type, where the guard and blade edge may be moved
relative to each other to increase the blade tangent angle of the
leading blade, as well as the leading blade span, to even higher
values. The problem then, is to reduce the blade tangent angle to
an acceptable value while not greatly disturbing the other critical
parameters.
Referring again to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 2-4, it
will be seen that the present invention includes a frame or spacer
member 2, preferably, but not necessarily, of metal. A preferred
embodiment of the frame member 2 has an elongated central base or
plateau portion 4 flanked on either side by an integral ramp or
depending skirt portion 6. The ramp portions 6 are inclined
relative to the base portion 4 by about 13.degree.-16.degree., and
preferably at an angle A of approximately 15.degree.. As will be
further described below, the frame preferably is preformed or
contoured to its ultimate desired configuration, obviating any need
for flexing or bending of the frame when placed in a razor. Thus,
the geometry of the frame member is predetermined and not dependent
upon flexing or bending.
The preferred embodiment of frame member shown in FIGS. 2-4 has an
overall axial length Fl of 1.68 inch and an overall width Fw of
0.867 inch; has a thickness Ft of 0.01 inch and is preferably of
stainless steel or other suitable metal. The length Fl and width Fw
are determined by the necessity that the blade assembly be accepted
by a conventional double edge razor. The thickness Ft of the frame
member 2 should be no more than 0.02 inch and greater than 0.006
inch, the latter being the diameter of larger hair elements. A
thickness of less than 0.006 inch might present clogging problems
during use. A thickness of more than 0.02 inch cannot be reconciled
with other desired geometrical relationships, particularly the
blade tangent angle of the second cutting edge E.sup.2. Accordingly
a thickness of 0.006-0.02 is preferred and 0.01 inch, or
thereabouts, appears to be most suitable. As will be discussed in
more detail below, the frame member could be made somewhat wider
but bendable in a razor to assume a width of 0.867 inch, or
thereabouts.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there will be seen an illustrative
blade element 10 that becomes secured to the frame member 2. The
blade element 10 includes an elongated planar portion 12 having a
sharpened cutting edge portion 14 extending lengthwise along one
edge thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the blade element 10 is
1.42 inch in length B1, 0.189 inch in width Bw, 0.004 inch in
thickness Bt and preferably of stainless steel or other suitable
metal. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutting edge portion 14 of the blade
element 10 is substantially a chisel-edge, having a first side 16
which is substantially a continuation of a first flat bottom side
22 of the planar portion 12 of the blade element, and a second side
18 which is inclined substantially from a second side 24 of the
planar portion 12 to the first side 16 of the cutting edge
portion.
FIG. 7 shows the chisel shaped cutting edge portion 14 of the blade
element, enlarged several times. In the embodiment shown, the
second side 18 of the cutting edge portion 14 includes a first
portion, the surface 18a of which is disposed at an angle B of
about 12.degree. from a plane representing a continuation of the
second side 24 of the planar portion 12 of the blade element. A
second portion includes a surface 18b disposed at an angle C of
about 14.degree. to the above mentioned reference plane. A third
surface portion 18c is still further inclined. It will be seen that
the first side 16 of the cutting edge portion has a slight taper
16a near its outer extremity. This results from a burr removing
lapping operation. The taper surface 16a is inclined at an angle D
of about 6.degree. to an imaginary extension of the first side 16
of the cutting edge portion 14, resulting in a fine edge 26 defined
by the surfaces 18c, 16a which include an angle E of about
25.degree..
Although under certain circumstances a conventional symmetrically
shaped cutting edge may be utilized, the advantages to be obtained
by the chisel configuration are critical to the invention, as will
be explained in detail below, and at least one cutting edge of a
tandem arrangement must be of a substantially chisel or
non-symmetrical geometry.
The significance of the chisel edge blade readily may be
appreciated upon reference to FIG. 8, which shows an enlarged view
of the leading blade 10a cutting edge and, for comparison purposes,
shows in phanton a prior art blade cutting edge 60. It will be seen
that in a given environment, the chisel edge blade tangent angle L
is substantially less than the blade tangent angle T of a
corresponding symmetrical blade. Thus, whereas the use of a
symmetrical blade might result in blade tangent angle too high to
be acceptable, the use instead of a chisel edge blade reduces the
blade tangent angle to a value well within a proven acceptable
range. In like manner, use of the chisel shaped edge on the
trailing blade element permits a blade tangent angle for the
trailing blade substantially less than would be the case with a
conventional symmetrically shaped blade edge. In FIG. 8 an angle W
is defined between the bisectors of the cutting edge angles and
illustrates the substantial impact substitution of a chisel shaped
blade for a symmetrically shaped blade has upon the blade tangent
angle in a given razor environment. Assuming the chisel edge
structure is substantially as shown and described above with
reference to FIG. 7, the angle W will be equal to about
6.degree.-7.degree..
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be seen that a razor blade
assembly 30 comprises the frame member 2 having attached thereto a
plurality of the blade elements 10. The blade elements 10 may be
spot welded to the frame member 2. The corners of the frame member
2 are provided with integral lugs 32 (FIG. 4) which facilitate
positioning of the trailing blades (upper blades as viewed in FIG.
10) on the frame member prior to welding. The trailing blades may
be placed on the frame member 2 and moved outwardly until their
cutting edges engage the lugs 32. They are then in position for
welding or other attachment procedure. The base portion 4 of the
frame member 2 is provided with a suitable opening 34 for receiving
the spider mechanism of a conventional double edge razor, as will
be described below. The preferred embodiment of blade assembly is
substantially of the same length and width dimensions as the frame
member, 1.68 inch and 0.867 inch, respectively.
In FIG. 11, there is shown a blade assembly 30, as described above,
disposed in a conventional double edge razor 40, of the type shown
and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,721, issued Aug. 25, 1959 upon
application of Warren I. Nissen, wherein the construction and
operation of the razor is explained in detail. Suffice at this
point to say that the razor 40 includes platform portions 42
(including guard portions 42') and cap portions 44. Extending
upwardly from a handle portion 46 is a reciprocable spider portion
48. As is described in the above referred to patent, the cap
portions 44 open outwardly from the spider portion 48, the cap
portions being pivotally mounted upon bridge portions 50 (one
bridge portion 50 shown in FIG. 11) which in turn are connected to
the spider portion 48. In the open condition, the razor may receive
a blade assembly 30, the spider 48 passing through the opening 34
in the blade assembly. The blade assembly 30 rests upon the
platform portion 42, the leading blade elements 10a, or lower blade
elements as viewed in FIG. 11, abutting upper surfaces 42" of the
platform portion, which surfaces 42" are disposed at an angle F of
approximately 15.degree. to a plane f--f tangent to the uppermost
points of the platform portions. Upon closure of the cap portions
44, to the positions shown in FIG. 11, the cap portions engage the
uppermost, or trailing blade elements 10b. The contour of the blade
assembly is such that no flexing or bending of the blade assembly
ordinarily occurs.
The geometric relationships between the blade assembly 30 and the
guard portion 42' and cap portion 44 are shown in FIG. 12. The
leading blade element 10a has a span R of about 0.062 inch, a blade
tangent angle L of about 26.degree. and an exposure N of about
0.001 inch. The trailing blade element 10b has a span S of about
0.035 inch, a blade tangent angle M of about 23.5.degree. and an
exposure P of about 0.001 inch. Thus, the blade assembly 30
cooperates with the given razor structure to define geometrical
relationships within ranges affording desirable shaving
characteristics. The thickness of the spacer member may be less
than the 0.01 inch shown for illustrative purposes with a
consequent lessening of the span between the two blades. In various
combinations of geometrical relationships, the span R may be about
0.02 inch -0.08 inch and the span S about 0.02-0.055 inch and still
provide acceptable performance in shaving operations.
In FIG. 13 there is shown the blade assembly 30 disposed between
the platform portions 42 and cap portions 44 of a conventional
double edge adjustable razor 70 of the general type shown and
described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,806, issued Aug. 26, 1958 upon
application of Meyer J. Shnitzler et al. The structure and
operation of this type of razor is fully described in the above
referred to patent. For the purposes of explaining the present
invention, it is necessary to note only that by rotation of a
cylindrical member 72 an operator causes movement of the platform
portions 42, blade assembly 30, and cap portions 44, which in this
type razor is movable as a unit toward or away from the guard
portion 74. Such movement causes pronounced changes in the leading
blade span and blade tangent angle. For example, in FIG. 14 typical
values of critical parameters are shown for the blade assembly 30
in an adjustable double edge razor at setting "1," or the setting
at which the guard 74 is closest to the blade assembly. It will be
noted that the blade tangent angle for the leading blade is about
15.5.degree., for the trailing blade about 23.5.degree., and the
leading blade span is about 0.0235 inch. FIG. 15 is illustrative of
the adjustable razor of FIG. 13 having been set at a setting of
"4," or a moderate setting, and FIG. 16 is illustrative of a "9"
setting, or that setting at which the guard is furthest removed
from the blade assembly. As will be observed in FIGS. 14-16, an
increase in setting value increases the respective blade tangent
angles and first blade spans, but that in each instance the various
geometrical relationships remain generally within or close to
acceptable ranges. The adjustability of the razor does not affect
the blade tangent angle of the trailing blade which remains at
about 23.5.degree.. The upper edges 43 of the platform portions 42
receive the leading blades 10a and are conventionally disposed at
an angle G of approximately 15.degree. to a plane g--g tangent to
uppermost portions of the platform portions 42 (FIG. 13).
It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means
limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or
shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or
equivalents within the scope of the disclosure. For example,
various modifications of the structure of the chisel edge blades
may be used to obtain desired bisectors of the cutting edge
included angle. As used herein, the term "chisel shaped" or "chisel
edge" refers to cutting edges in which a bisector of a cutting edge
included angle, or the angle defined by the two major surfaces of
the cutting edge (surfaces 18c and 16a in FIG. 7, for example) is
disposed at an angle to the plane of the blade. While the chisel
edge blade shown results in a cutting edge included angle bisector
forming an angle of about 7.degree. with the plane of the blade,
other configurations of blade edges may be utilized to obtain
different angles, as desired.
A further modification within the scope of the disclosure relates
to the overall dimensions of the frame member and the blade
assembly. While it is preferred that the ramp portions 6 be
disposed at approximately 15.degree. to the base portion 4 and that
the overall width of the assembly be 0.867 inch, it is apparent
that an assembly could be arranged having a greater width but
bendable in a razor in such a manner as to arrive at a width of, or
close to 0.867 inch. In describing and claiming the width of the
assembly, it is intended that such variations be within the purview
of such dimensional qualifications or limitations. Thus, in
referring to a blade assembly width of 0.867 inch, while it is
preferred that the assembly be non-flexing and have such width
permanently, it is intended also to encompass an alternative
arrangement in which the assembly is manufactured having a larger
width dimension but is bendable to 0.867, or thereabouts, for use
in a razor.
It is further to be understood that while double edge razors have
been shown for illustrative purposes, the invention herein is
equally applicable to single edge razors, including those of the
injector type. Of course, a tandem blade assembly for use in an
injector razor will necessarily have blades and frame of
configuration and dimensions commensurate with injector razors.
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