EP0403839A1

EP0403839A1 - Safety rasor, particularly of the pocket or portable type

Info

Publication number: EP0403839A1
Application number: EP19900110178
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nardino Righi
Original assignee: Eurafrica Videomatic Srl Per Ricerche Elettroniche Ed Audiovisive Soc
Current assignee: EURAFRICA VIDEOMATIC S.R.L. SOCIETA PER RICERCHE E
Priority date: 1989-06-23
Filing date: 1990-05-29
Publication date: 1990-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-29
Also published as: ATE111008T1; IT1232648B; DE69012222D1; IT8912530A0; EP0403839B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety razor, particularly of the pocket or portable type, or the like, comprising a handle (1) of hollow construction, similar to a container for shave cream, or the like. The handle (1) is provided at the lower end thereof with a dispensing valve (2), and at the opposite end thereof with a head-carrying assembly (4) which may be rotated alternately to a shaving position extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the handle (1), and to a store or rest position extending parallel to the longitudinal extent of the handle (1), so that in the latter position the head-carrying assembly (4) can be covered with a cover cap (2). According to the invention, in order to enable the use of shave creams or the like exempt from pressurized gases, the handle (1) is made compressible by the force of only one hand. Moreover, the invention provided a particular construction of the razor which enables a considerable reduction of the manufacturing cost.

Description

The invention relates to a pocket or portable safety razor, or the like, constructed substahtially in the form of a pen and comprising a handle constructed as a shave cream container and provided at the lower end thereof with a dispensing valve, while a head-carrying assembly is arranged at the upper end thereof for supporting a shaving head either of the single-blade or the double-blade type, said assembly being rotatable by at least 90° about an axis which is transverse to both the shaving head and the handle, from a shaving position extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle to a rest position extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle, and when in said rest position the shaving head may be covered with a cap.
The invention aims to provide a razor of the type described in the preamble, such as to avoid using shave creams containing pressurized gases, which are harmful to ao the environment. Moreover, the invention aims to provide an embodiment of the safety razor described above, which is very easy and inexpensive from the standpoint of manufacture, thus reducing considerably the costs of manufacture and obtaining an extremely low-cost razor which may also be used as a disposable razor.
The invention achieves this object by providing a razor of the type described in the preamble, the handle of which is constructed as a shave cream container and is resiliently compressible by the force of only one hand.
According to a further characteristic of the invention, the razor is of such a construction whereby the individual parts of the razor are constructed separately and are then assembled together, preferably, in a fit-in manner. More particularly, an advatangeous and preferred embodiment of the razor according to the invention is made of plastics material. However, it may also be made of any other suitable materials, or the individual parts thereof may be made of different materials, with reference to their aesthetical and functional characteristics.
Thanks to these provisions, the handle of the razor according to the invention may contain plain shave cream of any type which does not require pressurized gases for being dispensed. The dispensing of shave cream is effected by compressing the handle, by the force of only one hand, as with usual shave cream tubes. Due to the inherent resiliency of the material constituting the handle, upon release of the compressing force, the handle automatically returns to its original shape.
Moreover, the fact of not requiring the use of shave soaps containing a pressurized gas, the so-called shave lathers, permits the razor according to the invention to be simplified considerably in that it needs no structural parts containing a pressurized gas.
The separate manufacture of the individual parts constituting the razor according to the invention is simpler and more economical than a simultaneous unitary construction of said parts, and specifically the fact of constructing said parts so as to be snappingly engageable with each other simplifies the assembling thereof, thus minimizing the manufacture costs.
Specifically, a separate construction is effected of the handle and the head-carrying assembly which, in turn, is compiised of two discrete parts which can be snappingly assembled with each other with a fit-in engagement. Moreover, the dispensing nozzle is also made separately from an associated lower cap which is designed to be mounted with a fit-in engagement at the lower end of the handle, while said covering cap for the shaving head is also constructed separately from a clip to be mounted snappingly thereon with a fit-in engagement.
The other characteristics which further improve the razor according to this invention and which are the subject of the sub-claims, and the advantages resulting therefrom will appear with more details in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, shown as a non-limiting example in the accompaying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the razor according to the invention, respectively, with the covering cap and without the covering cap and with the head-carrying assembly in the shaving position;
Figures 3 and 4 show constructional details of the covering cap and associated clip;
Figures 5 and 6 each show a longitudinal sectional view of the razor of Figures 1 and 2, at the region of the upper end and at the region of the lower end thereof, respectively;
Figures 7 to 11 show constructional details of the head-carrying assembly.

With reference to the Figures, the razor according to the invention, specifically, has an outer appearance which is substantially similar to that of a big pen and is of parallelepipedal shape. The body of the razor is formed of a handle 1 which, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is of hollow, reservoir-like construction and is used as a container for any shave cream with no pressurized gas. In order to permit the dispensing of the shave cream, the handle 1 is made resiliently compressible by the force of only one hand. The upper end of the handle 1, which mounts the head-carrying assembly 4, may be covered together with said head-carrying assembly 4 by a covering cap 2, while at the lower end of the handle 1 there is provided a dispensing nozzle 3 which, as described below, is also used as a valve shutter.
As appearing from the following detailed description of the head-carrying assembly 4 and as appearing from Figures 10 and 11, the head 5 may be rotated by at least 90° from a shaving position wherein the head is disposed transversely of the longitudinal direction of the handle 1 (Figures 2 and 10) to a rest position wherein the head 5 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle 1 (Figures 5 and 11), thus permitting the covering cap 2 to be impaled thereon.
To enable the razor according to the invention to be manufactured easily and inexpensively, said razor is of such a construction whereby the individual parts thereof are manufactured separately and are assembled together successively, preferably, with a fit-in engagement.
The covering cap 2 is provided with a clip 6 which is manufactured separately therefrom, means being provided to fit-in said clip 6 into the cap 2. Specifically, said fit-in means comprises an undercut groove 102 at the upper end of the cap 2, wherein a T-shaped projection 106 of the clip 6 is fitted-in, said projection being suitably provided with a ratchet formation at the side edges thereof. Said groove 102 terminates slightly below the upper closed end of the cap 2 whereby, in the assembled condition, the upper end of the clip 6 is substantially flush with the upper end of the cap 2. To enable air to circulate somehow within the cap 2, the upper end of the cap 2 is provided with suitable aeration slits 202.
As shown in Figure 5, the cap 2 is snappingly engageable on the upper end of the handle 1 in that it is provided, in proximity of its open end, with fit-in projections 302, which are preferably beveled at their side edges, and which co-operate with corresponding grooves 7 of the handle 1. The head-carrying member 4 is also snappingly assembled with the handle 1 in a removable manner. For this purpose, the handle 1 comprises a pin 101 provided with a peripheral groove 8 of V-shaped section, and a hollow supporting stem 9 of the head carrying assembly 4 is impaled on 'said pin 101. The supporting stem 9 is provided with fit-in projections 109 designed to co-operate with said peripheral groove 8 of the pin 101.
Specifically, the pin 101 is in the shape of a parallelepiped of comparatively little thickness and is offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal central plane of the handle 1, which is parallel to the plane whereon the shaving head 5 is rotated, thus permitting it to be covered by the cap 2 in the rest condition thereof.
The dispensing nozzle 3 provided at the lower end of the hollow handle 1 is angularly movable about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle 1, within an accommodation recess 10 in the closed end side of a cap 11. The lower cap 11 can be snap-fitted on the lower end of the handle 1. The angular displacement of the dispensing nozzle 3 is effected over an angular extent of about 90°, alternately to a retracted position wherein the nozzle 3 is disposed parallelly and substantially flush with the end side of the cap 11, and to a dispensing position wherein the dispensing nozzle 3 is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle 1 and protrudes beyond the end surface of the cap 11. The dispensing nozzle 3 is provided with a central through-hole 103 in the longitudinal extent thereof, and it also serves as a valve member. In the retracted position, the central hole 103 of the dispensing nozzle 3 is disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle 1, while the pivoted end portion of the nozzle 3 sealingly closes a hole 110 in the bottom of the accommodation recess 10 in register with a tubular union 201 of the handle 1. In fact, the pivoted end portion of the nozzle 3 is of substantially cylindrical shape and of such a diameter as to sealingly engage at all times against the bottom of the accommodation recess 10, along at least the portion of its surface co-operating with the hole 110 provided in the bottom of said accommodation recess 10 during its angular displacement either to the dispensing position or retracted position. In the dispensing position, the central hole 103 in the nozzle is in register with the hole 110 in the bottom of the cap 11 and permits the shave cream in the handle 1 to be dispensed. The dispensing nozzle 3 is also constructed separately from the remaining parts of the razor and is mounted snappingly into the cap 11. It is provided at two opposite sides thereof with two pins 203 which, more particularly, are co-axial with the cylindrical part of its pivoted portion. The pins 203 become engaged with corresponding cylindrical seats 12 in the associated sidewalls of the accommodation recess 10. Said seats 12 are opened in the direction of the outer end of the cap 11 through a groove 112 which is slightly constricted with respect to the diameter of the pins 203, whereby thanks to the inherent resiliency of the material said nozzle may be mounted from the exterior into the accommodation recess 10 by snap-fitting the pins 203 into the associated seats 12. Moreover, as from Figure 6, the dispensing nozzle 3 is provided, on its outwardly-directed side when in the retracted position, with a lug 303 which is designed to co-operate as a stop with the outer end of the cap 11 and which, by protruding beyond said outer end of the cap 11 transversely to the handle 1, constitutes a suitable grip for angularly displacing the dispensing nozzle 3 to its dispensing position.
The cap 11 is also constructed as a separate part which may be snap-fitted on the handle 1 and comprises for this purpose at least two wings 111 arranged diametrically opposite to each other around the hole 10 in the bottom of the accommodation recess 10, and directed in the longitudinal direction of the handle 1. The wings 111 are designed to become engaged, by means of their detent-shaped free ends, with an annular shoulder 13 of the tubular union 201 of the handle 1, thus establishing such a locking position whereby the edge of the free end of the tubular union 201 engages sealingly against the bottom of the accommodation recess 10. In order to facilitate the centering of the cap 11 upon fitting it onto the handle 1 and to give a higher strength to the coupling of these two ao portions, as well as to improve the seal between said two portions, an annular extension 211 the diameter of which matches with the inner diameter of the tubular union 201 is provided on the bottom of the accommodation recess 10, so that it may penetrate the tubular union 201 upon mounting the cap 11. Figures 7 to 11 show the particular construction of the head-carrying assembly 4 which, as stated above, is also adapted to be snap-fitted onto the upper end of the handle 1. Moreover, it is formed advantageously of two discrete parts which are suitably snap-engaged with each other, i.e. a supporting stem 9 and a head-carrying bar 14 which are angularly displaceable with respect to each other about an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the supporting stem 9 and head-carrying bar 14. As it can be viewed in the Figures, the head-carrying bar 14 is constructed so that an usual shaving blade may be mounted thereon and dismounted therefrom, and on the opposite side it comprises a hub 15 which is accommodated in a recess 16 formed in the side of the head-carrying stem 9 that is directed towards the shaving head 5 (not shown in the Figures 7 to 11). The hub 15 has a groove 115 to engageably receive an annular edge 17 of a hole in the recess 16. The free end of the hub 15 has a conical bevel to permit the head-carrying bar 14 to be snap-fitted into the supporting stem 9. Moreover, in order to rotate the head-carrying bar without touching the shaving head, the free end of the hub is provided with a grip wing 315 which, when said two parts are assembled, protrudes out of the supporting stem 9 remote from the shaving head 5.
As it can be viewed in Figures 10 and 11, the head-carrying bar 14 may be rotated from a shaving position wherein it is disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the supporting stem 9 and, therefore, as from Figures 2 and 5, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle 1, to a rest position wherein it is disposed parallelly to the longitudinal direction of the supporting stem 9 and handle 1. To enable the head-carrying bar 14 to be locked sufficiently in the shaving position, the hub15 is provided with an integral tooth 215 co-operating with a resilient locking lug 116 integral with the supporting stem 9 on the inner side of the recess 16. In the shaving position of the head-carrying bar 14 (Figure 10) the lug 116 abuts behind the tooth 215 of the hub 15, yielding resiliently upon rotation of the hub from said shaving position to said rest position. Advantageously, the free end of the lug 116 is fo rounded outline.
The advantages of the safety razor according to the invention appear from the Figures and from the preceding description, and they reside first of all in the fact that the handle, constructed in the form of a container, can be compressed by the force of only one hand, thus permitting the use of shave creams containing no pressurized gas. Secondly, the construction of the razor with separately-manufactured discrete parts which may then be snap-fitted together is extremely advantageous. Thanks to the above, the razor according to the invention has an extremely low manufacturing cost and, therefore, it may even be used as a disposable article, while being of handy and reliable operation.

Claims

1. A portable safety razor, or the like, constructed substantially in the form of a pen and comprising a handle (1) constructed in the form of a conteiner for shave cream and provided with a dispensing valve (3) at the lower end thereof, while its upper end has mounted thereon a head-carrying assembly (4) for holding a single-blade 'or double-blade shaving head (5), said assembly (4) being rotatable through at least 90° about an axis which is transverse to both the shaving-head (5) and the handle (1) from a shaving position extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle (1) to a rest position extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle (1), and when in said rest position the shaving head (5) may be covered by a covering head (2), characterized in that said handle (1) shaped as a shave cream container is constructed so as to be resiliently compressible by the force of only one hand.

2. A razor according to claim 1, characterized in that said head-carrying assembly (14) and dispensing valve (3) are constructed as separate parts which can be snap-fitted on the handle (1).

3. A razor according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting stem (9) is made hollow at the end thereof which is associated with the handle (1), while said handle (1) comprises a corresponding pin (101) designed to be snap-fitted into the supporting stem (9) in that it is provided with a peripheral groove (8) to be engaged by fit-in projections (109) of said supporting stem (9).

4. A razor according to claim 3, characterized in that the head-carrying assembly (4) comprises two discrete members, i.e. a head-carrying bar (14) and a supporting stem (9), which are snappingly engageable with each other, the head-carrying bar (14) being specifically provided with a central hub (15) which can be snappingly inserted into a recess (16) in the supporting stem (9), thanks to a peripheral groove (115) in the hub (15) which becomes engaged with the annular edge (17) of a hole in said recess (16).

5. A razor according to claim 4, characterized in that said head-carrying bar (14) and the supporting stem (9) are provided with co-operating locking means (215,116) granting a lock in their relative positioning corresponding to the shaving position of the head-carrying bar (14), end in that said locking means comprises, preferably, a radial tooth (215) and a co-operating resilient lug (116) integral with the recess (16) and protruding inwards therefrom.

6. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end of the hub (15) protruding out of the recess (16) on the side of the stem (9) remote from the shaving head (5) is provided with a grip wing (315).

7. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing valve consists of a dispensing nozzle (3) acting as a valve shutter and is constructed so as to be snap-fitted into a cap (11) which, in turn, may be sealingly snap-fitted onto a tubular union (201) provided at the lower end of the razor.

8. A razor according to claim 7, characterized in that said dispensing nozzle (3) is provided with an axial passageway (103) and is snap-fitted in angularly displaceable manner by means of co-axial pins (203) into an accommodation recess (10) in said cap (11) which is open towards the outer end of said cap, said pins (203) being provided on the opposite sides of said nozzle (3) and becoming engaged in seats (12) formed in the associated sidewalls of the accommodation recess (10), said seats (12) being opened towards the outer end of the cap (11) through a groove (112) which is slightly constricted with respect to the diameter of said seats (12).

9. A razor according to claim 8, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (3) may be angularly displaced alternately to a position wherein it closes a hole (110) formed in the bottom of the accommodation recess (10) and registering with said tubular union (201) of the handle (1) and wherein said nozzle is enclosed within the accommodation recess (10) with its outer side disposed parallel and substantially flush with the outer end of the cap (11), and to a dispensing position wherein the dispensing nozzle (3) is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the handle (1) and its central passageway (103) registers with the hole (110) in the bottom of the accommodation recess (10) and communicates with the tubular union (201) of the handle (1).

10. A razor according to claim 9, characterized in that the pivoted end portion of the dispensing nozzle (3) is constructed of substantially cylindrical shape and of such a diameter as to sealingly engage at all times against the edges of the hole (110) in the bottom of the accommodation recess (10), along at least the portion of its surface intended to co-operate with said hole (110) during its angular displacement to either the closed position and the dispensing position.

11. A razor according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (3) - at the free end thereof and on the side flush with the end surface of the cap (11) in the closed position - is provided with a protruding lug (303) co-operating as a stop shoulder with the associated edge of the cap (11) and which constitutes a grip for rotating said nozzle (3) to the dispensing position.

12. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap (11) comprises two wings (111) extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle (1) at diametrically opposite positions to the hole (110) in the bottom of the accommodation recess (10) for the dispensing nozzle (3), said wings (111) comprising detents at the free ends thereof to co-operate with an annular shoulder (13) of the tubular union (201) of the handle (1).

13. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the assembled condition of the cap (11) on the tubular union (201) of the handle (1), the edge of the free end of said tubular union (201) sealingly engages against the bottom of the accommodation recess (10) for the dispensing nozzle (3), an annular extension (211) being provided on said bottom to surround said hole (110) and to co-axially fit in the tubular union (201).

14. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering cap (2) is provided with aeration slits (202) in its end side.

15. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering cap (2) is provided with a clip (6) which may be snap-fitted thereon, preferably thanks to a rear T-shaped projection (106) of said clap (6) which can be snap-fitted into an undercut groove of the covering cap (2).

16. A razor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made preferably of plastics material and may be used as a disposable article.