US3611568A

US3611568A - Vibratory safety razor

Info

Publication number: US3611568A
Application number: US851665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben H Alexander; Joseph E Koehler; Roger L Perry
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Priority date: 1969-08-20
Filing date: 1969-08-20
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12
Also published as: CA937040A

Abstract

A SAFETY RAZOR INCLUDING A HEAD PORTION IN WHICH THERE IS MOUNTED CUTTING MEANS AND A HANDLE PORTION IN WHICH THERE IS MOUNTED AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, A SHAFT ROTATABLE BY THE MOTOR, AND A WEIGHT ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ON THE FREE END OF THE SHAFT, ROTATION OF THE WEIGHT OPERATING TO CAUSE VIBRATION OF THE HEAT PORTION OF THE RAZOR.

Description

Oct. 12, 1971 B. H. ALEXANDER ET AL VIBRATORY SAFETY RAZOR Filed Aug. :20, 1969 l1\'\'l`/\"l()!\'.\' BEN H. ALEXANDER JOSEPH E. KOEHLER ROGER L, PERRY United States 3,611,568 Patented ct. 1, 1971 U.S. Cl. 30-45 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety razor including a head portion in which there is mounted cutting means and a handle portion in which there is mounted an electric motor, a shaft rotatable by the motor, and a weight eccentrically mounted on the free end of the shaft, rotation of the weight operating to cause vibration of the head portion of the razor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to safety razors and is directed more particularly to a safety razor having means for vibrating the head portion thereof.

Description of the prior art In the use of safety razors, it has been found to be advantageous for the razor blade to be moved generally lengthwise, or in directions having 4vectors lengthwise, of its edge whereby to exercise a slicing motion. Several devices have been provided which include means for moving a razor blade longitudinally within a razor, or for moving razor guard members relative to a stationary blade. Such razors have proven to be rather complex in construction and operation and generally expensive to manufacture. Accordingly, public acceptance of the prior art devices has not been unrestrained.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety razor having relatively simple and inexpensive means for causing the razor blade to exercise a slicing motion while the razor is in use.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a safety razor comprising a head portion having cutting means mounted therein, and a handle portion having an electric motor mounted therein. A rotatable shaft is connected to the motor and extends therefrom. A weight is eccentrically mounted on the free end of the shaft and rotatable by the shaft, the weight being disposed proximate to the head portion of the razor, whereby upon rotation of the shaft and weight, the head portion is caused to vibrate and etfect a slicing motion of the cutting means.

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 device 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 there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is a. front elevational view in part broken away, showing one form of safety razor illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the razor shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III- III of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit of the razor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. l and 2, it will be seen that the illustrative safety razor includes a head portion 2 in which is disposed razor blade means 4, and a handle portion t6 which includes a vibration inducing means to be described below.

Disposed in the handle portion 6 is a battery 8i and an electric motor 10. Extending from the motor t10 in the direction of the head portion 2 of the razor is a rotatable shaft 12 on the free end of which is disposed a weight 14. The weight 14 is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 12, i.e. the center of gravity of the weight is removed from the axis of rotation of the weight. Illustrated in the drawings is a ywheel type weight, mounted such that its center of gravity is removed from the axis of rotation of the shaft 12. Also disposed in the handle portion 6i but separated from the battery 8 by a wall 16 is a switch means 18. In the Wall 16 are mounted three electrically

conductive eyelets

20, 22, and `24. An electrical lead 26 connects the eyelet 20 with the battery 8 and the motor 10. The lead 26 includes a diode 28 which prevents reverse current flow through the switch. An electrical lead 30 connects the eyelet 22 with the battery 8. An electrical lead 32 connects the eyelet 24 with the motor 10.

The switch 18 includes a secondary coil 34 (FIG. 4) which is connected to a pair of

contact plates

36a, 36b (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The switch 18 is mounted for rotative motion and may be rotated by movement of a tab 38, as by a thumb or finger of an operator. Rotation of the switch 18 causes movement of the contact 36a relative to the

eyelets

22 and 24, the contact 36h maintaining engagement with the eyelet 20.

A primary coil 40 (FIG. 4) may be disposed in a base or stand member (not shown) for the purpose of inducting a current in the secondary coil for purposes to be described below.

In operation, the razor is removed from its stand and the tab '38 moved by an operator to rotate switch 18, and thereby the contact 36a to a first position in which the contact 36a engages the

eyelets

22 and 24. In this position, electrical energy from the battery 8' is directed to the motor 10. Energization of the motor 10 causes rotation of the shaft 12 and thereby rotation of the eccentrically mounted or unbalanced weight 14. The eccentricity of the weight mounting i.e. the displacement of the center of gravity of the weight from the axis of rotation of the weight, and the disposition of the weight proximate to the head portion 2 induces vibration of the head portion 2 and therefore the blade 4. Such vibration imparts a slicing motion to the blade 4 whereby to facilitate ease of cutting.

It is to be understood that in describing the movement of the head the term vibration is intended in a broad or general sense, including a rapid movement in various directions, as for example a gyratory motion or other such motions which may not be included in some technical or restrictive interpretations of the term vibration.

After completion of a shaving operation, the tab 38 is switched to a second position in which the contact 36a engages the eyelet 22 only. Such arrangement interrupts the circuit of the motor .10 but, inasmuch as the contact 36h continues engagement with the eyelet 20, operates to maintain a circuit interconnecting the secondary coil 34 and the battery 8. The switch 118, and thereby the secondary coil 34, is then placed in the magnetic iield of the primary coil 40 whereby to charge the battery 8.

Referring to FIG. 3, it Will be seen that the handle portion `6 of the razor includes convergent resilient walls 42 which operate to grip the battery 8 and retain the battery therebetween. In assembling of the handle, a compressive member 44, having projections 416, operates to force the walls 42 toward each other, whereby to iirmly clamp the battery '8 therebetween. The handle portion 6 may be of molded plastic in which case the walls 42 may be molded integrally with the handle 6, as shown in FIG. 3.

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.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Razor means comprising a head portion for mounting cutting means thereon, a handle portion connected to said head portion at one end of said handle portion, an electric motor tixed to said handle portion for inducing movement of said cutting means, said handle portion being adapted to receive a battery and having means for electrically connecting said battery to said motor, said handle portion having as a unitary portion thereof resilient wall means for gripping said battery, and wedge means for urging said resilient wall means into firm engagement with said battery.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said handle portion is of molded plastic and said wall means 4 comprises a pair of convergent resilient walls molded integrally with said handle portion, and said wedge means comprises a member having projections which operate to urge the resilient walls into clamping engagement with said battery disposed therebetween.

3. A safety razor comprising a head portion for mounting cutting means thereon, a handle portion connected to said head portion at a rst end of said handle portion, an electric motor `fixed to said handle portion, a shaft rotatable by said motor and extending from said motor towards said iirst end, said handle portion being adapted to receive a battery and having means for electrically connecting said battery to said motor, clamping means cornprising resilient wall means unitary with said handle portion for retaining said battery, wedge means for urging said resilient Wall means into clamping engagement with said battery, and a weight connected to said shaft and r0- tatable by said shaft, said weight being disposed proximate to said rst end of said handle portion, said Weight being eccentrically mounted whereby upon rotation to induce vibration of said head portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,054,418 9/19361 Bohm 30-45 3,181,974 5/1965 Barbera 136-173 FOREIGN PATENTS 344,639 3/1960I Switzerland 30--Dig. 1

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 136-173