Title of Invention	"SHAVING BLADE UNIT"
Abstract	A shaving blade unit including a housing (18), at least one elongated blade (20) having a cutting edge on the housing, an elongated guard (22) on the housing in front of the blade, and an elongated cap on the housing behind the blade. The guard (22) includes an elongated guard strip (42) for delivering a shaving aid and elastomeric guard fins (28, 40) extending laterally beyond the ends of the guard strip. The guard can also include elastomeric material including a series of depressions (36). The cap can also include elastomeric cap fins (48, 50) on both sides of the cap strip (44) extending laterally beyond the ends of the cap strip

Title of Invention

"SHAVING BLADE UNIT"

Abstract

A shaving blade unit including a housing (18), at least one elongated blade (20) having a cutting edge on the housing, an elongated guard (22) on the housing in front of the blade, and an elongated cap on the housing behind the blade. The guard (22) includes an elongated guard strip (42) for delivering a shaving aid and elastomeric guard fins (28, 40) extending laterally beyond the ends of the guard strip. The guard can also include elastomeric material including a series of depressions (36). The cap can also include elastomeric cap fins (48, 50) on both sides of the cap strip (44) extending laterally beyond the ends of the cap strip

Full Text	The invention relates to shaving razors, and blade units therefore and methods of manufacture. Shaving razors often include a plurality of blades that are secured in a desired position in a plastic housing. The housing is often provided with a guard with fins or other skin engaging structures made of elastomeric material in front of the blades, and a cap on which the skin can slide behind the blades. A shaving aid (e.g., a lubricant agent dispensing mechanism) can be incorporated into the cap and, in some cases, (he guard. The blades can be stationary or movable, and the housing can be fixed to a handle or movably mounted on the handle, to, e.g., assist in following the contours of the skin during shaving. Examples of some different types of shaving razors are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,903,979,6,185,823, and 6,553,641. In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit including a housing, at least one elongated blade having a cutting edge on the housing, an elongated guard on the housing in front of the blade, and an elongated cap on the housing behind the blade. The guard includes an elongated guard strip for delivering a shaving aid and elastomeric guard fins extending laterally beyond the ends of the guard strip. In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit including a housing, at least one elongated blade, an elongated guard, and an elongated cap where the guard includes an elongated guard strip for delivering a shaving aid and an elastomeric material including a series of depressions. In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit including a housing, at least one elongated blade, an elongated guard, and an elongated cap, where the cap includes an elongated cap strip for delivering a shaving aid and elastomeric cap fins on both sides of the cap strip extending laterally beyond the ends of the cap strip. Particular embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The series of depressions in the guard can be are arranged in a row that is parallel to the elongated guard strip, and the row can be in front of and or behind the guard strip. Preferably there are two rows, one in front and one behind. The guard fins can be curved. The cap fins can "be curved. The blade unit can be a diposable cartridge including handle connection structure. In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving razor including a shaving blade unit as already described and a handle attached thereto. Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following advantages. Fins on the side of shaving aid strips provides for skin management in gripping the sides more than the middle, both at the guard and the cap. The depressions can receive and gradually deliver shaving aid material delivered by the shaving aid strips. The central position for the lubricating strip on the guard can provide improved shaving performance. Other advantages and features of fee invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and from the claims. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shaving blade unit Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit Referring to the Figs. 1-6, shaving blade unit 10 includes a base member 12, for connection to handle 14, and shaving blade assembly 16, which is pivotally connected to base member 12. Shaving blade assembly 16 includes plastic housing 18 (most visible in Fig. 5) that carries three blades 20, guard 22, and cap components 24, and formed, sheet metal clip 26 that holds blades 20 in place is secured to housing 18 around its periphery by a snap-fit connection. Clip 26 has opening 28 through which bkdes 20, guard 22 and cap components 26 are exposed. Guard 22 includes an elastomeric member 30 in which two rows 32,34 of circular depressions 36 are formed at the front and the back and curved fins 38,40 are formed on the two sides, extending beyond the ends of elongated central shaving aid strip 42 (providing lubrication), which is secured within elastomeric portion 30. Depressions 36 are cylindrical and have a diameter of 0.8 mm, a depth of 0.62 mm and are spaced from each other by a distance of 1.05 mm. Depressions 36 in front row 32 are offset from depressions 36 in rear row 34. Shaving aid strip 42 bulges upward from the surface of elastomeric member 30. There are four fins 38, and four fins 40; the fins in front extend slightly in front of the ends of the lubrication strip 42, and each fin behind the front fin, begins from a slightly outward position. The outward ends of the fins 38,40 curve backward, approximating the curve of opening 28 in clip 26. The fins tend to grab the user's skin more at the side than in the middle. Cap components 26 include front elongated shaving aid strip 44, rear elongated shaving aid strip 46, and elastomeric fins 48,50 extending beyond the ends of elongated strip 46. Fins 48,50 all begin at a position just beyond the ends of lubrication strip 46, and the outer ends tend to curve forward, approximating the curve of opening 28 in clip 26. Fins 48,50 protect the user's skin from the edge of clip 28 in the corner region and also manage skin in grabbing it at the side but not in the middle. Also, if a user places the cartridge face down on a surface, fins 48, 50 raise the shaving aid strips 44,46 above a surface to permit them to dry and avoid sticking to the surface. The use of two shaving aid strips permits one provide two different types of shaving aids (e.g., different lubricants or a lubricant and another aid such as a whisker softener or medicinal agent), providing flexibility in controlling shaving performance. Shaving aid strips 42,44,46 can be made of polyethylene oxide and polystyrene, as described, e.g., in U.S. Patent No. 4,170,821, which is hereby incorporated by reference. We Claim: 1. A shaving blade unit (10) comprising: a housing (18), at least one elongated blade (20) having a cutting edge on said housing (18), an elongated guard (22) on said housing (18) in front of said blade (20) that is parallel to said cutting edge, and an elongated cap (24) on said housing (18) behind said blade (20) and parallel to said cutting edge, said cap (24) having a first elongated cap strip (46) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge characterized by curved elastomeric cap fins (48, 50) on both sides of said cap strip (46) extend laterally beyond said ends. 2. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guard (22) has an elastomeric material having a series of depressions (36). 3. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22). 4. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located in front of said elongated guard strip (22). 5. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located behind said elongated guard strip (22). 6. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located in front of said elongated guard strip (22) and in a second row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located behind said elongated guard strip (22). 7. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guard fins are curved. 8. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blade unit (10) is a disposable cartridge having a handle connection structure (12). 9. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap (24) has a second elongated cap strip (44) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge. 10. A shaving razor comprising the shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, and a handle (14) attached thereto. 11. The shaving blade unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guard (22) has an elongated guard strip (42) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge. 12. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein said guard (22) has an elastomeric material having a series of depressions. 13. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said guard strip (42) has guard strip ends, and said guard (22) has elastomeric guard fins (38, 40) extending laterally beyond said guard strip ends. 14. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guard fins (38, 40) are curved.

Full Text

The invention relates to shaving razors, and blade units therefore and
methods of manufacture.
Shaving razors often include a plurality of blades that are secured in a
desired position in a plastic housing. The housing is often provided with a guard with
fins or other skin engaging structures made of elastomeric material in front of the blades,
and a cap on which the skin can slide behind the blades. A shaving aid (e.g., a lubricant
agent dispensing mechanism) can be incorporated into the cap and, in some cases, (he
guard. The blades can be stationary or movable, and the housing can be fixed to a handle
or movably mounted on the handle, to, e.g., assist in following the contours of the skin
during shaving.
Examples of some different types of shaving razors are described in U.S.
Patents Nos. 5,903,979,6,185,823, and 6,553,641.
In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit
including a housing, at least one elongated blade having a cutting edge on the housing, an
elongated guard on the housing in front of the blade, and an elongated cap on the housing
behind the blade. The guard includes an elongated guard strip for delivering a shaving
aid and elastomeric guard fins extending laterally beyond the ends of the guard strip.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit
including a housing, at least one elongated blade, an elongated guard, and an elongated
cap where the guard includes an elongated guard strip for delivering a shaving aid and an
elastomeric material including a series of depressions.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving blade unit
including a housing, at least one elongated blade, an elongated guard, and an elongated
cap, where the cap includes an elongated cap strip for delivering a shaving aid and
elastomeric cap fins on both sides of the cap strip extending laterally beyond the ends of
the cap strip.
Particular embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the
following features. The series of depressions in the guard can be are arranged in a row
that is parallel to the elongated guard strip, and the row can be in front of and or behind
the guard strip. Preferably there are two rows, one in front and one behind. The guard
fins can be curved. The cap fins can "be curved. The blade unit can be a diposable
cartridge including handle connection structure.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving razor
including a shaving blade unit as already described and a handle attached thereto.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following
advantages. Fins on the side of shaving aid strips provides for skin management in
gripping the sides more than the middle, both at the guard and the cap. The depressions
can receive and gradually deliver shaving aid material delivered by the shaving aid strips.
The central position for the lubricating strip on the guard can provide improved shaving
performance.
Other advantages and features of fee invention will be apparent from the
following description of particular embodiments and from the claims.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shaving blade unit
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit
Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the Fig. 1 shaving blade unit
Referring to the Figs. 1-6, shaving blade unit 10 includes a base member
12, for connection to handle 14, and shaving blade assembly 16, which is pivotally
connected to base member 12. Shaving blade assembly 16 includes plastic housing 18
(most visible in Fig. 5) that carries three blades 20, guard 22, and cap components 24, and
formed, sheet metal clip 26 that holds blades 20 in place is secured to housing 18 around
its periphery by a snap-fit connection. Clip 26 has opening 28 through which bkdes 20,
guard 22 and cap components 26 are exposed.
Guard 22 includes an elastomeric member 30 in which two rows 32,34 of
circular depressions 36 are formed at the front and the back and curved fins 38,40 are
formed on the two sides, extending beyond the ends of elongated central shaving aid strip
42 (providing lubrication), which is secured within elastomeric portion 30. Depressions
36 are cylindrical and have a diameter of 0.8 mm, a depth of 0.62 mm and are spaced
from each other by a distance of 1.05 mm. Depressions 36 in front row 32 are offset from
depressions 36 in rear row 34. Shaving aid strip 42 bulges upward from the surface of
elastomeric member 30. There are four fins 38, and four fins 40; the fins in front extend
slightly in front of the ends of the lubrication strip 42, and each fin behind the front fin,
begins from a slightly outward position. The outward ends of the fins 38,40 curve
backward, approximating the curve of opening 28 in clip 26. The fins tend to grab the
user's skin more at the side than in the middle.
Cap components 26 include front elongated shaving aid strip 44, rear
elongated shaving aid strip 46, and elastomeric fins 48,50 extending beyond the ends of
elongated strip 46. Fins 48,50 all begin at a position just beyond the ends of lubrication
strip 46, and the outer ends tend to curve forward, approximating the curve of opening 28
in clip 26. Fins 48,50 protect the user's skin from the edge of clip 28 in the corner region
and also manage skin in grabbing it at the side but not in the middle. Also, if a user
places the cartridge face down on a surface, fins 48, 50 raise the shaving aid strips 44,46
above a surface to permit them to dry and avoid sticking to the surface. The use of two
shaving aid strips permits one provide two different types of shaving aids (e.g., different
lubricants or a lubricant and another aid such as a whisker softener or medicinal agent),
providing flexibility in controlling shaving performance.
Shaving aid strips 42,44,46 can be made of polyethylene oxide and
polystyrene, as described, e.g., in U.S. Patent No. 4,170,821, which is hereby
incorporated by reference.

We Claim:
1. A shaving blade unit (10) comprising:
a housing (18),
at least one elongated blade (20) having a cutting edge on said housing (18),
an elongated guard (22) on said housing (18) in front of said blade (20) that is parallel to said cutting edge,
and an elongated cap (24) on said housing (18) behind said blade (20) and parallel to said cutting edge,
said cap (24) having a first elongated cap strip (46) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge characterized by curved elastomeric cap fins (48, 50) on both sides of said cap strip (46) extend laterally beyond said ends.
2. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guard (22) has an elastomeric material having a series of depressions (36).
3. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22).
4. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located in front of said elongated guard strip (22).
5. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located behind said elongated guard strip (22).
6. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said series of depressions (36) are arranged in a first row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located in front of said elongated guard strip (22) and in a second row that is parallel to said elongated guard strip (22) and located behind said elongated guard strip (22).

7. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guard fins are curved.
8. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blade unit (10) is a disposable cartridge having a handle connection structure (12).
9. The blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap (24) has a second elongated cap strip (44) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge.
10. A shaving razor comprising the shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 1,
and a handle (14) attached thereto.
11. The shaving blade unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guard (22) has an elongated guard strip (42) for delivering a shaving aid parallel to said cutting edge.
12. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein said guard (22) has an elastomeric material having a series of depressions.
13. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said guard strip (42) has guard strip ends, and said guard (22) has elastomeric guard fins (38, 40) extending laterally beyond said guard strip ends.
14. The shaving blade unit (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guard fins (38, 40) are curved.

Documents:

5033-delnp-2006-abstract.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-Claims-(11-01-2013).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-claims.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-Correspondence Others-(11-01-2013).pdf

5033-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(03-08-2009).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-Correspondence-Others-(04-10-2012).pdf

5033-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(30-04-2010).pdf

5033-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(31-05-2010).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-correspondence-others-1.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-correspondence-others.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-Description (Complete)-(11-01-2013).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-drawings.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-form-1.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-form-18.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-form-2.pdf

5033-DELNP-2006-Form-26-(03-08-2009).pdf

5033-DELNP-2006-Form-3-(03-08-2009).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-form-3.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-form-5.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-GPA-(11-01-2013).pdf

5033-delnp-2006-pct-210.pdf

5033-delnp-2006-Petititon-137-(11-01-2013).pdf

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Patent Number

255816

Indian Patent Application Number

5033/DELNP/2006

PG Journal Number

13/2013

Publication Date

29-Mar-2013

Grant Date

25-Mar-2013

Date of Filing

31-Aug-2006

Name of Patentee

THE GILLETTE COMPANY

Applicant Address

PRUDENTIAL TOWER BUILDING, BOSTON, MA 02199 (US)

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	PRUDDEN, JOHN	43 BELCHER STREET, ESSEX, MA 01929 (US)
2	RAWLE, STEPHEN	WILLOW TREE COTTAGE, WESTON, NEWBURY BERKSHIRE RG20 8JS (GB)
3	STEWART, ANNE	9 WOODVIEW ROAD, PANGBOURNE, READING BERKSHIRE RG8 7JN (GB)
4	NICOLL, ROY	52 REYNARDS CLOSE, WINNERSH, WORKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE RG41 5NU (GB)

PCT International Classification Number

B26B 21/44

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US2005/006000

PCT International Filing date

2005-02-24

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10/787,289	2004-02-26	U.S.A.