IP Library Granted Patent US 12691600
Granted Patent B2
US 12691600 · App. 18/591,794 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Modular personal care implement

Inventors: Viktor Kraft (Wiesbaden, DE); Rory Frederick Wellington McGarry (Boston, MA); Brian Patrick Watson (Marshfield, MA); Gerald Goerich (Weiterstadt, DE); Nicolas Götz (Ober-Ramstadt, DE); Sven Mueller (Kronberg im Taunus, DE)
Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
B26B21/521A46B15/0079B26B21/222A46B2200/1066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691600
App. No.
18/591,794
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular personal care implement including a surface treatment head having a first end with an applicator and a second end including an extension; an end interconnector; and a sleeve positioned between the surface treatment head and the end interconnector, in which the extension extends through the sleeve and is received in the end interconnector such that the surface treatment head is releasably attached to the end interconnector. Also provided are a method of providing a modular personal care implement and a kit including a modular personal care implement.

Claims (33)

1 . A modular personal care implement comprising:

a surface treatment head having a first end with an applicator and a second end comprising an extension;

an end interconnector; and

a sleeve positioned between the surface treatment head and the end interconnector,

wherein the extension extends through the sleeve and is received in the end interconnector such that the surface treatment head is releasably attached to the end interconnector and wherein the sleeve comprises a first cross-sectional shape and at least a portion of the end interconnector comprises a second cross-sectional shape that is different from the first cross-sectional shape.

2 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of the extension engages a portion of an inner surface of the end interconnector to form one of a mechanical connection or a magnetic connection that releasably attaches the surface treatment head to the end interconnector.

3 . The modular personal care implement of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is held in position between the surface treatment head and the end interconnector by engagement between the portion of the outer surface of the extension and the portion of the inner surface of the end interconnector.

4 . The modular personal care implement of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical connection comprises a ball-snap connection, and wherein:

the portion of the outer surface of the extension comprises a spring-loaded ball;

the portion of the inner surface of the end interconnector comprises a recess; and

the extension extends through the sleeve and is received in the end interconnector such that the spring-loaded ball engages the recess.

5 . The modular personal care implement of claim 4 , wherein the extension comprises a planar surface and a curved surface opposite the planar surface, the planar surface comprising a cavity that receives the spring-loaded ball and a spring.

6 . The modular personal care implement of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical connection comprises a threaded connection.

7 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first material and the end interconnector comprises a second material that is different from the first material.

8 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sleeve comprises a plurality of gripping protrusions and an outer surface of the end interconnector is smooth.

9 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment head comprises a shaving razor cartridge and the applicator comprises at least one blade.

10 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment head comprises a brush head and the applicator comprises a plurality of bristles.

11 . The modular personal care implement of claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment head further comprises a release mechanism positioned between the first and second end of the surface treatment head, the release mechanism comprising an actuator button configured to eject a portion of the surface treatment head comprising the applicator.

12 . A method of providing a modular personal care implement, the method comprising:

providing one or more surface treatment heads each having a first end with an applicator and a second end comprising an extension;

providing a sleeve having a first cross-sectional shape;

providing an end interconnector having second cross-sectional shape that is different from the first cross-sectional shape;

releasably attaching one surface treatment head of the one or more surface treatment heads to the end interconnector such that (i) the sleeve is positioned between the one surface treatment head and the end interconnector, and (ii) the surface treatment head is releasably attached to the end interconnector.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one surface treatment head comprises a first applicator, the method further comprising:

removing the one surface treatment head from the end interconnector;

selecting a second surface treatment head comprising a second applicator; and

releasably attaching the second surface treatment head to the end interconnector such that (i) the sleeve is positioned between the second surface treatment head and the end interconnector, and (ii) the second surface treatment head is releasably attached to the end interconnector.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein releasably attaching the one surface treatment head of the one or more surface treatment heads to the end interconnector comprises engaging a portion of an outer surface of the extension with a portion of an inner surface of the end interconnector to form one of a mechanical connection or a magnetic connection, wherein the sleeve is held in position between the one surface treatment head and the end interconnector by engagement between the portion of the outer surface of the extension and the portion of the inner surface of the end interconnector.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical connection comprises a ball-snap connection, and wherein:

the portion of the outer surface of the extension comprises a spring-loaded ball;

the portion of the inner surface of the end interconnector comprises a recess; and the extension extends through the sleeve and is received in the end interconnector such that the spring-loaded ball engages the recess.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more surface treatment heads each further comprise a release mechanism positioned between the first and second end of the surface treatment head, the method further comprising:

actuating the release mechanism to eject a portion of the one surface treatment head comprising the applicator.