Shaving razor providing enhanced control during shaving
View Patent ↗A shaving razor that improves stability, corresponding user control and offers a closer shave is provided. The shaving razor can include a razor handle configuration that reduces the propensity for the shaving razor to roll in a user's hand and improves the maneuverability of the razor cartridge during shaving. In addition, the shaving razor can include a biasing pivoting member producing a progressively increasing return torque on the razor cartridge that forces the cartridge into flat contact with the skin thus improving glide and shaving closeness.
1. A shaving razor providing enhanced control during shaving, the shaving razor comprising:
a. a cartridge comprising:
1) a cartridge housing having a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and two opposing side edge portions extending from the front edge portion to the rear edge portion;
2) at least one shaving blade disposed between the front edge portion and the rear edge portion;
3) a cutting plane tangent to the rear edge portion and the front edge portion of the cartridge housing with a forward cutting direction toward the front edge portion of the cartridge; and
4) a point of equilibrium intersecting the cutting plane and balancing the forward portion and the rear portion of the cartridge;
and
b. a handle comprising:
1) a forward portion comprising a cartridge mounting structure;
2) a rear portion opposite the forward portion comprising a free end;
3) an elongate central portion disposed between the forward portion and the rear portion, the elongate central portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, wherein a projection of the longitudinal axis intersects the cutting plane at a point of intersection, wherein the point of intersection leads the point of equilibrium in the cutting direction by a distance of less than 10 mm.
2. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the point of intersection leads the point of equilibrium in the cutting direction by a distance of less than 5 mm.
3. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the forward portion of the handle is offset forming an L-shaped portion wherein the point of intersection of the projection of the longitudinal axis is forward of the cartridge in the cutting direction.
4. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the forward portion of the handle is offset forming a Z-shaped portion.
5. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the razor cartridge includes a guard disposed on the front edge portion and a cap disposed on the rear edge portion and two or more blades with parallel cutting edges mounted therebetween.
6. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the razor cartridge comprises a cartridge pivot axis aligned with the point of equilibrium providing a balanced axis of rotation of the cartridge about the handle.
7. A shaving razor providing enhanced stability and control during shaving, the shaving razor comprising:
a. a cartridge comprising:
1) a cartridge housing having a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and two opposing side edge portions extending from the front edge portion to the rear edge portion;
2) a shaving blade disposed between the front edge portion and the rear edge portion;
3) a cutting plane tangent to the rear edge portion and the front edge portion of the cartridge housing with a forward cutting direction toward the front edge portion of the cartridge; and
4) a point of equilibrium intersecting the cutting plane and balancing the forward portion and the rear portion of the cartridge;
and
b. a handle comprising:
1) a forward portion comprising a cartridge mounting structure;
2) a rear portion opposite the forward portion comprising a free end;
3) an elongate central portion disposed between the forward portion and the rear portion, the elongate central portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, wherein a projection of the longitudinal axis intersects the cutting plane at a point of intersection, wherein the point of intersection leads the point of equilibrium in the cutting direction by a distance of less than 10 mm;
4) a handle load point on the upper surface of the elongate central portion proximate the forward portion; and
5) a handle roll axis between the point of equilibrium and the free end of the rear portion; wherein the handle roll axis intersects or is less than 5 mm below the handle load point.
8. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle is parallel to the handle roll axis.
9. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle coincides with the handle roll axis.
10. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the point of intersection leads the point of equilibrium in the cutting direction by a distance of less than 5 mm.
11. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the razor cartridge comprises a cartridge pivot axis aligned with the point of equilibrium providing a balanced axis of rotation of the cartridge about the handle.
12. The shaving razor of claim 11 wherein the shaving blade comprises a cutting edge wherein the cartridge pivot axis is forward of the cutting edge.
13. The shaving razor of claim 11 wherein the shaving blade comprises a cutting edge wherein the cartridge pivot axis is aligned with the cutting edge.
14. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the handle roll axis intersects the handle load point.
15. The shaving razor of claim 7 wherein the handle roll axis is above the handle load point.
16. The shaving razor of claim 15 further comprising a clearance distance between the lower surface of a forward portion of the elongate central portion of the handle and the cutting plane ranging between 5 mm and 15 mm when the cartridge is resting against skin in a neutral position.