Apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge

• US 6,557,265 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Coffin, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US10/187,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 30/47, 305/26, 305/27, 305/32, 305/33, 30/50, 30/57
• US Class Current: 30/532
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/225 the changeable unit being resiliently mounted on the handle

Abstract

In an apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge, a handle which includes an interior area defined by a housing section is provided. A cartridge retainer is at least partially positioned in the interior area and includes a substantially rigid web positioned within the interior area and pivotally coupled to the housing section. A pair of retaining arms are each spaced apart from the other and projecting in generally the same direction from the web. Each retaining arm includes a portion projecting outwardly from the housing section terminating in the cartridge engaging end for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge. A plastic hinge is integral with and extends between the pair of retaining arms so that upon exertion of a force thereon, in response to the disposable razor cartridge being pressed into a user'"'"'s skin, the web section pivots within the housing section of the plastic hinge thereby forcing the retaining arms to move relative to each other and the disposable razor cartridge to pivot and follow the contours of a user'"'"'s skin. Upon removal of the force, the plastic hinge provides the restoring moment to return the web and thereby the disposable razor cartridge to a neutral position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge comprising:

a razor handle, a portion of which includes an interior area defined by a housing;

a cartridge retainer at least partially positioned in said interior area said cartridge retainer including;

a first web section positioned within said interior area and pivotably coupled to said housing;

a second web section positioned away from said first web section and rotatably coupled to said housing;

a pair of retaining arms projecting outwardly from said housing, each defining a cartridge engaging end;

each of said retaining arms being coupled to said first web section by a first pair of plastic hinges each interposed between said first web section and one of said retaining arms and by a second pair of plastic hinges each interposed between said second web section and one of said retaining arms.

2. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

a manual actuator coupled to said cartridge retainer and movable between cartridge retaining positions and a cartridge releasing position to allow a user to engage or disengage said disposable razor cartridge.

3. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 2 wherein said manual actuator and said cartridge retainer are formed from a single piece.

4. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 3 wherein said actuator and said cartridge retainer are formed from a polymeric material.

5. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 2 wherein said cartridge retainer is made from a first material and said actuator is made from a second material.

6. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 5 wherein said first and second materials are each polymeric.

7. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 1, wherein said first web section is triangular and defines a pair of opposing apexes, one of said first pair of plastic hinges extending from each of said apexes.

8. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 1, wherein:

said second web section defines a pair of first pivot axles extending outwardly therefrom and approximately coaxial with one another; and

wherein;

said housing defines a pair of opposing slots each adapted to slidingly receive one of said pivot axles.

9. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 8, further comprising:

a manual actuator including a pair of actuating members each extending from one of said pivot axles and having a portion that extends through said housing;

said actuating members being coupled to a finger pad adjacent to said handle to allow a user to manipulate said actuator between cartridge retaining positions and a cartridge releasing position.

10. An apparatus for releasably retaining a disposable razor cartridge as defined by claim 1, wherein said cartridge engaging ends of said arms each define a cradle adapted to engage a complementarily shaped portion of said disposable razor cartridge, thereby releasably retaining said razor cartridge on said handle.