Razor

Abstract

A compostable razor 1 having a handle 2 with a body 3 and a head 4 connected to an end of the body. There are one or more razor blades (Figure 3 - 9) secured to the head using a securing part 10. The

Description

FIELD The invention relates to a multi-use, compostable razor. BACKGROUND Two types of razors currently generate large volumes of landfill waste: disposable razors and system razors. Disposable razors are generally designed to be used a small number of times before being disposed of, typically by sending to landfill, once the blade(s) becomes worn. System razors are designed for longer term use and have a replaceable razor head. System razors generally have a body with a detachable head which contains the razor blade(s) and are designed such that the head containing the razor blade(s) can be replaced when the old blade(s) becomes worn. System razors generate landfill waste because the head of the razor needs to be replaced to replace the razor blade(s). Studies have shown that the body of system razors are also frequently disposed of, for example, due to build up of dirt. Both disposable and system razors are currently manufactured from plastics. Plastic materials degrade into plastic toxins which are harmful to the environment and take an average of 400 years to decompose. The manufacture of plastics also adds to the greenhouse gas effect through the production of carbon dioxide. Disposable and system razors are manufactured in a number of components parts, which then require assembly. Assembly of component parts in this way can be time and energy intensive and require complex machinery to engineer and assemble. Furthermore, the use of component parts can lead to a lack of hygiene because dirt and microbes can accumulate in the gaps between components. Furthermore, with each additional component part, there are more parts and gaps / joins in which dirt can accumulate. Often, especially with disposable razors, the component parts that are necessary to allow the flow of water through the head of the razor to facilitate the removal of dirt, are missing making the razor difficult to clean and shortening their usable life. The present disclosure seeks to alleviate the problems and / or address the difficulties associated with the prior art by providing a razor which is suitable for multiple uses and is compostable once disposed of. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a multi-use compostable razor comprising or consisting of: a handle (2) having: a body (3); and a head (4) connected to an end of the body (3); and one or more razor blades (9) secured to the head (4) using a securing part (10). Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the handle (2) and securing part (10) comprise or consist of a compostable material. Advantageously, having a handle and securing part comprising or consisting of a compostable material means that the handle and securing part will compost and therefore will not contribute to plastic waste. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the handle (2) and securing part (10) comprise a bio-polymer. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the head (4) and the body (3) are integrally formed. Advantageously, having a head and body which are integrally formed improves the efficiency of the manufacturing process and reduces the time needed to assemble the razor. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the body (3) is substantially rectangular. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the body (3) is substantially hollow. Advantageously, a hollow body reduces the amount of material used in manufacturing and therefore reduces the environmental impact of the razor. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the body (3) comprises four walls. Advantageously, a body comprising four walls reduces the amount of material used in manufacturing and therefore reduces the environmental impact of the razor. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the four walls are a top wall (5), a back wall (8) and two side walls (6,7). Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), having two or three razor blades (9). Advantageously, a greater number of blades may increase the efficiency of the shave. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the one or more razor blades (9) comprise or consist Japanese steel. Advantageously, a blade comprising or consisting Japanese steel is strong and resistant to rusting. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the securing part (10) is attached to the head (4) using one or more attaching arms (11). Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the one or more attaching arms (11) are comprised of a compostable material. Advantageously, this means that the attaching arms will compost and therefore will not contribute to plastic waste. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the one or more attaching arms (11) are integrally formed with the head (4). Advantageously, this improves the efficiency of the manufacturing process and reduces the time needed to assemble the razor. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the securing part (10) is attached to the head (4) using heat press. Alternatively, the securing part may be attached using, for example, ultrasonic welding or any other suitable means. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the head (4) comprises a channel connecting a back side (12) to a front side (13) of the head (4). Specifically, there may be one or more channels which create a cavity within the head, from the back side to the front side. Advantageously, this improves the cleanliness of the razor by increasing water flow through the compostable razor and removing build-up of dirt and hair. Optionally, there is disclosed a compostable razor (1), wherein the channel extends across substantially the whole of a width of the head (4). Features from one or more aspects or any optional feature thereof may be combined together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure may be carried out in various ways and examples of the disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a top view of a compostable razor according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of a compostable razor according to the present invention. Figure 3 shows an underside view of a compostable razor according to the present invention. Figure 4 shows a front view of a compostable razor according to the present invention. Figure 5 shows a rear underside view of a compostable razor according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of an example of the compostable razor will now be given. Figure 1 illustrates a compostable razor 1. Compostable means that the product can degrade into nontoxic, natural elements in a compost. The razor is therefore also bio-degradable. The razor has a handle 2. The handle 2 comprises a body 3 and a head 4 connected to an end of the body 3. The handle 2 is made from a compostable material. A compostable material may, for example, comprise waste wood pulp, pine oil and clay. Such a material may, for example, be Sulapac luxe flex manufactured by Sulapac®. The handle may alternatively be made from any other suitable compostable or bio material. The handle may further comprise an amount of polymer. The addition of a part of polymer may help stabilise the compostable material. The polymer may be biodegradable. For example, the polymer may be biodegradable biopolymers from plant sources or microbes. It is envisaged that the body 3 will be grasped by a user in use. The body 3 is substantially cuboid in shape, and may have curved edges i.e., may be a rounded cuboid. The body 3 may comprise a substantially straight section, which connects to a curved section. The straight section and curved section may be integrally formed. This may improve the ergonomics of the handle. For example, the end of the body 3 that connects to the head 4 may be slightly curved, and a free end of the body 3 may be substantially straight. The body 3 may be approximately 10 cm long, such as approximately 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17 or more cm long, from the free end of the body 3 to the point at which the body connects to the head 4. The width W of the body may be substantially constant along a length of the body 3 from the free end of the body 3 to the point at which the body 3 connects to the head 4. Alternatively, the width may vary along the length of the body such that it has wider and narrower regions. The height H of the handle 2 i.e., the distance from the top of the handle to the bottom of the handle may be substantially constant across the length of the razor i.e., from a free end of the body 2 to the front of the head 4. Alternatively, the height may vary along the length of the body such that it has larger and smaller regions. As is seen in Figure 3, the body 3 may be substantially hollow. Having a hollow centre may help reduce the amount of material used during manufacture, and therefore improve the sustainability of the product and reduce the weight. Hollow means that the centre of the body has been removed. The body 3 may be comprised of four walls i.e., a top wall 5, two side walls 6,7 extending from the top wall, and a back wall 8 (see Figure 2). By only comprising four walls, the product may reduce material usage and therefore improve the sustainability of the product. The back wall 8 may provide additional stability. Alternatively, the body 3 may be comprised of a top wall 5, two side walls 6,7 extending from the top wall and a bottom wall joining the two side walls. The outer surfaces of one or more of the walls 5,6,7,8 may have markings to improve a user's grip. For example, there may be a raised pattern on the outer surface of one or more of the walls 5,6,7,8. Atone end of the body 3 is the head 4 (see Figures 4 and 5). The end of the body 3 may join substantially at the centre of a back side 12 of the head 4, such that the razor is substantially symmetrical about a plane bisecting the body 3 and head 4. The head 4 and the body 3 may be integrally formed i.e., may be formed using a single mould and from a single material. By forming the body 3 and head 4 integrally, the handle 2 may be seamless on a top side i.e., there are no joints or connecting parts needed. A top side of the handle 2 is a side furthest from a user's skin in use. By forming the parts integrally, fewer components are required. Advantageously, this simplifies manufacture and improves cleanliness of the product (i.e., there are fewer joins for dirt to accumulate in). The skilled person will understand that where the word 'connect' has been used in reference to the body 3 and the head 4, that this does not exclude the two regions being integrally formed. The head 4 may comprise a channel that runs from a back side 12 to a front side 13 of the head 4. The channel may run horizontally across substantially the whole of a width of the head 4. The channel allows the passage of fluids (e.g., water) through the razor, thereby improving ease of cleaning. The passage of fluids through the channel also aids in the removal of hair and dirt from the razor. A razor blade 9 is attached to the head 4 using a securing part 10, as seen in Figure 5. The securing part 10 is generally made from the same material as the body 2. This helps to simplify manufacture. The securing part 10 is secured to the head 4 using attaching arms 11, as seen in Figures 3 and 5. The attaching arms may be cylindrical, or may be any other suitable shape. For example, they may be rectangular. The securing part 10 may have receiving parts e.g., holes, to receive the attaching arms 11 which are integrally formed with the head 4. The holes are shaped to receive the corresponding attaching arms. When the attaching arms 11 are secured in the receiving parts of the securing part 10, a heat treatment may be used to secure the attaching arms 11 to the securing part 10 and thereby secure the razor blade 9 in place. Alternatively, the attaching arms 11 may be secured to the securing part 10 with receiving parts on the head 4. There may be one or more attaching arms 11. For example, there may be one, two three, four, five or more attaching arms 11, and a corresponding number of receiving parts. The securing part 10 may be secured permanently such that the razor blade 9 cannot be removed by the user. Alternatively, the securing part 10 may be removably secured to the head 4, such that the razor blade 9 can be removed and replaced by the user. There may be more than one razor blade 9. For example, there may be two, three or four or more razor blades 9. Where the razor comprises two or more razor blades, the razor blades may have parallel edges. The edges may be sharpened to provide an improved cut. The razor blade(s) 9 may be made from any suitable material. For example, the razor blade(s) 9 may be made from high grade steel. For example, the blade may be made from Japanese steel. The head 4 forms a cap over the top of the razor blade 9, and the securing part 10 forms a guard. There is a plane between the cap and the guard i.e., between the two parts of the razor which contact a user's skin. In this way, the razor blade(s) 9 may be fully contained within the head 4, such that when not in use, there is no exposed blade i.e., an edge of the blade does not extend beyond the plane defined between the cap and guard. This both helps to protect the blade from the environment and protect users from the blade. The blade is able to cut the hair on a user's skin even when the tip of the blade is recessed behind the plane through the application of a force by the user through the razor and owing to the flexibility of the user's skin. This increases the safety of the razor. Advantageously, the blade being concealed reduces the likelihood that a child will be attracted to the razor because the shiny blade is not visible. Alternatively, a tip of the razor blade 9 maybe in line with or extend past the plane. The body of the compostable razor may be injection moulded using a single mould. This greatly reduces the complexity of the product and offers significant manufacturing benefits. In this way, the razor may consist of a single body, a razor blade and a securing part. Any additional components would complicate the manufacturing process, and reduce the sustainability of the product. Various modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s) without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. The following is a list of the reference numerals shown in the Figures. 1 compostable razor 2 handle 5 3 body 4 head 5 top wall of body 6 side wall of body 7 side wall of body 10 8 backwall of body 9 razor blade(s) 10 securing part 11 attaching arms 12 back side of the head 15 13 front side of the head

Claims

1. A compostable razor (1), comprising or consisting of:a handle (2) having:a body (3); anda head (4) connected to an end of the body (3); andone or more razor blades (9) secured to the head (4) using a securing part (10).

2. The compostable razor (1) of claim 1, wherein the handle (2) and securing part (10) comprise or consist of a compostable material.

3. The compostable razor (1) of claim 2, wherein the handle (2) and securing part (10) comprise a biopolymer.

4. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the head (4) and the body (3) are integrally formed.

5. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (3) is substantially rectangular.

6. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (3) is substantially hollow.

7. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (3) comprises four walls.

8. The compostable razor (1) according to claim 7, wherein the four walls are a top wall (5), a backwall (8) and two side walls (6,7).

9. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, having two or three razor blades (9).

10. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more razor blades (9) comprise or consist Japanese steel.

11. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing part (10) is attached to the head (4) using one or more attaching arms (11).

12. The compostable razor (1) according to claim 11, wherein the one or more attaching arms (11) are comprised of a compostable material.

13. The compostable razor (1) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the one or more attaching arms (11) are integrally formed with the head (4).

14. The compostable razor (1) according to claim 13, wherein the securing part (10) is attached to the 5 head (4) using heat press.

15. The compostable razor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the head (4) comprises a channel connecting a back side (12) to a front side (13) of the head (4).10 16. The compostable razor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the channel extends acrosssubstantially the whole of a width of the head (4).

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