Razor Handle

Abstract

The razor handle has a head portion including a first end including a mechanism that allows a user to selectively connect a razor cartridge to the handle and a second end defining a recess. A sleeve is secured within the recess. A grip portion has a proximal end secured within the sleeve. The grip portion is constructed essentially of glass.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to safety razors, and more specifically to razor handles having grip portions fabricated from glass. [Background technology]

[0002] Many modern so-called safety razors include a disposable razor cartridge (cartridge) that is adapted to be selectively connected to a reusable handle by connecting structures therebetween. Other so-called disposable razors are disposed of as an entire unit of handle with connected cartridge. Many of these modern razor handles have a substantial "plastic" (i.e., thermoplastic polymer or thermoplastic) content. There is a desire among some consumers to reduce the use of plastic materials for either or both of the so-called carbon footprint reduction and reduction of microplastics entering the food chain. As a result, there is a desire for manufacturers to provide products that have significantly reduced plastic content and further comprise a substantial reusable or sustainable material content. Glass is one such sustainable material that is readily appreciated by consumers to be easily and readily recycled. However, some common types of glass have physical performance limitations, such as a tendency to break upon impact. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The present disclosure has as its object the substantial mitigation of the limitations of prior art razor handles by providing a razor handle comprising a substantial proportion of glass. The handle has a head portion including a first end having a mechanism for enabling a user to selectively connect a razor cartridge to the handle and a second end defining a recess. A shock absorbing sleeve is secured within the recess. A grip portion has a proximal end secured within the sleeve. The grip portion is comprised essentially of glass.

[0004] In some embodiments, the proximal end is releasably secured within the sleeve. The proximal end can have male threads matingly received into the female threads of the sleeve. The male threads have 1.5-2.5 pitch (turns) with a 3 mm pitch.

[0005] In other embodiments of any preceding embodiment, the glass is container glass and contains up to 75% recycled container glass. The sleeve can comprise a non-elastomeric polymer, preferably a semi-crystalline polymer having a flexural modulus in the range of 800-2500 MPa, more preferably 1000-1500 MPa, most preferably polypropylene. The shell of the head portion can comprise a relatively hard material, such as a die-cast zinc alloy.

[0006] In still another embodiment of any preceding embodiment, a distal end portion of the grip portion is hollow and has a wall thickness of at least 3.5 mm.

[0007] The razor handle comprises a substantial proportion of user-recognizable sustainable and reusable materials. The sleeve can absorb impact forces that could break off the proximal end. The wall thickness can resist impact forces that could break off the remainder of the grip portion. The grip portion can be replaceable by the user.

[0008] The above features and advantages will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a safety razor of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] A cross-sectional view taken at 2-2 in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an enlarged portion “3” of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In the context of this disclosure, the term "glass" is intended to describe a non-crystalline (amorphous) solid comprising silica. Some common forms of "silicate" glass include fused quartz, also called fused silica glass, sodium borosilicate glass (e.g., PYREX®), lead oxide glass, also called "crystal" glass, aluminosilicate glass, and also germanium oxide glass. Another common type of glass is soda-lime-silica glass, also called window glass or sheet glass. A slight variation of sheet glass is so-called container glass, i.e., soda-lime glass, which has more alumina and calcium and less sodium and magnesium. In the context of this disclosure, an exemplary type of container is a bottle or jar. The preferred glass of this disclosure is container glass, which can include virgin glass and up to 75% of the same type of reclaimed, washed, high-temperature treated glass.

[0011] Referring now to the drawings, a safety razor 10 is depicted. The safety razor 10 comprises a handle 20 and a razor cartridge 40. The handle 20 comprises a head portion 22 having a first end 24 with a mechanism 26 that allows a user to selectively connect a razor cartridge 40 to the handle 20, and a second end 28 that defines a recess 30 having a rim 31. The mechanism 26 may include, for example, an arm 32 that engages with a mating structure 42 on the razor cartridge to provide pivotal movement of the cartridge 40 relative to the handle 20. The mechanism 26 may also include an actuator button 34 that allows a user to release the razor cartridge 40 from the handle 20 to allow a new razor cartridge 40 to be connected to the handle 20. The shell 38 of the head portion 22 is preferably manufactured from a die cast zinc alloy having a suitable aesthetic or protective coating.

[0012] A shock absorbing sleeve 50 is placed in the recess 30. The sleeve 50 is preferably manufactured by injection molding a non-elastomeric polymer, e.g., a semi-crystalline polymer, having a relatively high impact strength and high stiffness, e.g., a preferred flexural modulus in the range of 800-2500 MPa (per ASTM D790A), more preferably in the range of 1000-1500 MPa. One suitable material is a polypropylene copolymer designated AV161 manufactured by SUMITOMO CHEMICAL. Elastomeric polymers having a relatively high stiffness (e.g., typically in the Shore D range) are acceptable.

[0013] The sleeve 50 is retained in the recess by appropriately forming the rivet 36 on the second end 28 of the head portion 22. The rivet is received in a hole 52 in the sleeve 50 (shown in its pre-formed state in Figures 2 and 3). The sleeve 50 may be retained in the recess 30 by other suitable methods, such as by use of a suitable adhesive. A flange 56 of the sleeve 50 extends over the rim 31 of the recess 30.

[0014] The handle 20 also includes a grip portion 60. The grip portion 60 is essentially composed of glass in accordance with the previous description, i.e., the grip portion 60 is composed of glass, although glass may contain impurities and pigments. The specific gravity of glass is approximately 2.5. Given typical acceptable dimensions for a grip portion 60 that can be comfortably held by a user and to avoid unacceptable mass, a distal end portion 74 of the grip portion 60 preferably includes a hollow portion 62. The hollow portion 62 is preferably formed by spraying. Other grip portion 60 shapes are within the scope of the present disclosure, and these shapes (e.g., rectangular in cross section, "W", "U", "Z" shaped) can be appropriately sized to eliminate the need for the hollow portion 62. The wall thickness 64 of the grip portion is preferably at least about 3.5 mm, with a range of up to about 6 mm. The base thickness 66 of the grip portion 60 is preferably at least about 4.5 mm, with a range of up to about 10.5 mm. In manufacturing, the wall and base thicknesses 64, 66 can be estimated by determining the mass of the grip portion 60. For example, if the mass is below a predetermined threshold, the wall thickness is likely to be inadequately thin.

[0015] A proximal end region 70 of the gripping portion 60 is held within the sleeve 50. Preferably, the proximal end region 70 has a male screw thread form 72 that is received in a mating female thread form 54 of the sleeve 50. The thread form of the connection between the proximal end region 70 and the sleeve 50 is preferably a so-called knuckle thread. The thread form may be of standard size according to (US) GPI (Glass Packaging Institute) standards or DIN 168. The thread form may be a modification to the standard form, for example with a different pitch or outer diameter. Preferably, the male screw thread form 72 has 1.5-2.5 pitch (turns) with a pitch of 3 mm. The thread form may also have different shapes.

[0016] The sleeve 50 is sufficiently rigid that the user does not experience a loss of confidence because the grip portion 60 does not consciously feel as if it is deflecting against the head portion 22 during use, particularly because the shell 36 of the head portion 22 is also rigid to limit deflection of the sleeve 50. The sleeve 50 provides impact resistance (i.e., it is shock absorbing) that prevents crushing of the grip portion at the proximal end region 70. The wall and base thicknesses 64, 66 provide impact resistance in other regions of the grip portion 60. Because the grip portion has a screw-threaded attachment, it can be optionally removed by the user to be replaced by another grip portion of a different shape, color, texture, etc.

[0017] In other embodiments, the entire shell of the head portion can be manufactured from a suitable shock absorbing material, such as AV161 material, the recess can be internally threaded, and the sleeve 50 can be omitted.

[0018] While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. For example, modifications or variations as may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and features disclosed in connection with any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with the respective features of each of the other embodiments. That is, the breadth and scope of any embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but rather should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 10. Safety Razor 20 Handle 22 Head part 40 Razor Cartridges 42 Razor cartridge fitting structure

Claims

1. 1. A razor handle comprising: a head portion including a first end having a mechanism for enabling a user to selectively connect the razor cartridge to the handle and a second end defining a recess; a shock absorbing sleeve fixed within the recess; a grip portion having a proximal end secured within said sleeve and constructed essentially of glass; Equipped with a razor handle.

2. The razor handle of claim 1 , wherein said recess has a rim and said sleeve flange extends over said rim.

3. The razor handle of claim 1 , wherein said grip portion is releasably secured within said sleeve.

4. 2. The razor handle of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said gripping portion has external threads matingly received within the internal threads of said sleeve.

5. 5. The razor handle of claim 4, wherein said external threads have 1.5 to 2.5 pitch (turns) at a 3 mm pitch.

6. the glass comprises a container glass; The glass contains up to 75% recycled container glass.

2. The razor handle of claim 1.

7. 10. The razor handle of claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of said grip portion includes a hollow portion and has a wall thickness of at least 3.5 mm with a range of up to 6 mm.

8. The razor handle of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a non-elastomeric polymer.

9. 9. The razor handle of claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises a semi-crystalline polymer.

10. 9. The razor handle of claim 8, wherein said sleeve has a flexural modulus in the range of 800 to 2500 MPa.

11. 10. The razor handle of claim 9, wherein said semi-crystalline polymer is a polypropylene copolymer.

12. The razor handle of claim 10, wherein the flexural modulus is in the range of 1000 to 1500 MPa.

Images