Razor Cartridge Lubrication Member Printed Dot Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional lubrication members in razor cartridges either lack visual appeal or are costly and difficult to assemble, and they do not effectively control the delivery of lubricant during shaving.

Innovation Solution

A razor cartridge with a lubricating member featuring a printed visual element that appears as a solid object to the naked eye but contains spaced-apart printed dots, allowing for controlled lubricant delivery and improved visual appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a reservoir structure is used to control lubricant delivery, then the amount of lubricant delivered can be controlled, but the cost and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of lubricant deliveryVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The printed object is segmented into multiple printed dots that are spaced apart from one another. This segmentation allows the lubricating member to be divided into multiple exposure zones, enabling controlled lubricant delivery through the printed regions while maintaining a simpler overall structure without requiring a reservoir assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a printed representation (printed dots) that copies the visual appearance of a solid object while actually being a patterned surface with exposed lubricating portions. This printed copy provides both visual appeal and functional lubricant control in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate reservoir structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional extrusion is used for lubrication strips, then the manufacturing is cost effective, but the visual appearance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies printed objects with various colors and patterns to the lubricating member. The printed dots can be arranged to create visual effects, brand identification, or instructional information, significantly enhancing the visual appearance of the cost-effective extruded lubrication strip without changing the extrusion process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The printing is applied to the lubricating member after extrusion but before final assembly. This preliminary action allows the visual enhancement to be added to the already-manufactured component, maintaining the cost benefits of extrusion while adding visual appeal through subsequent printing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Shape

If a solid printed object is applied to the lubricating member, then visual appeal is enhanced, but lubricant delivery control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidlubricant delivery control
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The printed object is applied with local quality variations through the pattern of spaced-apart printed dots. Different regions of the lubricating member have different properties: printed regions provide visual appeal and control lubricant exposure, while unprinted regions maintain full lubricating functionality. This local differentiation allows both visual enhancement and lubricant delivery control to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3242777B1Razor cartridge with a printed lubrication member
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP3242777B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3242777B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3242777B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A razor cartridge (14) including a guard (16) at a front portion of the cartridge, a cap (18) at a back portion of the cartridge, at least one blade (20) positioned between the guard and the cap, a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, and a lubricating member (30) positioned in the cartridge at the top surface. The visible surface of the lubricating member includes a printed object (34). The printed object appears as a solid object to a viewer's naked eye. The solid object includes a plurality of printed dots (38) not visible to the viewer's naked eye. The printed dots are spaced apart from one another such that portions of the lubricating member within the solid object contain no printed dots.