Pivoting Razor Handle with Interconnect Member

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current razor cartridge designs are costly and complex to manufacture due to the need for separate molds and production equipment for each configuration, and they lack a standard blade unit that can be easily and intuitively attached to handles while providing pivotal functionality.

Innovation Solution

A shaving razor system featuring a razor cartridge with a housing and skin interconnect member that allows for quick and safe attachment to a handle, providing pivotal motion relative to the handle without the need for a pivot mechanism in the cartridge, using a trapezoidal prism-shaped skin interconnect member that fits snugly within a funnel-shaped opening in the cartridge, enabling rotation about multiple axes for improved skin engagement and benefit delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If razor cartridges are designed with separate molds and production equipment for each configuration, then specific cartridge designs can be manufactured, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcartridge configuration variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed with a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate multiple cartridge configurations through a single standardized interface. The cartridge attachment assembly includes a handle portion and cartridge portion with complementary engagement features that work across different cartridge designs, eliminating the need for separate molds and production equipment for each configuration while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If pivot functionality is disposed on the razor cartridge, then the blade can follow skin surface contours independently, but the razor cartridge becomes more complex and costly to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin contour followingVSAvoidcartridge structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot functionality is extracted from the razor cartridge and relocated to the handle's cartridge attachment assembly. The pivot mechanism now resides in the handle portion, allowing the cartridge to pivot relative to the handle while the cartridge itself maintains a simpler, more cost-effective structure. This extraction reduces cartridge complexity while preserving the skin contour following capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If a standard blade unit is used that can be quickly attached to handles, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but intuitive and safe attachment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidattachment safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge attachment assembly employs a nested structure where the cartridge portion fits within or onto the handle portion through interlocking engagement features. The cartridge guard engages with corresponding features on the handle, and the cartridge cap secures the connection, creating a nested assembly that is both simple to manufacture and provides intuitive, safe attachment through its structured engagement sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3774222B1Shaving razor system including skin interconnect member
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP3774222B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3774222B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3774222B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D

AI summary

The invention is directed toward a shaving razor system. The razor system has a handle and a razor cartridge. The handle has at least one skin interconnect member in pivotal relation to a proximal end portion of the handle. The razor cartridge has a housing, at least one blade, and at least one opening which extends through the housing. The razor cartridge is engaged with the skin interconnect member when the skin interconnect member is disposed within the opening securing the razor cartridge to the proximal end portion of the handle. The razor cartridge is in a pivotal relation with the handle, but not with the skin interconnect member. A pivot point of the razor system is desirably disposed near the front blade of the cartridge. Axes of movement in the razor system can be provided by different physical order of connections of razor components.