Shaving Razor Tottle with Enlarged Base for Upright Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shaving razor systems are suboptimal for shaving another person, particularly for caregivers who lack training, and pose sanitation risks due to horizontal design that can contaminate the cartridge, which is dangerous for individuals with compromised immune systems.

Innovation Solution

A shaving razor system with an ergonomic handle and a tottle that allows the cartridge to stand upright, featuring a coupler for secure attachment of personal care articles and an enlarged bottom surface for stability, preventing tipping and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the razor is designed to lie down horizontally on a flat surface, then it is stable during storage, but the cartridge may contact an unsanitary surface causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation safetyVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional horizontal storage orientation by designing the handle with a vertical standing capability. The enlarged bottom surface area creates a stable base that allows the razor to stand upright, preventing the cartridge from contacting unsanitary surfaces while maintaining storage stability through gravitational balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the handle has a standard tottle shape, then it is easy to manufacture, but it cannot stand upright stably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestanding stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by modifying only the bottom portion of the handle while keeping the rest of the tottle structure standard. The bottom surface area is enlarged specifically to provide standing stability, while the main body retains its simple cylindrical shape for ease of manufacture. This localized modification minimizes manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired functional improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the bottom surface area is enlarged to prevent tipping, then the razor can stand upright, but the tottle volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-tipping capabilityVSAvoidtottle volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a purely horizontal cross-sectional area comparison to a three-dimensional geometric solution. By creating a frustoconical shape that tapers toward the bottom, the design achieves a larger bottom surface area for stability while maintaining adequate internal volume through the tapered geometry, effectively utilizing vertical space to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11141873B2Shaving razor system

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 THE GILLETTE CO

AI summary

A shaving razor system with a tottle defining a cavity for containing a liquid. The tottle has a first end defining a fluid port and a second end having a seal. The tottle has a maximum cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end. A coupler at the second end of the tottle is configured to engage a personal care article. An end cap is mounted to the first end of the tottle. The end cap has a bottom surface with a contact area greater than the maximum cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end of the tottle.