Razor Cartridge Trimming Wing for Hard-to-Reach Shaving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wet shaving razors with multiple blades and lubrication strips are cumbersome and less precise for shaving or trimming in hard-to-reach areas due to their increased height, making it difficult to access areas like under the nose or at the edges of the mouth.

Innovation Solution

A shaving cartridge and razor design featuring a housing with a wing on one or both sides that houses a trimming blade, where the wing is either flexibly attached or integrally formed, and has a tapered distal end, allowing for a reduced height of about 10% to 50% of the housing's front, enabling easier access to tight areas. The wing can be non-coplanar with the housing, and the trimming blade is positioned to engage the skin without the primary blades being operational.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple blades and lubrication strips are added to the razor, then shaving performance is improved, but cartridge height increases making it cumbersome for hard-to-reach areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving performanceVSAvoidcartridge height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge is divided into a main housing containing multiple shaving blades and lubrication strips, and a separate wing structure containing a trimming blade. This segmentation allows the main body to maintain full shaving functionality while the detached wing provides access to hard-to-reach areas without the bulk of the complete cartridge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trimming blade is extracted from the main cartridge body and placed in a separate, removable wing structure. This extraction allows the trimming function to operate independently with reduced height requirements, enabling access to tight areas while the full cartridge remains available for standard shaving tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a trimming blade is added to the top of the cartridge, then trimming capability is provided, but device complexity and shaving difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrimming capabilityVSAvoidshaving complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trimming function is segmented into a separate wing that can be independently attached or removed. This segmentation simplifies the overall device by allowing users to attach only the necessary component for the current task, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wing structure serves multiple functions: it provides trimming capability when attached, and can be removed to simplify the device for standard shaving. The same structural element supports both trimming and shaving operations, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices.

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

3Length of moving object

If cartridge height is reduced to access tight areas, then accessibility improves, but trimming precision and stroke length are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecartridge heightVSAvoidtrimming precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of reducing height, the trimming blade is positioned in a wing that extends laterally from the main cartridge body. This dimensional change allows the trimming blade to achieve the necessary clearance for precision work in tight areas while maintaining adequate stroke length through the lateral extension rather than vertical reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2627486B1Cartridges and razors with trimming wing
Publication Date: 2015.12.16 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP2627486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2627486B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2627486B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A cartridge or razor, suitable for wet or dry shaving, comprising a housing (42) in which the housing comprises a front (44), a rear (46), a first side (48), a second side (50) opposite the first side, and a wing (56, 58) on at least one of the first side and the second side. The cartridge or razor also comprises one or more shaving blades (52) disposed in the housing and at least one trimming blade (68, 70) disposed in the wing.