FIELD OF INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a bladed tool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a self-cleaning bladed tool.

BACKGROUND

[002] A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of body hair through the act of shaving. A razor generally includes a handle attached to a sharp blade.

[003] However, conventional razors are difficult to clean and require a lot of water to do so. The inner surfaces of the blades of the razor get shaving depositions/residues which collect over time. The said depositions degrade the sharpness of the blades and might pose a potential risk of infection to the user.

[004] Therefore, there arises a requirement for a bladed tool that can overcome the existing problems of conventional razors.

SUMMARY

[005] The present invention relates to a self-cleaning bladed tool including a first end; a cartridge, a plurality of nozzles, a stem and a collector. The cartridge is removably coupled to the first end. The cartridge includes one or more blades. The plurality of nozzles is disposed between the first end and the blades. The nozzles being configured to spray a liquid on at least a portion of the blades. The stem extends from the first end. The stem includes a container to hold the liquid. The container being operationally coupled to the nozzles. The collector is removably coupled to the container. The collector is disposed adjacent to the cartridge. The container functions as a pasteur pipette. The liquid is collected within the collector after it is sprayed on the blades by the nozzles.

[006] The foregoing features and other features as well as the advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[007] The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the apportioned drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale.

[008] Fig.l depicts a bladed tool 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[009] Fig. 2 depicts the bladed tool 100 with a cartridge 150 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Prior to describing the invention in detail, definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document will be defined: the terms "include" and "comprise", as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "coupled with" and "associated therewith", as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have a property of, or the like; Definitions of certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

[0011] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments" unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to" unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a," "an," and "the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0012] Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure, a self-cleaning bladed tool (or razor) used for shaving is disclosed. The bladed tool of the present invention enables the user to use the bladed tool, without limitation, at remote areas and/or places with water scarcity. The bladed tool is environment friendly as it saves time and water during shaving.

[0014] The bladed tool of the present invention may be provided with a plurality of nozzles to clean the shaving cartridge and/or blades. Therefore, the bladed tool can clean itself while saving water. The durability of the blades of the bladed tool is enhanced as the bladed tool minimizes deposition of shaving residues over the blades due to its self-cleaning property.

[0015] The bladed tool also provides a collector which enables the user to easily collect the shaving residues after using the bladed tool. The collector can be easily removed from the bladed tool to collect and clean the shaving residues thereby reducing the mess created in a conventional bladed tool while shaving.

[0016] The bladed tool is further provided with a container for storing a liquid that may be reused multiple times to clean the shaving cartridge and/or blades thereby removing the dependency on a water source for shaving.

[0017] As depicted in Fig. 1, the bladed tool 100 of the present invention includes a first end 110 and a stem 130. The stem 130 may extend from the first end 110. The first end 110 may have a means to receive a shaving cartridge (or cartridge). The cartridge may be removably coupled to the first end 110 or may be integrated with the first end 110 as a unibody structure.

[0018] As depicted in Fig. 1, a plurality of nozzles 113 may be provided on the first end 110 of the bladed tool 100. The nozzle 113 may be disposed between the first end 110 and a plurality of blades (further described below). The nozzle 113 may spray a liquid on to a portion of the blades. The number of nozzles 113 and the spacing thereof may be decided such that the entire length of the blades may be sprayed with the liquid. The liquid may include but not limited to water, cleaning solution, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, an inner surface of the blades are sprayed with water from the nozzles 113. The liquid helps to remove any shaving residue (or debris) stuck to the blades while shaving, thereby increasing the durability of the blades 111.

[0019] An optimized distance between the nozzle 113 and the blades may be provided to maximize a width of spread and velocity of the spray of the liquid (droplets) hitting the smeared shaving edges of the blades while spraying the entire length of the blades. The liquid may flow from the nozzles 113 at a minimal acute angle just above the shaving edge so as to hit the maximum length of shaving residue (debris/paste). In an embodiment, the liquid flows from the nozzles 113 at an acute angle of less than 5 degrees. The nozzles 113 enhance the durability of the blades as the user may easily clean the blades after each shaving stroke. Doing so also increases the washing efficiency of the blades of the bladed tool 100.

[0020] The stem 130, as depicted in Fig. 1, includes a handle 131 and a container 133. In an embodiment, the handle 131 and the container 133 may be removably coupled together. In an alternate embodiment, not shown, the container 133 may be disposed separate from the handle 131. In yet another embodiment, the handle 131 and the container 133 form a unibody structure.

[0021] The handle 131 may be ergonomically shaped for better hold and control of the bladed tool 100 by the user. The handle 131 may be made of a material including but not limited to low density polymer, rubber, etc. In an embodiment, the handle 131 is made of a flexible soft unbreakable material that is elastic in nature.

[0022] The container 133 may hold the liquid. The container 133 may be operationally coupled to the nozzles 113. In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzles 113 are coupled to the container 133 via the first end 110. The container 133 may be made of a flexible material including but not limited to rubber, low density flexible polymer, etc. The container 133 may be made of selective patches of touch areas in contact with gripping finger tips and/or palm of the user such that, the container 133 may be manually squeezed to force the water to flow through the nozzles 113. In an embodiment, only a portion of the container 133 is squeezable. In another embodiment, the entire container 133 is squeezable. The container 133 along with the nozzle 113 may function as a pasteur pipette. In an exemplary embodiment, the container 133 is provided with a transparent strip to enable the user to determine the amount of liquid present in the container 133. In another exemplary embodiment, the entire container 133 is transparent, thus enable the user to determine the amount of liquid present in the container [0023] The container 133 may have a fill/drain port (not shown) to enable the user to fill/drain the container 133 with the liquid. The fill/drain port may include a threaded and/or push-fitted cap. The liquid in the container 133 may be reused multiple times to clean the blades while shaving (further described below).

[0024] Additionally and/or optionally, the stem 130 may be provided with a collector 135. The collector 135 may be removably coupled to the container 133. The collector 135 may be a platform and/or open container like structure shaped corresponding to the cartridge. The collector 135 may be disposed adjacent to the cartridge such that the liquid flowing through the nozzle 113 gets collected within the collector 135 after it is sprayed on the blades. The collector 135 may also collect any shaving residue from the blades.

[0025] The collector 135 may be provided with a filtering means 135a. In an embodiment, the filtering means 135a is a sieve. The filtering means 135a may only allow the liquid to pass through such that any shaving residue gets trapped within the collector 135 and only the liquid flows back to the container 133 to be again sprayed via the nozzles 113. Thus, the liquid can be reused multiple times to clean the blades thereby saving water. The collector 135 also helps to prevent a mess while shaving.

[0026] The collector 135 may be removed from the bladed tool 100 to enable the user to periodically collect the shaving residue and clean the collector 135. In an exemplary embodiment, the user slidably removes the collector 135 from the container 133 to clean the collector 135 and then slidably puts it back before using the bladed tool 100 for shaving.

[0027] The collector 135 may have a size and depth corresponding to the requirements of the user. For example, a user with long beard may prefer a deep collector 135 while a user with short beard may prefer a shallow collector 135. The user may be able to customize a size of the collector 135 according to their requirements.

[0028] As depicted in Fig. 2, the first end 110 of the bladed tool 100 may be removably coupled to a cartridge 150. The cartridge 150 may have any shape including but not limited to square, rectangle, etc. In an embodiment, the cartridge 150 is shaped for easy gliding over the contours of the body of a user. The cartridge 150 may have a length and a width as per requirements of the user. [0029] The cartridge 150 may include one or more blades 151. In an embodiment, the cartridge 150 includes three blades 151. The cartridge 150 may be replaced by the user when sharpness of the blades 151 becomes unsatisfactory.

[0030] The blades 151 may be disposed at an angle with respect to the cartridge 150. In an embodiment, the blades 151 are fixed at an angle with respect to the cartridge 150. In an alternate embodiment, the angles of each individual blades 151 are adjustable by the end user. The blades 151 may have a gap in between them. The gap between the blades 151 may be such that the blades 151 offer least resistance to hold any shaving residue between them. The gap between the blades 151 may be adjustable by the user.

[0031] The blades 151 may be configured in a pull-down or a push-down configuration. In the pull-down configuration, the user pulls down the bladed tool 100 against the surface being shaved. In the push-down configuration, the user pushes down the bladed tool 100 against the surface being shaved. In other words, the blades 151 are upside down in the push-down configuration compared to the pull-down configuration. Although both the said configurations are preferred based on user preference, the push down configuration requires least amount of effort on the user's part while shaving.

[0032] The blade 151 may be made of an inert material including but not limited to polymers, stainless steel, etc. In an embodiment, the blades 151 are made of stainless steel. The blades 151 may be provided with one or more coatings including but not limited to an anti-septic coating, a soothing coating. The one or more coatings may enable the use of bladed tool 100 on sensitive skin as well.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, a strip (not shown) of the said one or more coatings is added after the blades 151 such that the coating glides against the skin of the user immediately after blades 151.

[0034] The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended patent claims. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used.