FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a shaving blade assembly comprising a blade unit and a skin contact member and a razor comprising a razor handle and such a shaving blade assembly .

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In particular, the invention is related to shaving blade assemblies comprising a blade unit and a skin contact member, the blade unit comprising at least one shaving blade having a cutting edge, the blade unit having a blade unit skin contact surface area, the blade unit and the skin contact member having a shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area.

Such shaving blade assemblies allow maintaining a smooth relation between the blades and the skin during shaving in such a way that they can prevent any hard pressure from the blades to the skin.

The known shaving blade assemblies commonly comprise a skin contact member provided with shaving aid such as a lubricant, a moisturizer, a conditioner and/or an exfoliant to improve the glideness of the razor.

However, the shaving aid gets worn out, changing the dimensions of the shaving aid with respect to the blade assembly, and as a result, the user can nick and cut from the shave .

Therefore, the known shaving blade assemblies do not allow shaving in good conditions as soon as the shaving aid becomes worn. In addition, the manufacture of such known shaving blade assemblies is complicated since the skin contact member is commonly made of several materials (double and triple injection moulding) and/or since a shaving aid is added on the skin contact member.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To this aim, a shaving blade assembly is provided with a specific geometry allowing a good shaving all during the life of the blades, the user enjoying better glideness and smooth skin, free of skin damages that usually result from shaving.

One object of the invention is to provide a shaving blade assembly comprising a blade unit and a skin contact member, the blade unit comprising at least one shaving blade having a cutting edge and having a shaving plane, wherein the skin contact member comprises a leading skin contact part extending in front of the shaving blades and a trailing skin contact part extending rearward of the shaving blades, wherein the leading skin contact part comprises a leading planar surface and the trailing skin contact comprises a trailing planar surface, the leading planar surface and the trailing planar surface defining a contact plane, and wherein the contact plane and the shaving plane are parallel and the distance between the contact plane and the shaving plane is comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shaving blade assembly having a ratio between the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area and the blade unit skin contact surface area which is comprised between 2 and 3.1.

There is no longer any need to provide the skin contact member with a shaving aid. The skin contact member of the invention allows spreading the pressure that the user applies on a wider area of the skin and prevents the intense deformation of the skin that is caused by the blade unit without the skin contact member. The skin contact member of the invention can be manufactured with single injection moulding; as a result, the manufacturing costs of the shaving blade assembly according to the invention being thus cheaper.

The skin contact member according to the invention acts like a stretcher on the skin while allowing glideness. In addition, the skin contact member according to the invention can be produced in a single production step, which means lower production cost and easier quality control .

The advantages of the present invention include a pleasant feeling of glideness and safety for the skin during shaving, the lack of damage to the skin, if by mistake or due to a faster motion the user applies more pressure than is normally the case during shaving. In other words, the skin contact member protects the user against wrong movements (such as for example in the lateral direction) and absorbs the excessive pressure that might provoke micro injuries and irritation on the skin. Based on the previous features, the skin contact member allows a faster, smoother shaving.

In various embodiments of the invention, one and/or the other of the following features may be incorporated in this skin contact member alone or in mutual combination:

the blade unit has a blade unit skin contact surface area, the blade unit and the skin contact member has a shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area, wherein the ratio between the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area and the blade unit skin contact surface area is comprised between 2 and 3.1;

the skin contact member is without any shaving aid; thus, the skin contact member does not include any shaving aid;

the blade unit further comprises a guard and a cap; the guard is provided in front of the cutting edge, whereas the cap which can be provided with a shaving aid or lubra is located rearward the cutting edge;

the skin contact member is motionless secured to the blade unit; actually, the skin contact member is not allowed to deflect with regard to the blade unit during shaving; the skin contact member surrounds the blade unit; the skin contact member can for instance be snap-fitted to the blade unit;

the skin contact member comprises a leading skin contact part extending forward of the shaving blade and a trailing skin contact part extending rearward of the shaving blade; in that case, the leading skin contact part preferably comprises a leading planar surface and the trailing skin contact comprises a trailing planar surface, the leading planar surface and the trailing planar surface defining a contact plane; in addition, in that case, the leading skin contact part preferably further comprises a leading longitudinal face which is connected to the leading planar surface via a leading curved face and wherein the trailing skin contact part further comprises a trailing longitudinal face which is connected to the trailing planar surface via a trailing curved face; the leading longitudinal face is sensibly perpendicular to the leading planar surface and wherein the leading curved face has a radius of curvature of about 2 mm; similarly, the trailing longitudinal face is sensibly perpendicular to the trailing planar surface and wherein the trailing curved face has a radius of curvature of about 2 mm;

the contact plane is above a shaving plane defined by the housing;

the contact plane and the shaving plane are parallel and wherein the distance between the contact plane and the shaving plane is comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm; this distance between the two planes provide a safe distance between the blade unit and the skin, especially between the blades and the skin, which allows for a fast, smooth, and safer shave;

the ratio between the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area and the blade unit skin contact surface area is of about 2.5 and the contact plane and the shaving plane are parallel and the distance between the contact plane and the shaving plane is of about 0.3 mm;

the skin contact member comprises a material chosen among plastics, metals and/or lacquered wood addition, the skin contact member has a friction coefficient comprised between 0.3 and 0.7 when it comprises a plastic, a friction coefficient comprised between 1.05 and 1.35 when it comprises a metal, or a friction coefficient comprised between 0.25 and 0.5 when it comprises lacquered wood addition ; these materials and values of friction coefficient provide a better stretching to the skin as current shavers use high friction material, like TPE, to grab skin and pull it while shaving. The friction coefficient values indicated here are without use of any lubricant .

the shaving blade assembly further comprises a protective cover for shielding the cutting edge;

such a protective cover is slidable and is provided with a locker to hold the protective cover in a full stop position;

the skin contact member comprises a locker slot shaped to receive the locker of such a protective cover;

the skin contact member can have thermochromic pigments, thus it can be used to pass information to the user;

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor comprising a razor handle and such a shaving blade assembly, the shaving blade assembly being provided with connecting means for connecting the shaving blade assembly to the razor handle. The razor handle can be connected to the shaving blade assembly pivotally or not; when the connection is pivotable, the connecting means can comprise shell bearings preferably provided on the blade unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of one embodiment, provided as non-limitative examples, in reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view partially exploded of a razor according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of a shaving blade assembly according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the skin contact member of the invention.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the skin contact member of Figure 1 along line IV-IV.

Figure 5 is a transversal sectional view of the skin contact member of Figure 2 line V-V.

Figure 6A is schematic upper view of the blade unit skin contact surface area.

Figure 6B is schematic upper view of the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area.

Figure 7 is a graph representing an operating window relating to the ratio and the distance between the contact plane and the shaving plane.

Figure 8 is a schematic transversal sectional view of a razor of the prior art during shaving.

Figure 9 is a schematic transversal sectional view of a razor according to the invention during shaving.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the razor of the invention with a detached protective cover.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the razor of Figure 10 with the protective cover partly attached.

Figure 12 is rear perspective view of the razor of Figure 11 without the razor handle. Figure 13 is a front view of the razor of Figure 10 with the protective cover attached.

Figure 14 is a lateral view of the razor of Figure

13 without the razor handle.

On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate identical or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The Figures illustrate a wet razor 10 according to the invention, comprising a razor handle 12, a shaving blade assembly comprising a blade unit 14 and a skin contact member 16 which can be connected to the blade unit

14 as illustrated on the Figures to form a shaving blade assembly 18.

As depicted on the Figures, the blade unit 14 has one or more shaving blades 20, each of the shaving blades 20 being provided with a cutting edge 22. More precisely, the blade unit 14 comprises a housing 24 which has a front edge 24A and a rear edge 24B, an upper face 24C and an opposed lower face 24D and into which the one or more shaving blades 20 are located (between the front edge and the rear edge) . The shaving blades 20 are either movably mounted on elastic fingers provided on the housing or fixed. When movable, the blades 20 can be secured on the housing 14 with clips 23. The number of shaving blades 20 might be comprised between one and five for instance, and is preferably of three or four blades.

The housing 24 is preferably elongated, extending along a longitudinal axis X-X.

A guard bar 26 and respectively a cover 28 might be also provided on the upper face 24C of the housing 24, respectively in front (i.e. forward) the shaving blades 20 and aft of them (i.e. rearward or back) . When the blade unit comprises several blades 20, the forward the blade edge 22 means forward the forward-most blade edge and rearward means rearward the rearward-most blade edge. The cover 28 can be provided with a shaving aid, commonly named lubra (such as a lubricant, a moisturizer, a conditioner and/or an exfoliant) . The guard bar 26 can comprise an elastomeric material which is preferably provided with longitudinal fins (preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X) .

The cutting edge 22 of each shaving blades 20 extends preferably longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X-X toward the guard bar 26.

The housing 24 further comprises a first part 24' located forward the blade edge 22 and a second part 24'' located rearward the blade edge 22. As best visible on Figure 5, when the housing 24 is provided with a guard bar 26, the first part 24' is located between the forward-most blade edge 22 and the guard bar 26; similarly, when the blade unit 24 is provided with a lubra 28, the second part 24'' is located between the rearward-most the blade edge 22 and the lubra 28. Both the first part 24' and the second part 24'' can each be reduced to a point or even be inexistent.

The skin contact member 16 can be a separate member provided on a frame 30 and thus be attachable to the blade unit 14. The skin contact member 16 receives preferably frictionally the blade unit 14 such that it can be mounted and naturally maintained on the blade unit 14; this means that the frame 30 of the skin contact member 16 is designed to cooperate with friction with the housing 24 of the blade unit 14.

The skin contact member can also be elastically mountable on the blade unit; more precisely, the frame 30 of the skin contact member might deform elastically during its connection to the blade unit 14. This means that the elasticity of the frame 30 is higher than that of the shaving housing 24.

According to the friction forces and to the elasticity of the skin contact member, after mounting, the skin contact member 16 can be permanently connected to the blade unit 14 or preferably releasably (i.e. detachably) connected to the blade unit 14. When the skin contact member 16 is releasably connected to the blade unit 14, the friction between the skin contact member 16 and the blade unit 14 might be such that the skin contact member 16 is maintained on the blade unit 14 such that it allows the shaving without any risk of detachment. Besides, the voluntary release/detachment of the skin contact member 16 from the blade unit 14 can be realized without using a significant force (the separation of the skin contact member from the blade can be obtained without the help of any tool ) .

In any case, the skin contact member is motionless secured to the blade unit. The skin contact member 16 can for instance be snap-fitted to the blade unit 14. As best seen on Figures 3 and 4, one or more protrusions 32 can be provided on the frame 30 to allow the attachment and firmly maintain the skin contact member 16 onto the blade unit 14 after said snap-fitting occurred. Thus, when attached to the housing 24, the skin contact member 16 cannot move and/or deflect with regard to the housing 24.

The skin contact member 16 preferably surrounds the blade unit 14 as depicted on the Figures, but one should understand that the present invention is not limited to this geometry.

The skin contact member 16 can comprise a leading skin contact part 34 extending in front of the shaving blades 20 and a trailing skin contact part 36 extending rearward of the shaving blades 20. More precisely, the leading skin contact part 34 is located in front of the forward-most blade and the trailing skin contact part 36 is located aft of the aft-most blade (when the skin contact member 16 is mounted on the blade unit 14) . Besides, the skin contact member 16 can comprise thermochromic pigments. Such pigments can be used to pass information to the user; for instance, the pigments can color the skin contact member 16 in blue when it is too cold for improving shaving; the pigments can color the skin contact member 16 in red when it is too hot for improving shaving (and there is a risk of burning) ; the pigments can color the skin contact member 16 in pink when it is ready for use. The pigments provided on the skin contact member 16 can thus give indications to the user since they change color according to the temperature of the skin contact member 16.

As best seen on Figure 5, the leading skin contact part 34 preferably comprises a leading planar surface 34A and the trailing skin contact 36 preferably comprises a trailing planar surface 36A, the leading planar surface 34A and the trailing planar surface 36A defining a contact plane PI .

Besides, the first part 24' and the second part 24'' of the housing 24 define a shaving plane P2; in other words, the shaving plane P2 is tangent to the first part 24' and the second part 24'' of the housing 24. When one of the first part 24' or the second part 24'' of the housing 24 is reduced to a line, the shaving plane P2 is the plane tangent to the lines.

The blade edge 22 of each of the blades 20 provided in the housing 24 can have an exposure which is positive, negative or null (equal to zero) with regard to said shaving plane P2. When the blade unit is provided with at least two blades 20 having the same exposure, a cutting edge plane (not illustrated) corresponding to the plane in contact with the two cutting edges 22 can be defined. When the blade unit is provided with several blades 20, the exposure of the blade edges can be progressively continuous, increasing and/or decreasing from one blade to the other. The cutting edge plane is above, respectively below the shaving plane P2, when the blades exposure is positive, respectively negative with regard to said shaving plane P2. The cutting edge plane and the shaving plane P2 coincides when the exposure of the blades is equal to zero with regard to said shaving plane P2. When the blades are movable, the exposure is given in their rest position.

When connected onto the blade unit 14, the contact plane PI of the skin contact member 16 is sensibly parallel to and above the shaving plane P2 defined by the housing 24. Preferably, the distance D between the contact plane PI and the shaving plane P2 is comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm and is preferably of about 0.3 mm. In other words, the first part 24' and the second part 24'' of the housing 24 are located underneath the contact plane PI; this leads to an improvement in the shaving and reduced risk of inadvertently cutting the skin when the user shaves. When the distance D is greater than 0.6 mm, it leads to reduced closeness, whereas when it is smaller than 0.2 mm the efficiency of the shaving is reduced.

According to the blade exposure defined above with regard to the shaving plane P2, the blade edge 22 of each blades 20 can be above, below or tangent to the shaving plane P2. A negative exposure as above mentioned with regard to the shaving plane P2 leads automatically to a negative exposure of the blades with regard to the contact plane PI. The same appears when the blade edge 22 is tangent to the shaving plane P2, a negative exposure of the blade is obtained with regard to the contact plane PI. When the exposure is positive with regard to the shaving plane P2, the exposure of the blade edge 22 with regard to the contact plane PI can be positive, negative or equal to zero, according to the value of the positive exposure of the blade edge 22 with regard to the shaving plane P2 and according to the distance D between the contact plane PI and the shaving plane P2. When the positive exposure with regard to the shaving plane P2 of the blade edge 22 is smaller than D, than the exposure of the blade edge 22 is negative with regard to the contact plane PI. Should the positive exposure with regard to the shaving plane P2 of the blade edge 22 being greater than D, than the exposure of the blade edge 22 would be positive with regard to the contact plane PI. For instance, when the exposure of the blade edge 22 is equal to 100 pm with regard to the shaving plane P2, the exposure of said blade edge 22 with regard to the contact plane PI will be negative (D being comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm) . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the exposure of each of the blade edges 22 with regard to the contact plane PI is negative.

The leading skin contact part 34 can further comprise a leading longitudinal face 34B which is connected to the leading planar surface 34A via a leading curved face 34C. In a same way, the trailing skin contact part 36 can further comprise a trailing longitudinal face 36B which is connected to the trailing planar surface 36A via a trailing curved face 36C.

The leading longitudinal face 34B is preferably sensibly perpendicular to the leading planar surface 34A and extends longitudinally to the longitudinal axis X-X in front of the housing 24. More precisely, the leading longitudinal face 34B extends in front of the front edge 24A of the housing 24.

Besides, the trailing longitudinal face 36B is also preferably sensibly perpendicular to the trailing planar surface 36A and extends longitudinally to the longitudinal axis X-X rearward of the housing 24. More precisely, the trailing longitudinal face 36B extends in front of the rear edge 24B of the housing 24.

Each longitudinal face (leading 34B and trailing 36B) is connected to the respective planar surface (leading 34A and trailing 36A) by a curved face (leading 34C and trailing 36C) . Both leading curved face 34C and trailing curved face 36C have preferably a radius of curvature R comprised between 1 mm and 3 mm, preferably of about 2 mm.

The frame 30 comprising the skin contact member 16 can, as already mentioned above, be a separate element connected to the blade unit 14 and can surround it as depicted on the drawings. In that case, the frame 30 is preferably provided with an opening 38 through which the cutting edges 22 are accessible when mounted on the blade unit 14 as best depicted on Figure 2. This opening 38 is preferably shaped in order to fit the housing 24. More precisely, the frame 30 comprises an inner wall which has at least two lateral parts 40 cooperating respectively with the front edge 24A and the rear edge 24B of the housing.

The frame 30 can further comprise two transversal parts 42 connecting the leading skin contact part 34 and the trailing skin contact 36 on either side of the blade unit 14.

Each transversal part 42 preferably comprises a transversal surface 42A encasing a part of the upper face 24C of the housing 24 and the lateral face 42B. The transversal surface 42A is preferably connected to the lateral face 42B via a curved face 42C having a radius curvature R which is preferably of about 2 mm. The transversal surfaces are shaped such that they fit onto the upper face 24C; actually, the blade unit 14 depicted on the figures being provided with clips 23, the transversal surfaces are shaped such that they fit onto and over the clips 23.

The lateral faces 42B, the leading longitudinal face 34B and the trailing longitudinal face 36B are connected in order to form a peripheral wall of the frame 30, said peripheral wall encasing the housing 24. This peripheral wall is provided with rounded corner between each of lateral faces 42B and respective leading longitudinal face 34B and trailing longitudinal face 36B, as best seen on Figure 3.

The geometry of the frame 30, especially its lateral parts 40 and its transversal surfaces 42A, taken in combination with the protrusions 32, leads to an improvement of the mounting and maintaining of the frame 30 on the housing and thus leads to a better control of the distance D between the contact plane PI and the shaving plane P2 as best shown on Figure 5. The protrusions 32 can be located anywhere on the frame 30 such that they are in contact with housing 24. As depicted on Figures 3 and 4, two protrusions can be provided on the inner side of the frame 30 preferably laterally opposed each other on a lateral face 42B (as defined below) of the frame 30, between the lateral parts 40. These protrusions 32 are designed to come in contact with the housing 24, more precisely with recesses 33 provided on the housing 24 (as best seen on Figure 1) .

In order to improve the shaving, the shaving blade assembly according to the invention has a specific configuration. More precisely, a blade unit skin contact surface area SI can be defined in relation with the blade unit 14 and a shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area S2 can be defined in relation with « the blade unit 14 and the skin contact member 16 >> .

As depicted schematically on Figure 6A, such a blade unit skin contact surface area SI corresponds to the surface of the blade unit in contact with the skin during shaving; actually, the blade unit skin contact surface area SI comprises the upper face 24C of the housing (with the guard bar 26 and the lubra 28) and the clips 23. The blades contained in the housing are not taken into account since their contact with the skin is more or less null. Besides, when the blades are movable, this contact surface changes during one shaving but it does not change the area and ratios. They are the same.

As depicted schematically on Figure 6B, the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area S2 corresponds to the surface of the skin contact member 16 and of the accessible surface of the blade unit accessible trough the skin contact member 16 and in contact with the skin during shaving; more precisely, the accessible surface of the blade unit is the lubra and the guard which are on the shaving head plane, which is in vertical distance with the adaptor top surface plane; actually, the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area S2 comprises the two transversal surfaces 42A, the trailing planar surface 36A, the trailing planar surface 36A and a part of the upper face 24C of the housing (with the guard bar 26 and the lubra 28); in the embodiment depicted on the Figures, even there are clips 23 provided on the blade unit 24, they are not considered since they are covered by the transversal surfaces 42A. Should the blades being secured to the housing with another element that said clips it might be considered or not for the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area S2 according to its position with regard to the opening provided in the skin contact member. Besides, as explained above, the blades contained in the housing are also not taken into account.

Actually, during shaving, the razor 10 is applied against the skin to be shaved; some parts of the razor thus enter in contact with the skin and forces act in reaction to this application of the razor against the skin S. The forces distribution is to be connected to the surface of the razor in contact with the skin. The invention is to optimize the surface in contact with the skin in order to obtain a safer shaving and provide a pleasurable shaving experience (improved glideness, softness and/or skin hydration and reduced shaving time) .

If the shaving occurs with a razor provided with a blade unit 14 onto which no skin contact member 16 is provided (meaning a razor of the prior art), the skin will deform as depicted schematically on Figure 8 with a deformation or penetration of the skin of HI.

If the shaving occurs with a razor provided with a blade unit 14 onto which a skin contact member 16 is provided the skin will deform as depicted schematically on Figure 9 with a deformation or penetration of the skin of H2.

It appears clearly that the skin deforms differently when the razor is provided with a skin contact member 16 according to the invention. A smoother contact is obtained with the razor of the invention. The height H2 is always smaller than HI.

Besides, during shaving the razor applies a force

FH against the skin with a razor handle; in response, a total force F _Tota i occurs. For ease of presentation, arrows show the distribution of the forces of interest, where

F _A : Reaction force from the skin to the skin contact member 16

F _B1 : Reaction force from the skin to the razor in the case where no skin contact member 16 is used F _B 2: Reaction force applied from the skin to the shaving head in the case where the skin contact member 16 is used.

Both forces F _H and F _To tai are equal in both cases (with and without the skin contact member 16) .

In reference to the razor of Figure 6A (without the skin contact member 16), the total force F _Tota i is in this case equal to the force applied from the skin to the razor, that is F _Tot ai = F _B i = F _H .

In reference to the razor of the invention as depicted on Figure 9 (with the skin contact member 16), the total force F _To tai is in this case equal to the force applied from the skin to the razor, that is Fiotai = F _A +F _B2 = F _H .

Without the skin contact member 16, the razor causes an intense deformation that creates the depth HI, into the skin. Furthermore, the concentration of the contact forces F _B i is a result of the Force F _H that is applied on the skin on an area equal to the shaving head front area which is significantly smaller with respect to the skin protector front area. The skin contact member 16 is in contact with the skin and it absorbs a greater percentage of the total forces. As a result, less force is applied to the skin from the blades than in the previous case where no skin contact member 16 is used: I F _B 2 I < I F _A | , I F _B2 I < I FBI I .

As seen in Figure 9, with the skin contact member 16, the Force F _H is distributed on a larger area under the razor and the skin contact member 16 causes a significantly less intense and smoother skin deformation creating a depth H2 which is smaller than HI; the shape of the skin's local deformation is also reduced when a skin contact member 16 is provided. As a result, the skin protector adaptor provides a safe distance between the blades and the skin with improved glideness, thus reducing the nicks cuts.

As illustrated on the graph depicted on Figure 7, the best results of improving the shaving, glideness and security while reducing the time needed to shave is obtained when the ratio S2/S1 between the shaving blade assembly skin contact surface area S2 and the blade unit skin contact surface area SI is comprised between 2 and 3.1. The efficiency of shaving is reduced when the ratio S2/S1 is smaller than 2 and the precision of shaving is reduced when the ratio S2/S1 is greater than 3.1.

Actually, the preferred results of shaving (cutting, softness, glideness, etc.) are obtained with a shaving blade assembly having a ratio S2/S1 comprised between 2 and 3.1 and a distance D comprised between the contact plane PI and the shaving plane P2 comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm; preferably, the nominal values for which the best results were obtained can be an ideal design of the shaving blade assembly where the ratio S2/S1 is of about 2.5 and the distance D of about 0.3 mm.

Several kinds of materials can be used for the skin contact member 16. The skin contact member 16 is however preferably made in one piece and comprises a sole material. The preferred materials can be chosen among plastic (like ABS or high polished thermoplastic) and metal (like aluminum of light alloy) or lacquered wood addition. The roughness of the material of the skin contact member 16, especially for the leading planar surface 34A and the trailing planar surface 36A is such that the friction coefficient against the skin leads to a good stretch of the skin and a good glideness. For instance, the friction coefficient can be comprised between 0.3 and 0.7 when the skin contact member 16 comprises a plastic as mentioned above. The friction coefficient can be comprised between 1.05 and 1.35 when the skin contact member 16 comprises a metal as mentioned above. The friction coefficient can be comprised between 0.25 and 0.5 when the skin contact member 16comprises lacquered wood addition as mentioned above. Such a skin contact member 16 is as if it was lubricated.

The skin contact member 16 according to the invention acts against the skin especially in stretching it in front of the blade edges 22 such that the hair extend more or less perpendicular to the contact plane PI. Besides, the skin contact member 16 according to the invention acts against the skin in spreading any shaving aid (such as shaving cream and regular soap) possibly put on the skin; the penetration of the shaving aid is improved. The skin is better hydrated when the shaving aid comprises a hydrating product.

We will now disclose an example of geometry of a shaving blade assembly 18 according to the invention. The skin contact member 16 can have a length LI along the longitudinal axis X-X comprised between 40 mm and 50 mm, preferably of about 45 mm. The skin contact member 16 can have a width L2 taken sensibly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X comprised between 20 mm and 30 mm, preferably of about 25 mm. These dimensions are measured at their maximum values, especially when the skin contact member 16 has curved lateral faces 42B as depicted on the figures. The skin contact member 16 is preferably symmetric with regard to the longitudinal axis X-X. The opening 38 of the skin contact member 16 is preferably centered on the last. Its dimensions are adapted to fit on the housing 24 of the blade unit 14; for instance, for a blade unit provided with three blades 20 and clips 23, the opening 38 is preferably sensibly rectangular viewed from the upper side and can have a length L3 taken along the longitudinal axis X-X comprised between 30 mm and 40 mm, preferably of 35 mm and a width L4 taken sensibly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X comprised between 8 mm and 20 mm, preferably of about 12 mm.

The above dimensions LI and L3 taken along the longitudinal axis X-X are preferably the same should they be measured on the upper side of the skin contact member 16 or on its lower side. The lateral faces 42B are preferably each planar and perpendicular to the contact plane PI defined by the leading planar surface 34A and the trailing planar surface 36A.

The above dimensions L2 and L4 taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X-X are preferably varying a little bit along the height of the surfaces. More precisely, the length L2 is preferably measured on the lower side (between the free ends of the leading longitudinal face 34B and of the trailing longitudinal face 36B; respectively opposite the leading curved face 34C and the trailing curved face 36C) of the skin contact member 16; it can be less important when measured on the upper side of the skin contact member 16. The leading longitudinal face 34B and the trailing longitudinal face 36B can be slightly inclined with regard to a perpendicular to the contact plane PI. Actually, preferably the leading longitudinal face 34B and the trailing longitudinal face 36B can each have an angle a measured with regard to the contact plane PI which is comprised between 85° and 95°, preferably of about 92°.

The lateral parts 40 of the inner wall of the skin contact member 16 fit to the housing 24 and can also be slightly inclined with regard to a perpendicular to the contact plane PI. Thus the value given for the width L4 is measure on the upper side of the skin contact member 16. Actually, L3 and L4 corresponding the dimensions of the opening 38, they are preferably measured on the upper side of the skin contact member 16 in order to be sure to have an opening sufficiently important such that the blades 20, the guard bar 26 and the lubra 28 are accessible through the opening 38 during shaving.

The height H of the skin contact member 16 can be measured between the contact plane PI and the free ends of the leading longitudinal face 34B and of the trailing longitudinal face 36B (respectively opposite the leading curved face 34C and the trailing curved face 36C) is preferably comprised between 3 mm and 7 mm, preferably of about 5 mm.

The shaving blade assembly is provided with connecting means for connecting the shaving blade assembly 18 to the razor handle 12. More precisely, either the blade unit 14 or the skin contact member 16 can be provided with connecting means for connecting the shaving blade assembly 18 to the razor handle 12. According to the connecting means, the connection between the razor handle 12 and the shaving blade assembly 18 is fixed or pivotable.

In the examples depicted on the figures, the connecting means 44 (as best seen on Figure 5) allow a pivot of the shaving blade assembly 18 with regard to the razor handle 12 (around the elongated axis X-X) , but the invention is not limited to a pivotable shaving blade assembly. As illustrated, the connecting means 44 are preferably provided on the blade unit 14 (on the lower face 24D of the housing 24) .

The connecting means 44 can comprise shell bearings, especially when the shaving blade assembly 18 is pivotable with regard to the razor handle 12, but the invention is not limited to this kind of connecting means. Besides, the handle 12 can be detachable from the blade unit 14 or non-detachable according to the razor; more precisely, the handle 12 is detachable when the razor is a system (meaning the blade unit 14 is changed by a new one when the blades 20 are dulled, while the handle 12 is kept), whereas the handle is non-detachable when the razor is a disposable one (meaning both the blade unit 14 and the handle 12 are changed by new ones when the blades are dulled) .

The skin contact member 16 receives preferably frictionally the blade unit 14 such that it can be mounted and naturally maintained on the blade unit 14; this means that the frame 30 of the skin contact member 16 is designed to cooperate with friction with the housing 24 of the blade unit 14.

The skin contact member can also be elastically mountable on the blade unit; more precisely, the frame 30 of the skin contact member might deform elastically during its connection to the blade unit 14. This means that the elasticity of the frame 30 is higher than that of the shaving housing 24. To this extent, the inner wall and especially the lateral parts 40 can have a non-contiguous shape and can be provided with kind of waves in order to increase the elasticity of the inner wall especially during the mounting of the skin contact member 16 onto the housing 24.

According to the friction forces and to the elasticity of the skin contact member, after mounting, the skin contact member 16 can be permanently connected to the blade unit 14 or preferably releasably (i.e. detachably) connected to the blade unit 14. When the skin contact member 16 is releasably connected to the blade unit 14, the friction between the skin contact member 16 and the blade unit 14 might be such that the skin contact member 16 is maintained on the blade unit 14 such that it allows the shaving without any risk of detachment. Besides, the voluntary release/detachment of the skin contact member 16 from the blade unit 14 can be realized without using a significant force (the separation of the skin contact member from the blade unit can be obtained without the help of any tool ) .

In reference to Figures 10 to 14, in order to protect the shaving blade assembly 18 (at least the blade unit 14, more precisely the blade edges 22) especially from dirt and in order to protect the using from cutting inadvertently, the shaving blade assembly 18 can be provided with a protective cover 46 for shielding each of the cutting edges 22.

The protective cover 46 is preferably completely detachable (see Figure 10) from the shaving blade assembly 18 and is preferably slidable on the shaving blade assembly 18 such that it can be easily put on and released from the shaving blade assembly 18. The protective cover 46 can be provided with at least one locker cooperating with a corresponding locker slot shaped to receive the locker and provided on the skin contact member 16 in order to hold the protective cover 46 in a full stop position on the shaving blade assembly 18 as best depicted on Figure 13 where the protective cover 46 covers more or less totally the shaving blade assembly 18. Thus, the protective cover 46 cannot be accidentally detached from the shaving blade assembly 18.

Actually, as best seen on Figure 10, the protective cover 46 can for instance be provided with two lockers 48 provided on the rear face of the protective cover 46 for cooperating with two respective locker slots 50 provided on the skin contact member 16, as best visible on Figures 3 and 4.

The protective cover 46 comprises an upper face 51 which can be provided with openings 52 to allow an aeration of the shaving blade assembly 18. Actually, as best visible on Figures 10, 11 and 13, four openings 52 are provided for instance on the upper face 51, two of them being in front of the leading skin contact part 34 and two of them being in front of the trailing skin contact part 36 as best visible on Figure 13 in the full stop position.

Tabs 56 are provided on the rear face of the protective cover 46. More precisely, as best visible on Figure 10 and 12, four tabs 56 are provided such that the protective cover 46 can encase the shaving blade assembly 18 when slid onto the last. The tabs 56 and the upper face 51 define a volume in which the shaving blade assembly 18 can be received when the protective cover 46 is slid on the razor. The protective cover 46 can further comprise a bottom abutment 58 forming an abutment for the protective cover 46 when it is slid onto the shaving blade assembly 18.

The above mentioned lockers 48 can each comprise a rib 48 and can be provided on the inner surface of the tabs 56. For instance, a first locker 48 is provided on one of the tabs 56 on the side of the leading skin contact part 34 and a second one is provided on one of the tabs 56 on the side of the trailing skin contact part 36. A first locker slot 50 can be provided correspondingly on the protective cover 46 on the side of the leading skin contact part 34 and a second one 50 can provided on the protective cover 46 on the side of the trailing skin contact part 36. Actually, several lockers and lockers slots can be provided. For instance, one locker 48 can be provided on each of the four tabs 56 in order to snap-fit in four corresponding locker slots 50 as visible on Figure 12. Similarly, the lockers are provided on the protective cover 46 and the locker slots on the skin contact member 16, but the contrary is possible (the lockers are provided on the skin contact member 16 and the locker slots on the protective cover 46) or a combination (lockers and locker slots are provided on the skin contact member 16 and locker and locker slots are provided on the protective cover 46) . In summary, at least one locker and one locker slot is provided on the skin contact member 16 and on the protective cover 46.

When the protective cover 46 is completely slid on the shaving blade assembly 18, it is in its full stop position and the lockers 48 are located in the locker slots 50. The protective cover 46 is able to slide on the shaving blade assembly 18 until the lockers 48 snap-fit in the locker slots 50.

In reference, to Figure 14, the connecting means 44 are still accessible when the protective cover 46 is connected on the shaving blade assembly 18. Actually, there is no need to detach the razor handle 12 from the shaving blade assembly 18 to attach / detach the protective cover 46.

The protective cover 46 can comprise a material chosen among the plastic, for instance ABS, polypropylene, etc. It is preferably molded in one piece.