PROTECTIVE COVER FOR RAZOR HEAD

The present invention is directed to protective covers for use with razor heads and, more particularly, to protective covers having shielded engagement members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term "razor head" is meant to include cartridges which are designed and manufactured for attachment to a separate razor, as well as the operative portions of disposable razors wherein the skin-engaging portions are integrally formed with a handle section.

During the manufacturing process, one or more precisely sharpened blades are typically assembled within the support structure of a razor head or a supporting structure is molded around the blades. The razor heads are typically handled in bulk quantities by automatic packaging and handling equipment which poses a risk of damaging the sharpened blades. It has therefore been previously suggested that the sharpened edges of the heads be protected with a protective cover in order to avoid damage to the blades. The protective covers previously suggested are also designed to protect consumers from cutting their fingers on the very sharp blades by providing the consumers with a safe place to hold a disposable cartridge while it is being attached to a razor.

Previously disclosed protective covers are typically formed as a single-layered shell in the general shape of a razor

head and with two or more detents on the inner wall of the plastic cover adapted to engage the razor head. Such protective covers are designed to be removed from a razor head by simply applying sufficient force to overcome the gripping action of the detents .

Such previously disclosed protective covers suffer from several disadvantages. Since such protective covers are formed as a single layer, when they were grasped by a consumer, the consumer could significantly increase the removal forces since the force applied by the consumer's grasp may move the detents inwardly. It would therefore be desirable to provide a protective cover for a razor head wherein a consumer would not increase the force required to remove the protective cover from a razor head when the consumer grasps the protective cover.

Another shortcoming of previously disclosed protective covers was that they typically comprised resilient detents which are fragile and typically spaced on their sides from the other walls of the protective cover. Those spaces and the resilient tabs increased the risks of tangling and breakage during automatic handling and bowl feeding of the protective covers prior to loading with a razor head. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a protective cover having a retention member which is itself protected in order to facilitate handling and decrease the risk of breakage.

Furthermore, previously disclosed protective covers were subject to dislodgement from a razor head if the razor head and protective cover were dropped and the cover landed on an exposed retention member. It would therefore also be desirable to provide a protective cover which is less likely to become dislodged from impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to protective covers for razor heads comprising at least one retention member for releasably engaging a razor head and a shield for that retention member. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a plurality of retention members which are shielded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the protective covers comprise spacers for spacing the blades of a razor head from the blade cover in order to minimize the risk of damage to the sharpened blades which could occur upon contact of the blades and the blade cover.

The shields which protect the retention tabs on the protective covers of preferred embodiments of the present invention advantageously facilitate handling and reduce the risk of breakage to the protective covers of the present invention during automatic handling and packaging. The shields also enable consumers to grasp the protective cover at any location without influencing the amount of force needed to remove the cover from a razor head. The disclosed protective covers also advantageously reduce the risk of dislodgement from a razor head by accidental impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial, bottom, perspective view of one end of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrated embodiments of the present invention comprise protective covers adapted to engage the sides of a razor head in order to protect the skin-engaging elements of the razor head from damage while also including features which will minimize the risk of damage to the razor head by the protective cover itself. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a blade cover 10, forward wall 20, rear wall 30 and side walls 40.

Blade cover 10 is advantageously provided with an opening 50 which extends for a major portion of the length of blade cover 10 and is positioned proximate rear wall 30. Opening 50 is provided in order to permit circulation of air to a shaving aid disposed on the cap of a razor head. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that when razor heads are formed with a shaving aid, such as a lubricating strip, the lubricating strip may be molded onto the support structure of the razor head with a moisture content which will decrease/vary during the shipping and handling of the razor head. Furthermore, during conditions of high heat and high humidity which may occur during shipping, certain shaving aids may become soft and would tend to stick to blade cover 10 causing an unsightly appearance if the blade cover contacted the shaving aid.

While the advantages of the present invention may be realized with a single retention member, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention advantageously comprises two retention members 60 positioned at the inner ends of the protective cover for releasably engaging the side walls of a razor head. Retention members 60 are advantageously sufficiently resilient to allow a razor head to be positioned between opposing retention member 60. Retention members 60 also comprises detents 65 which, according to the illustrated

embodiment, have sloping upper and downward sides in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of a razor head into the protective cover.

Retention members 60 are protected from impact by shields 70 which are advantageously disposed in spaced relation to retention members 60.

In order to further protect retention member 60 from any impacts received by shield 70, the illustrated embodiments of the present invention advantageously connect the shields 70 to side walls 40 with connecting walls 75 and upper wall 76. In this manner, any forces which impact shield 70 are translated to side wall 40, and not directly to retention member 60. This illustrated design significantly reduces the risk that forces applied to shield 70 either through an accidental impact or by a consumer gripping the sides of the protective cover will result in the dislodgement of the razor head or an increase in the forces required for the insertion/removal of a razor head from the protective cover, respectively.

While the illustrated embodiment of the present invention provides retention tabs disposed on the sides of the protective cover, it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide one or more retention tabs disposed at other locations within the protective cover, such as the inner sides of the front wall 20 and/or rear wall 30. It is also within the scope of the present invention to connect a shield, such as shield 70, to the protective cover in a manner other than the manner illustrated. For example, it is not absolutely necessary to provide both upper support wall 76 and connecting wall 75 in order to maintain shield 70 in spaced relation to retention member 65. The illustrated embodiment is believed advantageous since the use of both connecting wall 75 and upper support wall 76 advantageously provide additional shielding to retention member 60. Furthermore, the illustrated design

provides fewer openings than would a design which utilized only one of the illustrated connecting walls and therefore reduces the risk that the protective covers of the present invention will become tangled during bulk handling and feeding operations when they are manufactured by automatic equipment. By providing shield 70 with connecting wall 75 and upper support wall 76, the amount of force that shield 70 can withstand is also increased.

Another advantageous aspect of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is the provision of spacers 80 for spacing a razor head away from blade cover 10 and thereby reducing the risk of damage to the blades. In the illustrated embodiment, spacers 80 are advantageously disposed on the inner ends of blade cover 10.

The present invention thereby provides a safer protective cover for a razor head which is particularly suited for manufacturing by insert molding and overcomes disadvantages inherent in the handling of protective covers both before and after the protective cover is placed onto a razor head.

Specifically, the protective covers of the present invention retain their retention properties even during bulk handling and feeding. Furthermore, the novel aspects of the present invention significantly reduce the risk of damage to a razor head by the cover itself. The protective covers of the present invention are also safer than previous designs since the relatively modest forces needed by consumers to insert/remove a razor head are maintained constant even if consumers squeeze the protective cover proximate the retention tabs.