There are many different forms of shaving kit on the market and these typically comprise separate elements such as a disposable razor, a tube of shaving cream and a shaving brush. Where such elements are supplied separately, it is easy for them to become separated from one another leading to the need for hunting around in the bottom of a bag trying to reassemble the different parts of the kit. One approach to this problem is to provide all of the different elements as a boxed set. However, the extra packaging involved in providing the elements in a box often results in an inconveniently sized package.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a shaving kit comprising a tube of shaving lubricant having a member associated with it, the member being arranged to releasably secure a razor to the tube.

The lubricant may be a cream or gel for instance.

Hereinafter, the member will be generally referred to as a"clip".

Preferably, such a razor is either of the disposable type or of a type having facility for blade changing, for instance, by removal and replacement of a head part.

The clip is preferably attached to the shaving lubricant container, by means of a securing member. The

securing member and the clip preferably act to sandwich a first end of the shaving lubricant container between them.

The securing member may include one or more protrusions for cooperation with protrusion receiving means formed in the clip. Alternatively, one or more protrusions may be formed on the clip for cooperating with protrusion receiving means in the securing member.

Preferably, said one or more protrusions are arranged to pass through a portion of the shaving lubricant container. The portion of the container penetrated by said one or more protrusions, preferably forms hanging means for the tube. Such hanging means may be in the form of a so- called"euroslot".

Preferably, the clip is provided with means for detachably receiving a head part of the razor. Such means may comprise a receiving area into which the head is insertable. The receiving area may include resilient retaining means which are arranged to retain the razor head within the receiving area. The resilient retaining means preferably are arranged to be deflected in a first direction to allow entry of the head into the receiving area and to then locate around a part of the head of the razor to maintain it in position. Removal of the razor from the clip may be achieved by gripping the razor handle and moving it away from the container body, causing the retaining means to flex and release the head.

The clip may further include a storage area in which, for instance, spare razor blades may be kept. Such a storage area might alternatively be used to store

promotional items such as free small gifts or instructive or promotional literature.

The clip may further comprise a cover. The cover is preferably arranged to protect the head of the razor. The cover may be provided with means for retaining the cover in a closed position over the head of the razor blade. Said means may comprise detent means.

Preferably, the clip further includes a tongue of material which is arranged, in use, to lie against a sidewall of the container. The tongue may form a hand grip by means of which a user can manipulate the container.

Such manipulation preferably includes providing a convenient means for squeezing the container to dispense lubricant.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a brush for the shaving lubricant. The brush preferably forms part of the container. The brush head may be provided with an internally threaded portion for cooperating with an externally threaded portion of the container. The container itself preferably forms the brush handle by means of which the brush is manipulated. The tongue of material preferably provides a convenient means by which the brush may be manipulated.

Preferably, lubricant from the container - is fed directly to bristles of the brush. Preferably, the container is squeezable, such that upon squeezing the container lubricant is dispensed from the container and automatically fed to bristles of the brush from an

underside of the brush. Preferably, cream is supplied to bristles from the centre of the brush.

Preferably, said brush comprises an adaptor element for attaching to an externally threaded end of the container and includes internally threaded attachment means which communicates with a lubricant delivery nozzle situated substantially centrally of the brush, bristles being arranged around the substantially centrally situated delivery nozzle. The bristles may be arranged in clusters.

The bristle clusters may be arranged in concentric fashion around the central delivery nozzle.

Preferably, said bristles are arranged such that the innermost bristles, i. e. those bristles located nearest to the nozzle, extend upwardly from a point which is raised with respect to the bottom parts of the outer bristles - in otherwords, the bottom parts of the inner most bristles are physically located higher on the brush head than the bottom parts of the outer bristles. Preferably, lubricant is delivered at a part which is adjacent to a bottom point of the innermost bristles. Preferably, the delivery nozzle delivery lubricant to a point on the brush head which is raised relative to the bottom parts of the outer bristles.

The delivery nozzle may include means for receiving a cap for covering the shaving brush, when not in use.

Preferably, the cap includes an outer surrounding wall, which extends downwardly from a top cover portion, the cap further comprising downwardly depending centrally located means for cooperating with the delivery nozzle. Preferably, when the cap is in position, the delivery

nozzle is blocked. The cap preferably includes retaining means provided on the outer surrounding wall for cooperation with one or more complimentary retaining members formed on the brush.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a shaving kit is provided comprising a tube of shaving lubricant having a member, such as a clip, associated with it, the member being arranged to releasably secure a razor to the tube, and further comprising a brush head associated with the tube and to which shaving lubricant may be automatically delivered by squeezing the tube.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a shaving brush comprising a handle and a brush head, the handle being made of a squeezable tube containing shaving lubricant, and the brush head having a lubricant delivery nozzle formed therein such that squeezing of the handle brings about automatic delivery of lubricant to the brush head.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for forming shaving apparatus, the kit of parts comprising : a member having means for attachment to a standard shaving lubricant container and having a receiving area for receiving a part of a razor ; and a brush head having attachment means to allow the brush head to be attached to such a standard shaving lubricant container.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a clip, by means of which a razor may be associated with a shaving lubricant container.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a brush attachment for a tube of shaving lubricant, said brush attachment comprising : means for associating the attachment with the tube ; and lubricant delivery means, for receiving lubricant from such a tube and distributing it to bristles of the brush head.

The invention of the second and subsequent aspects may each further comprise any one or more elements of the first aspect of the invention, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 and Figure 2 are first and second views of a shaving kit, in the first view the head of a razor is covered, and in the second view, the head is exposed ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clip portion of the shaving kit of Figures 1 and 2 ; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a securing portion of the clip of Figure 3 ; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the securing portion of Figure 4, as viewed along line A-A ; Figure 6 shows detail of a tube of shaving cream forming part of the kit of Figures 1 and 2 ;

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a cross-sectional view and a bottom plan view of a cap for use with the shaving kit ; Figures 9,10 and 11 show a base portion of a brush forming part of the shaving kit, Figure 9 being a top plan view, Figure 10 being a side cross-sectional view as viewed along line B-B of Figure 9, and Figure 11 being a bottom plan view ; Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing part of the tube, cap and brush of the shaving kit and showing a typical bristle configuration of the brush ; and Figures 13 to 17 are various different perspective views showing an alternative clip for use with the shaving kit.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a shaving kit in accordance with the present invention.

Whenever shaving"cream"is referred to below, it will be appreciated that this term may be replaced by the more general reference to a"lubricant"which also encompasses shaving gel for instance. Also, wherever the term"clip" is referred to below, this is done for conciseness and is intended to cover any member which fulfils the function of releasably securing a razor to a container.

The shaving kit comprises a razor 1, a tube of shaving cream 2, a clip 3 for associating the razor 1 with the tube 2, a cap 4 and a shaving brush 5.

Referring now to Figure 3, in conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the clip 3 comprises a base portion 31, a hinged cover portion 32 and a securing member 33.

In Figure 3, the cover portion 32 is shown being joined to the base portion 31 by means of a side hinge 34. The securing member 33 shown side by side in Figure 3 with the base member 31 is not attached as the cover 32 is to the base portion 31, but is actually a separate moulding. The securing member 33, as shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5 comprises an elongate tab of material 35 on which a pair of protrusions 36,37 are formed. These protrusions 36,37 have an enlarged head region 361,371 which, in use, are arranged to pass through apertures 381,382 formed in the base portion 31 of the clip 3. The enlarged heads 361, 371 are arranged to positively locate through the apertures 381,382 in a non-removable fashion and, in use, secure the clip 3 to the tube 2, by passing through a slot formed in an end of the tube.

Referring briefly now to Figure 6, the tube 2 is shown with the aforementioned slot 21 formed in an end portion thereof. The slot 21 is what is commonly referred to as a "euroslot".

The protrusions 36,37 of the securing member 33 of Figures 4 and 5 are arranged to pass through the euroslot, (at opposing end regions thereof) and to extend through the slot and engage with the apertures 381,382 of the base portion 31 of the clip 3 so as to sandwich the end portion

of the tube to be nipped between the component parts of the clip 3 in a substantially non-reversible fashion.

As best shown in Figure 3, the base portion 31 of the clip 3 has a receiving area 39 for receiving the head 11 of- the razor 1 and a further storage area 310. In the embodiment shown, the receiving area 39 is defined by a ledge 391 formed on either side of a lower most part of the area 39 and a upwardly sloping wall 392. The storage area 310 may be used to store spare razor blades or other items.

For instance, the storage area 310 may be used to store promotional items such as small free gifts or promotional literature. The clip 3 further includes a base plate 30 which is a downwardly extending tongue having a number of dimples 301 formed on it to give it a textured effect.

This tongue of material forms a hand grip facilitating squeezing of the tube to dispense shaving cream and manipulation of the tube when using the brush.

Referring once again to Figure 6, further detail of the tube 2 will be described. As already mentioned, the tube 2 has a first end portion 22 in which the euroslot 21 is formed. The end portion 22 is effectively a flattened tail portion which does not contain any shaving cream. The shaving cream is instead contained within a hollow part of the container which is flexible so as to be squeezable by a user gripping the tube 2 and the tongue 30 of the clip 3.

As best seen by referring to Figure 12, the tube 2 has a second end 23 which is externally threaded. In fact, the tube 2 may be a standard tube of shaving cream, upon which a cap would ordinarily be attached by the threaded end 23.

However, in embodiments of the present invention, this tube

2, instead of being directly attached to a cap is actually attached to the head of a shaving brush 5 so that the shaving cream container itself acts as the brush handle.

The shaving brush 5 will now be described by referring to Figures 9 to 12. Brush 5 includes a base portion 50, having an internally threaded aperture 51 for attaching the base part 50 to the tube 2 and having an enlarged skirt defined by surrounding wall 52. The threaded aperture 51 communicates with a central cream dispensing nozzle 53.

The base 50 additionally has regions 54 for receiving bristles of the shaving brush.

Referring to Figure 12, the bristles 55 may be seen clearly as being grouped together in clumps and extending from the regions 54.

Referring to Figure 9, it can be seen that the bristles are arranged in concentric circles around the central cream dispensing nozzle 53. An innermost concentric circle 56 being raised above an intermediate concentric circle 57, which in turn is also raised above an outer concentric circle 58, so as to give the appearance shown in Figure 12 of the brush being higher in a middle region and descending towards its outer regions.

The central cream dispensing nozzle 53 is also arranged to engage the cap 4 in a resilient fashion.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the cap 4 comprises a cover region consisting of an outer surrounding wall 41 which depends downwardly from a top portion 42, and an internal downwardly projecting hollow rod 43. The hollow

rod 43 is arranged to be a slight interference fit with the cream dispensing aperture 53 of the brush 5, so as to block the aperture 53 when the cap is in place and to also provide a central anchoring point for the cap 4. Cap 4 also includes, at the lower most edge of the downwardly depending wall 41, an internal ridge 44 which is arranged to cooperate with a shoulder 59 formed circumferentially around the base 50 of the brush 5. This shoulder 59 ensures that the cap 4 is a positive click fit onto the base 50 of the brush 5. In this way, to engage the cap with the brush 50, the central rod 43 is first engaged in the cream dispensing aperture 53 of the base unit 50 and then pushed further onto it until the ridge 44 snaps into position by virtue of the shoulder 59.

Referring now to Figures 13 to 17, there are shown perspective views of an alternative form of clip 3 for use with the present invention.

In the Figures, there is shown clip 3', which comprises a base part 31'having a cover 32'joined to it by means of a top hinge 34'. The clip 3'also has a tongue portion 30' with dimples 301'formed on it. Storage area 310'and apertures 381'and 382'perform the same function as the equivalent storage area 310 and apertures 381,382 of the clip 3 shown in Figure 3. Although not shown in Figures 13 to 17, it will be appreciated that a securing portion 33, substantially the same as that shown in Figure 3 and Figures 4 and 5 is also provided, so as to allow the clip 3 to attach to the tube 2 in the same way as described in relation to the first embodiment.

Apart from the top hinged cover 32', the other major difference between the embodiments of Figures 13 to 17 and the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is the means for attaching the head 11 of razor blade 1 to the clip. In this case, the clip 3'whist including a similar bottom ledge 391'to that of the clip 3 of Figure 3, also features resilient head retaining means 393', 394'. Between the head retaining means 393', 394'and the bottom ledge 391', the head 11 of razor 1 may be securely located, with the locating means 393', 394'being sufficiently flexible to allow entry of the head portion 11 into a head receiving portion 39', but being sufficiently strong so as to hold that head in place so that it cannot be inadvertently removed.

The lower ledge 391'may also be arranged such that a lower part of it forms a wall under which tabs 395'of the cover 32'can be located in a positive fashion.

Use of the shaving kit as described above, will now be explained.

When a user wants to shave, the shaving kit comprising the tube 2, razor 1 etc. , is picked up by the user in one hand, and the cover 32, 32'opened. The user may then grasp the handle of the razor 1 and rotate the handle away from the container 2 so as to free the head 11 of the razor 1 from the clip 3. If the user wishes, the cover 32,32' can then be snapped shut. The user will then remove cap 4 and, by gripping the tongue portion 30, 30'of the clip 3, 3'cream is automatically delivered through the cream delivery nozzle 53. The user may then work the brush against his face in a conventional manner so as to apply

shaving cream to the face. To deliver more cream to the bristles, the user simply increases pressure upon the tube by means of the tongue of material 30,30'. The arrangement of the bristles, being downwardly sloping from the centre of the brush 5 mimics the form of conventional shaving brushes and has the advantage that movement of the brush against the face effectively distributes cream amongst the different circles 56-58 of bristles and on to the face. It is significant that the nozzle 53 delivers cream to an area which is already above the base area of the bristles on the outer circles 57-58 as that further aids and speeds up distribution of cream to the top parts of the brush.

In the manner described above, it will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention provides a particularly easy means of associating all of the elements required for wet shaving. Also, the system is particularly effective in use since there is no need to stop during the cream application stage to put more cream on the brush.

Instead, a user simply varies the manual pressure on the tube 2.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the apparatus and still remain within the scope of the invention. For instance, a small mirror may be provided inside the cover 32.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this

specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings),- and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.