This application claims benefit from European patent application EP19154897.3 filed on 31-Jan-2019, its content being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001] The following description relates to razor cartridges for shaving devices, and more particularly to a razor cartridge having at least two blade assemblies that allow for an increase in the inter-blade span (IBS) of consecutive blade assemblies.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Shaving devices generally include a head unit having at least one or more cutting members or blades retained therein. The at least one or more cutting members or blades have cutting edges that are aligned in parallel when retained within the head unit.

[0003] Conventional shaving heads include a blade mounted on the upper surface of a blade support. The upper surface being understood as flat portion of the blade support which in use faces the shaving surface. To avoid nicks and cuts using this configurations it is known to bring blade assemblies closer to each other. This also reduces the sense of irritation and enhances the glideness experience of the user during shaving. Document US 8,117,753 discloses shaving heads having average inter-blade span not greater than 1.25mm.

[0004] However, an inter-blade span smaller than 1.25 mm is a relatively small inter-blade span involving relatively small space available for water and shaving debris to flow between the cutting members and out of the razor (and shaving surface), i.e., rinsability.

[0005] Prior attempts to decrease undesirable skin irritation while also improve rinsability include:

1) inter-blade guards that act as skin guards. The inter-blade guards provide a rinse- through gap across the length of the blades to alleviate the constricting spaces between blades. The use of inter-blade guards which act as skin guards assists with rinsability and skin stretching to prevent skin bulging;

2) metallic spacers formed above the surface of the blade, defining a skin engaging cap portion; and/or

3) ink objects, printed on the razor blade, which act as skin guards.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present disclosure provides a razor cartridge comprising two or more blade assemblies. The razor cartridge comprises a first blade support and a second blade support. Each of the first and second blade supports include a flat portion having an inner surface which in use faces away from a shaving surface. A first blade is provided attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the first blade support, wherein the first blade includes a first cutting edge. A second blade is provided attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the second blade support, wherein the second blade includes a second cutting edge. A distance between the first and second cutting edges is within a range of 1,6 mm to 2,2 mm.

[0007] The distance between the first and second cutting edges may be within a range of 1,70 mm to 2 mm.

[0008] The distance between the first and second cutting edges may be within a range of 1,75 to 1,95.

[0009] Each of the first and second blade support may include a front end configured to contact skin.

[0010] At least one front end may be rounded.

[0011] Each of the first and second blade support may include a base portion extending at an angle b from the flat portion, the angle b may be formed between the flat portion and the base portion of the respective first and second blade supports may be within a range of 104° to 120°. [0012] The razor cartridge may further comprise a third blade support. The third blade support may include a flat portion having an inner surface which faces away from the shaving surface S. A third blade may be attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the third blade support. The third blade may include a third cutting edge. A distance between the second to the third cutting edges may be within a range of 1,6 mm to 2,2 mm.

[0013] The distance between the second to the third cutting edges may be within a range of 1,70 mm to 2 mm.

[0014] The distance between the second to the third cutting edges may be within a range of 1,75mm to 1,95mm.

[0015] The razor cartridge may further comprise a fourth blade support. The fourth blade support may include a flat portion having an inner surface which faces away from the shaving surface S. A fourth blade may be attached to the inner surface of the flat portion of the fourth blade support. The fourth blade may include a fourth cutting edge. A distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges may be within a range of 1,6 mm to 2,2 mm.

[0016] The distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges may be within a range of 1,70 mm to 2 mm.

[0017] The distance between the third to the fourth cutting edges may be within a range of 1,75 to 1,95.

[0018] The third and/or fourth blade supports may include a front end that may be configured to contact skin.

[0019] At least one front end may be rounded.

[0020] A shaver comprising a handle and the aforementioned razor cartridge. The razor cartridge being connectable to the handle. The razor cartridge comprises four blade assemblies, the distance between consecutive cutting edges is 1.85 mm ± 0.1 mm.

[0021] An aspect of having a razor cartridge in which the blades are mounted on the inner surface of the blade support, i.e. on the surface that in use faces away from the shaving surface is that during shaving, the skin is supported by the blade cutting edges and by the blade support ends. This provides for additional skin contacting points, where traditionally only the cutting edges where skin contacting points. The skin contacting points are now doubled thereby allowing for the inter blade span (IBS) to be increased at the same time as the skin remains supported by the additional skin contacting points. Since the skin is additionally supported by the blade support ends, the possibility of the skin to create a bulge in between two consecutive blade cutting edges ("bulging effect") even with increased IBS is reduced thereby also reducing nicks and cuts.

[0022] Further, by increasing the IBS, and therefore the opening or spacing between the blades, effective removal of the shaving debris during the shaving experience is achieved. This leads to less need for rinsing the shaver during a shaving experience as the increased IBS allows for a continuous flow of water, shaving debris, shaving foam thereby reducing the occurrence of clogging. This improves the overall shaving experience because the shaving debris can now flow easily through the larger opening (IBS) during the shaving experience. In addition, a user may not need to agitate or even bang the shaver (against the sink) to dislodge debris during rinsing. This extends lifetime of the shavers, particularly as banging of the shaver to dislodge debris may in circumstances undesirably change blade exposure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Fig. 1 details a side view of a plurality of blade assemblies of a conventional razor having the blades mounted on the upper surface of the blade support.

[0024] Fig. 2 details a side view of a plurality of blade assemblies having the blades mounted on the lower surface of the blade support.

[0025] Fig. 3A details a perspective view of a shaver including a handle and a razor cartridge including the plurality of blade assemblies of Fig. 2. [0026] Fig. 3B details a cross-section of the razor cartridge of Fig. 3A along plane A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a plurality of conventional blade assemblies, each blade assembly 10 includes a blade support 12 and a blade 14. Each of the plurality of conventional blade assemblies are configured to be assembled into a razor cartridge (not shown).

[0028] The blade support 12 may include a base portion 12a and a flat portion 12b. The flat portion 12b may have a front end 12c. The flat portion 12b may extend at an angle a relative to the base portion 12a. The flat portion 12b may have an upper surface 12b' facing a shaving surface S when in use and a lower surface 12b" opposite the upper surface 12b'.

[0029] The blade 14 may include an upper surface 14a also facing the shaving surface S, a lower surface 14b opposite the upper surface 14a, and a cutting edge 14c. The lower surface 14b of the blade 14 may be attached to the upper surface 12b' of the blade support 12.

[0030] As can be seen in the example shown in Fig. 1, the only point of contact with the shaving surface S, which is skin in this example, is the cutting edges 14c. This configuration can thus place excess blade pressure on the skin, which can lead to nicks and cuts. As such, in conventional shavers, a distance A between adjoining blade assemblies (IBS) is known to be smaller than 1.25 mm so that the blade pressure on the skin is spread out over a larger surface area.

[0031] Shown in Fig. 2 is a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly 100 includes a blade support 120 and blade 140. In the example shown in Fig. 2 four blade assemblies 100 are shown. In alternative examples, other number of blade assemblies may be foreseen as long as there are two consecutive ones to establish the herein disclosed distance between two consecutive blade cutting edges (IBS). [0032] The blade support 120 may include a base portion 120a and a flat portion 120b. The flat portion 120b may extend at an angle b relative to the base portion 120a. The angle between the flat portion 120b and the base portion 120a may be, for example, between 104° to 120°. The flat portion 120b may have an upper surface 120b' facing the shaving surface S when in use and a lower surface 120b" opposite the upper surface 120b'. The lower surface 120" may thus face away from the shaving surface S when in use.

[0033] The blade 140 may include an upper surface 140a, a lower surface 140b opposite the upper surface 140a, and a cutting edge 140c. The upper surface 140a of the blade 140 may be attached to the lower surface 120b" of the blade support 120. The blade may have a thickness between 0.04-0.12mm.

[0034] The flat portion 120b of the blade support 120 may have a front end 120c. As can be seen in the example shown in Fig. 2, the front end 120c and the blade cutting edge 140c both act as contact points with the shaving surface S, e.g. the skin. This configuration spreads the blade pressure over a larger surface area of the skin, which reduces the blade pressure on the skin thereby reducing irritation. Put in other words, this contributes to further smoothening skin contacting during shaving. Also the fact that there are additional skin (shaving surface) contacting points helps following the contour of the skin/shaving surface thereby reducing the well-known bulging effect, i.e. the possibility of the skin to be bulged in between consecutive blade cutting edges during shaving. This reduces nicks and cuts.

[0035] Furthermore, this configuration allows for an increase in the IBS, i.e. the distance A between consecutive cutting edges of adjoining blade assemblies 100. With the above described configuration, the distance A (IBS) may be between 1,6 mm to 2,2 mm, more specifically from 1,70 mm to 2 mm and most specifically from 1,75 to 1,95. In an example, the IBS may be 1.85 mm ± 0.1 mm. This means that pressure on skin is reduced at the same time as the cartridge is less prone to clogging therefore rinsing necessity is reduced. [0036] The front end 120c may be flat or rounded. An aspect of having a rounded front end 120c is that it further increases the sliding of the blade assembly on the skin (shaving surface). This further contributes to improve glideness.

[0037] Also shown in Fig. 2 is a distance B, which is the distance between the cutting edge 140c and the front end 120c of the adjoining blade support 120. With the configuration of the present disclosure, distance B may be between the range of 1.2mm to 1.8mm.

[0038] Shown in Fig. 3A is a shaver 1 including a handle 6 and a razor cartridge 2 including the plurality of blade assemblies 100 substantially as disclosed herein mounted in a head unit 5. Due to the IBS of conventional razors, it is common for the head unit to include five blade assemblies therein. However, with the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a razor cartridge 2 that includes four blade assemblies 100 enclosed within the same head unit 5 that traditionally included five blades. This can reduce the cost of razor cartridges 2 while performance is at least maintained or even improved. Furthermore, this blade assembly 100 may be incorporated into existing standard head units 5, thus a manufacturer does not need to make major changes to their existing manufacturing process, therefore reducing the costs associated with a change over.

[0039] Shown in Figs. 3A and 3B is an exemplary razor cartridge 2 including a shaving head unit 5 having four movable shaving blade assemblies 100. In alternative examples, it is envisioned that any suitable number of blades may be used, for example two or more blades. In alternative examples, the shaving blade assemblies 100 may be fixed blades. Including blade assemblies, e.g. four shaving blade assemblies 100, expedites the shaving experience as well as extends the life of the razor head.

[0040] The razor cartridge 1 may have a guard bar 3 and a rear cap 4. In alternative examples, the razor cartridge 1 may not include the guard bar 3 and/or rear cap 4. [0041] In the shaving direction, the guard bar 3 is shown in front of the blade assemblies 100 and the rear cap 4 is provided behind the blade assemblies 100.

[0042] As aforementioned, the razor cartridge 2 includes four resilient elements 7 (for example spring fingers) elastically biasing each blade assembly 100 towards a rest position. In alternative examples where the razor cartridge 2 includes a different number of blade assemblies 100, a corresponding number of resilient elements 7 may be foreseen. Accordingly, the blade assemblies 100 may be movable under forces encountered during shaving. The resilient elements 7 may be molded as a single piece with the head unit 5.

[0043] In some examples, the razor cartridge 2 may include fixed blade assemblies 100 that may not have resilient elements 7.

[0044] It has been found that a razor cartridge 2 including four movable blade assemblies, as shown in the example of FIG. 3B, wherein the IBS between each consecutive cutting edge is 1.85mm ± 0.1 mm and the blade is mounted in the lower surface of the blade support, the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving by the cutting edges 140c is about 10 times lower than a pressure exerted by conventional razor cartridges five movable blades with the cutting edge mounted on the upper surface of the blade support and the IBS being of about 1.0 - 1.4mm.

[0045] Further, it has been found that a razor cartridge 2 including four movable blade assemblies, as shown in the example of FIG. 3B, wherein the IBS between each consecutive cutting edge is 1.85mm ± 0.1 mm and wherein the blade is mounted in the lower surface of the blade support, the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving by the cutting edges 140c is of about 10 times lower than a pressure exerted by razor cartridges with four movable blades with the cutting edge mounted on the upper surface of the blade support and the IBS being of about 1.85 ± 0.1 mm. Such a reduction in the pressure applied to the skin of a user during shaving is also accompanied by the increased flow of debris and water and shaving foam due to the increased IBS.