Razor with movable guard and concurrently movable blade platform

Claim 2

A safety razor having a head portion including blade positioning structure, said blade positioning structure being arranged to permit the blade cuttIng edge to move relative to said head portion and including biasing means for urging the blade towards a first position of normal exposure, and a guard member mounted for movement between first and second positions to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry, said guard member disposed to engage said blade positioning structure, movement of said guard member causing concurrent movement of said blade cutting edge relative to said guard member and to said head portion and against the force of said biasing means to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 3

A safety razor for use with a blade comprising a generally hollow body member including first and second upper internal bearing portions and a lower internal bearing portion, said upper bearing portions for slidingly engaging the blade; blade positioning structure arranged to permit the blade cutting edge to move relative to said body member and comprising a blade support unit including a blade receiving surface for receiving a blade thereupon and elongated structure below said blade receiving surface having a bearing surface remote from said blade receiving surface and slidingly engaging said lower internal bearing portion of said body member, a spring clamp including a first portion which overlies said blade receiving surface and second and third portions which engage said elongated structure of said blade support unit, stress within said clamp produced by the engagement of said second and third portions with said elongated structure operative to exert a clamping force by said first portion upon a blade disposed upon said blade receiving surface, and spring means disposed in engagement with said spring clamp and exerting a force generally in the direction of said blade receiving surface of said support unit, to slide said blade positioning structure along said body member bearing portions to urge said blade receiving surface to a forward position in which a blade received thereupon has a normal exposure; and a guard member mounted adjacent the blade cutting edge for movement between first and second positions and disposed to engage said blade support unit, whereby movement of said guard member causes sliding movement of said blade support unit along said body member bearing portions against the influence of said spring means.

Claim 4

A safety razor for use with a blade comprising a generally hollow body member including first and second upper internal bearing portions and a lower internal bearing portion, said upper bearing portions for slidingly engaging the blade; blade positioning structure arranged to permit the blade cutting edge to move relative to said body member and comprising a blade support unit including a blade receiving surface for receiving a blade thereupon and elongated structure below said blade receiving surface having a bearing surface remote from said blade receiving surface and slidingly engaging said lower internal bearing portion of said body member, a spring clamp including a first portion which overlies said blade receiving surface and second and third portions which engage said elongated structure of said blade support unit, stress within said clamp produced by the engagement of said second and third portions with said elongated structure operative to exert a clamping force by said first portion upon a blade disposed upon said blade receiving surface, and spring means disposed in engagement with said spring clamp and exerting a force generally in the direction of said blade receiving surface of said support unit, to slide said blade positioning structure along said body member bearing portions to urge said blade receiving surface to a forward position in which a blade received thereupon has a normal exposure; and a guard member mounted adjacent the blade cutting edge for movement between first and second positions and disposed to engage said blade support unit, whereby movement of said guard member causes sliding movement of said blade support unit along said body member bearing portions against the influence of said spring means.

Claim 5

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means separate from said blade support structure in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 6

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means separate from said blade support structure in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 7

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative tO said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure, said stop structure being movable relative to said body structure and including a guard member, said guard member being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry of the shaving system and concurrently moving said blade support structure to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 8

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative tO said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure, said stop structure being movable relative to said body structure and including a guard member, said guard member being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry of the shaving system and concurrently moving said blade support structure to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 9

The razor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stop structure is mounted for rotational movement.

Claim 10

The razor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stop structure includes guard surfaces forward and rearward of said predetermined edge position.

Claim 11

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a surface adapted to support a blade, a reference surface, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge an edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 12

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a surface adapted to support a blade, a reference surface, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge an edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced from other portions of said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 13

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion, a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, and an aperture for receiving a dispenser key, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a reference surface, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge an edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, said spring member having a projecting portion extending rearwardly of said blade support structure and spaced from a surface of said body structure, a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced From other portions of said body structure, a cam surface engageable with said injector key, said cam surface as engaged by said dispenser key tending to force said blade support structure rearwardly to cause said projecting portion to engage said body structure and reduce the clamping force exerted by said spring member on said blade, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 14

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion, a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, and an aperture for receiving a dispenser key, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a reference surface, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge an edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, said spring member having a projecting portion extending rearwardly of said blade support structure and spaced from a surface of said body structure, a first bearing surface for engagement with said first bearing portion, a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface for engagement with said second bearing portion, said support structure normally being in engagement with said first and second bearing portions and spaced From other portions of said body structure, a cam surface engageable with said injector key, said cam surface as engaged by said dispenser key tending to force said blade support structure rearwardly to cause said projecting portion to engage said body structure and reduce the clamping force exerted by said spring member on said blade, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and stop structure for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure.

Claim 15

The razor as claimed in claim 8 wherein said biasing means is in engagement with said spring member.

Claim 16

A safety razor comprising body structure, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting a force on said support structure, and guard structure, said guard structure being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry and concurrently moving said blade support structure against the force of said biasing means to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 17

A safety razor comprising body structure, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting a force on said support structure, and guard structure, said guard structure being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry and concurrently moving said blade support structure against the force of said biasing means to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 18

The razor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said guard structure is mounted for rotational movement to provide a range of blade tangent angles.

Claim 19

The razor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said guard structure includes a first guard surface forward of said predetermined edge position and a second guard surface rearward of said predetermined edge position, said guard surfaces defining said cutting edge exposure.

Claim 20

The razor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said body structure includes an aperture for receiving a dispenser key and said blade support structure includes a cam surface engageable with said injector key for moving blade support structure relative to said body structure to release a blade positioned on said support surface.

Claim 21

The razor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said blade support structure is mounted in said body structure to move away from said guard structure in response to resistance encountered in shaving to reduce the exposure of the blade edge, thereby increasing the safety and comfort of the shaving operation.

Claim 22

A safety razor comprising body structure, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to supprot a blade and a reference surface and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge the rear edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting a force on said support structure, and guard structure, said guard structure being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry and concurrently moving said blade support structure against the force of said biasing means to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 23

A safety razor comprising body structure, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to supprot a blade and a reference surface and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge the rear edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting a force on said support structure, and guard structure, said guard structure being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry and concurrently moving said blade support structure against the force of said biasing means to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure.

Claim 24

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for sliding engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface For sliding engagement with said second bearing portion, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and guard structure including a guard surface positioned forwardly of said blade support surface, and a stop surface for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure, said guard surface being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry of the shaving system and concurrently moving said blade support structure to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure, and said blade support structure being mounted in said body structure to move away from said guard surface in response to resistance encountered in shaving to reduce the exposure of the blade edge, thereby increasing the safety and comfort of the shaving operation.

Claim 25

A safety razor comprising body structure having a first internal bearing portion and a second internal bearing portion positioned below and to the rear of said first internal bearing portion, blade support structure disposed in said body structure including a surface adapted to support a blade and being movable as a unit relative to said body structure, said support structure including a first bearing surface for sliding engagement with said first bearing portion, and a second bearing surface positioned beneath and to the rear of said first bearing surface For sliding engagement with said second bearing portion, biasing means in engagement with said body structure and exerting an upward force on said support structure, said biasing means tending to urge said first bearing surface to slide forwardly across said first bearing portion, and guard structure including a guard surface positioned forwardly of said blade support surface, and a stop surface for limiting the forward movement of said blade support structure under the influence of said biasing means and positioning the cutting edge of a blade supported on said blade support structure in predetermined position relative to said body structure, said guard surface being movable relative to said blade support structure to change the blade tangent angle of the shaving geometry of the shaving system and concurrently moving said blade support structure to maintain substantially constant cutting edge exposure, and said blade support structure being mounted in said body structure to move away from said guard surface in response to resistance encountered in shaving to reduce the exposure of the blade edge, thereby increasing the safety and comfort of the shaving operation.

Claim 26

The razor as claimed in claim 16 wherein said guard structure is mounted for rotational movement and includes guard surfaces forward and rearward of said predetermined edge position.

Claim 27

The razor as claimed in claim 17 wherein said blade support structure includes a reference surface and further including a spring member for biasing a blade positioned on said support surface to urge the rear edge of said blade into engagement with said reference surface, and said body structure includes an aperture for receiving a dispenser key and said blade support structure includes a cam surface engageable with said injector key for moving blade support structure relative to said body structure to release the clamping force exerted by said spring member on a blade positioned on said support surface.