US3477127A - Emollient applicator for attachment to an electric shaver - Google Patents

Description

M. J. REGAN EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR .AT'IACHMENT TO AN ELECTRIC SHAVER Nov, 11, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1967 'INVENTOR. MALACHYJ-PEGAIV v I Nov. 11, 1969 M. J. REGAN 3,477,127

EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR ATTACHMENT To AN ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Ndv. 15, 1967 v v 2 sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. v flf/MAC'IIY J EEG/Ml United States Patent 3,477,127 EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ELECTRIC SHAVER Malachy J. Regan, 1516 York Ave., New York, N.Y. 10028 Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,335 Int. Cl. B26b 19/48; B08b 1/00 US. Cl. 3041 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a mans face for shaving with an electric shaver, to prevent nicking, chafing and burning of the skin and pulling of the beard, such as is frequently experienced, by the application of a suitable emollient substance simultaneously with the act of shaving.

It is common knowledge among users of electric shavers that a tough beard or a tender skin, and particularly these two in combination, makes it exceedingly uncomfortable to cut the beard sufficiently close to achieve a smooth, well-groomed appearance. Furthermore, when an electric shaver is operated for more than a few moments, it heats up and the heat of the cutting heads increases the discomfort experienced by the user and leaves the skin reddened and chafed.

Many users of electric shavers have become inured to this burning and pulling, because of the advantages of speed and the elimination of preparatory lathering and the post-shaving application of lotion, required for a blade shave.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide means for conditioning the face and neck so that an-electric shaver will cut the beard clean and close without burning the skin. When the device of the present invention is used, with lotion applied simultaneously with the action of the shaver, the latter is prevented frrom heating up, thus giving a greater measure of comfort to the face and neck. In addition, the present invention prevents particles of beard that have been cut off, from being passed repeatedly through the cutting heads, thereby obstructing the action of the shaving head upon the beard which remains uncut, and this result is achieved to an even greater extent when the emollient used has an oil base, thus effecting an improvement in the cutting action of the shaver.

As is commonly known, the skin is more susceptible to burn when it is dry than when it is moist. Furthermore, the beard may be cut more easily when it is moist.

For the purpose of this invention, therefore, a device for application to the face and neck of a suitable emollient, simultaneously with the shaving action, is shown in the attached drawings forming a part of this application, in which like numbers indicate the same parts in all figures, and in which FIGURE 1 shows the head of an electric shaver of one of the conventional configurations, having the applicator adhesively attached to the shaver head;

FIGURE 2 shows the electric shaver as in FIGURE 1, but with the device of the present invention attached by means of the mating action of ridges or projections on the internal periphery of the device, with grooves or depressions on the shaver head;

FIGURE 3 shows the device of the present invention, detached from the shaver head, made into a substantially rigid form;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the device of the present invention in the form of a flex- 3,477,127 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 ICC ible, elastic member suited to use with electric shavers of various sizes and configurations, and having the applicator means integrally attached to said member;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is-a plan view, part sectional, of another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the applicator is mounted on a roller on each side of the shaver head;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the device as in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a conventional electric shaver 10 is shown having cutting heads 11, 11 and groove 12 on the side of the head, provided to accommodate the clips of the cover (not shown). The applicator material 13 is adhesively attached upon the shaver head, surrounding the cutting head assembly.

In FIGURE 2, the device of the present invention, in the form of a substantially rigid frame 14 having the applicator material 13 integrally attached thereto, is shown fitted upon the shaver by means of ridges or projections 15 mating with grooves 12.

As the invention appears in FIGURE 3, the parts thereof may be more easily discerned, and FIGURE 4 shows the construction of the device.

In order to accommodate a single device for use with various configurations of shavers, the flexible, elastic member 16 shown in FIGURE 5 is provided, wherein spaced apart projections 17, 17 upon the internal periphery of said member permit the same to be fitted upon shavers of various configurations by the mating of said projections with the grooves of the respective shaver heads, the applicator material 13 being integrally attached to said member, with suitable separation points as at 18 to permit stretching of the member without distortion or detachment of said applicator material.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the applicator 13 has a generally cylindrical configuration, and disposed longitudinally therethrough, mounting means 19 for retaining said applicators in close relationship with the shaver head. The details of construction of this embodiment are more clearly shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

In use, the device of the present invention is either adhesively attached to, or clipped onto, the electric shaver after removal of the protective cover therefrom; and a suitable emollient such as a conventional shaving lotion or an oil-based healing or cooling liquid is applied to the absorbent material of the said applicator. This may be accomplished either by immersion of said applicator into the emollient, or by pouring small quantities of the latter upon the applicator material.

The shaver is then passed across the surface of the neck and face, where the beard is to be removed, thus moistening the skin and heard simultaneously with the cutting action of the shaver, and the beard is cut off without chafing, burning or nicking the skin. By softening the beard and shaving simultaneously, shaving time is re- ,duced, and said shaving time is further reduced because a larger area may be shaved at a time, with fewer strokes. No more short strokes of the shaver are required, and the length of the stroke to be used is limited only by the contour of the face and the area required to be shaved.

The embodiment of FIGURE 7 provides the added advantage of a massaging action of the rollers as they are moved back and forth across the face and neck.

When an oil-based emollient is used, the oil tends to hold the particles of beard and carry them along, instead of leaving them to be cut and re-cut as the shaver is moved back and forth across the skin. This oil base also serves to improve the effectiveness of the cutting heads of the shaver.

When the shaving is completed, the film of emollient remaining on the skin serves to protect the skin, eliminating the need for an after-shave lotion such as has heretofore been necessary with conventional shaving methods and devices.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, an emollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive material and means for attaching the applicator to the shaver so that the body of absorptive material is positioned along at least a portion of the edge of the shaving surface, said attaching means including an annular frame having a size and configuration similar to the periphery of the shaving surface, means upon the internal periphery of said frame for engagement with groove means which surround at least in part the shaving surface, and wherein the body of absorbent material is a compressible sponge-like material mounted on the outer periphery of said frame.

2. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, an emollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive material and means for attaching the applicator to the shaver so that the body of absorptive material is positioned along at least a portion of the edge of the shaving surface, said attaching means being an elastic member having spaced apart at intervals upon the inner periphery thereof projections for engagement with groove means which surround at least in part the shaving surface, and wherein the absorbent material is a compressible sponge-like material mounted on the outer periphery of said applicator.

3. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, an emollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive compressible sponge-like material and means for adhesively attaching and retaining the applicator to the outer periphery of said shaver surface so that the body of absorptive material is positioned along at least a portion of the edge of the shaving surface, said compressible,

sponge-like material is adhesively attached and retained upon the outer periphery of said shaver surface.

4. Applicator means for use with electric shavers, wherein a frame of configuration substantially similar to the shaving surface of said electric shaver is mounted upon said shaver surface, with means upon the internal periphery of said frame for attachment thereof to the outer periphery of said shaving surface, and having upon at least a portion of the outer periphery of said frame absorbent, compressible, sponge-like material of such nature as to receive, retain, and upon pressure being applied thereto, to release an emollient substance, such emollient having the effect, when applied by such pressure upon the face and neck, of softening the skin and heard to permit close shaving of the beard without burning or chafing of the skin.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said absorbent, compressible, sponge-like material comprises at least one body of substantially cylindrical configuration, having a portion of said frame extending longitudinally therethrough to permit rotation of said sponge-like material upon the axis formed by said portion of the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,663,809 3/1928 Moon 30-45 2,677,883 5/1954 Schallgruber 401- XR 3,103,299 9/1963 Werft 30-41 XR 3,360,855 1/1968 Gwinn 30-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,967 2/1925 Great Britain.

690,828 4/1953 Great Britain.

203,759 1/1956 Australia.

66,602 1/ 1957 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 15-10493

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