GB2531491A

GB2531491A - Razor Blade Cartridges

Info

Publication number: GB2531491A
Application number: GB1400735.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hill Andrew; Honour Andrew
Original assignee: King of Shaves Co Ltd
Current assignee: King of Shaves Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-01-16
Filing date: 2014-01-16
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Also published as: GB201400735D0

Abstract

A razor blade cartridge 1 comprising a first 2 and second 3 housing part and a unitary blade support rack 4 with at least two blades 9 securely fixed thereto. The rack comprises a front edge 5 and a rear edge 6 and spaces (7, figure 2) between each blade and the adjacent rear edge. Each blade has a corresponding cutting edge and securing means 11 for securing the first housing part to the second housing part so the blade rack is movably secured between the first housing part and the second housing part. The first housing part has an opening (13, figure 4) in which the cutting edges of the blades are located to form the cutting surface and affects the shave such that movement of the blade rack is generally orthogonal to the cutting surface and limited in its extent. This is subject to an urging force provided by spring means 14 which urges the blade rack and therefore the cutting edges to the desired position in the opening in the first housing part. This is achieved by the spring means that are arranged on each of two sides of the opening. An anodic part 15 may be included.

Description

Razor Blade Cartridges This invention relates to razor blade cartridges including a plurality of razor s blades which may be disposable cartridges adapted for releasable attachment to a handle 19 or may be permanently fixed to a handle.

In its preferred embodiments, the invention is directed in particular to razor blade cartridges having a plurality of sharpened cutting edges arranged in a shaving plane. Such cartridges typically provide a smoother and closer shave than the single blade used in earlier razors, but require specific mounting arrangements so as to expose the shaving plane (typically the largest, flat side of the cartridge) for use.

Conventionally, the cutting edges are commonly provided by a plurality of blades arranged between a guard and a cap. The guard and cap are arranged respectively in front of and behind the cutting edges when considered in the direction of shaving, and together with the end portions of the blade housing comprise skin-engaging surfaces serving to determine the position of the cutting edges relative to the user's skin in use. The cutting edges, the guard and the cap lie substantially in alignment within the shaving plane, which is defined as that plane containing the guard and cap or corresponding skin-engaging surfaces in use. The exposure of each cutting edge is defined as the positive or negative distance of the cutting edge above or below the shaving plane, usually measured in tens of microns.

The cartridge may comprise a plastics housing containing an assembly of two, three, four or more blades, each having a cutting edge. The cap, guard and blades may be fixedly or moveably mounted (e.g. on springs) in the housing, or the cap and guard may be integral parts of the housing. One disadvantage with prior mechanisms with separately sprung blades is that one blade may become stuck and its geometry will become out of line in relation to the other s blades.

Typically, razor blade cartridges are contained in a dispenser for holding new cartridges, which is preferably adapted also to receive the used cartridges so as to retain them safely prior to disposal. Preferably, the cartridges are removed from and returned to the dispenser by means of the razor handle, so that the user's fingers are not exposed to the cutting edges. Alternatively the razor blade cartridges may be permanently attached to a handle.

Many razor handles now available in the market provide a pivoting mechanism in which the pivot axis is arranged on the opposite side of the cartridge from the shaving plane and in-between the guard and the cap, allowing the user to apply force to the cutting edges directly in line with the pivot axis. Such pivot mechanisms help the cartridge to follow the contours of the body area being shaved, but do not effectively limit the force applied to the skin.

With such pivotally mounted razors, some users may find difficulty in manipulating a cartridge release button. Moreover, the cartridge structure when retained in the dispenser presents a confusing array of surfaces and apertures into which the user may attempt to insert the connection structure of the handle, so care is required when changing the cartridge.

The pressure exerted against the user's skin by the cutting edges and by the cap and guard or other skin-engaging surfaces is an important factor in determining the closeness of the shave. If too much pressure is exerted, the shave may be overly aggressive so that the blades irritate or cut the users skin. If too little pressure is exerted, the shave quality may be poor. It is therefore desirable to provide some means for limiting the pressure of the s blades against the skin.

At the same time, the user should be able to exercise precise control over the position of the cartridge and to obtain tactile feedback giving a "feel" for the interaction between the cartridge and the skin via the handle during shaving.

A pivoting connection between the cartridge and the handle helps the shaving plane to remain in correct relation to the skin as it passes over the changing contours of the user's body. However, in practice it can often fail to limit the force applied to the user's skin, since the user may apply force to the cutting edges directly in line with the pivot axis while moving the cartridge in the direction of shaving. At the same time, the pivot mechanism can also make it difficult for the user to control the shaving process and to "feel" the engagement between the cutting edges and the skin through the razor handle, because the rotational position of the handle relative to the cartridge has little or no effect on the pressure of the cartridge against the skin.

In order for the user to release the blade cartridge when the blades have become dulled it is usually necessary for the user to manipulate either both ends of the cartridge or both ends of each of the forks of the razor. This operation can be difficult to perform when the razor is wet and in particular if the user is not very dextrous or has poor eyesight.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a razor handle for a shaving system which addresses some or all of the above mentioned problems so as to offer improved effectiveness in use and/or manufacture.

s In accordance with its various aspects the invention provides a razor handle as defined in the appended claims.

Some illustrative embodiments will now be described, purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference 10 to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a first razor cartridge of the invention showing the cartridge components unassembled, Fig. 1A shows a razor handle and the razor cartridge of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the rack part of the cartridge of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a side view of the rack of Fig 2, Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a razor cartridge of the invention showing the cartridge components unassembled, Fig. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rack of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 shows a side view of the rack of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rack of fig. 5, Fig. 8 shows a side cross section view of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of a razor cartridge of the invention showing the cartridge components unassembled, Fig. 10 is a cross section through the assembled cartridge of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the assembled rack of Fig. 9, Fig. 12 shows a side cross section of a further embodiment of a razor and razor blade cartridge according to the invention assembled, Fig. 13 shows the same embodiment as Fig. 12 with the cartridge components unassembled, Fig. 14 us a perspective view a further embodiment of the blade support angle of the embodiment of Fig. 9, Fig. 15 is a cross section of the blade support angle of Fig. 14, Fig. 16 shows inside and outside perspective views a further embodiment of the blade support angle of the embodiment of Fig. 9, and Fig. 17 is a cross section of the blade support angle of Fig. 16.

Corresponding elements are indicated by the same reference numerals in s each of the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 -3, a first embodiment of a razor blade cartridge 1 of the invention is shown comprising a first housing part 2 and a second housing part 3, with a unitary blade support rack 4 with five blades 9 securely fixed thereto, arranged between the first and second housing parts 2, 3. The first and second housing parts 2, 3 are made of moulded plastic. Each blade 9 being permanently mounted on the rack 4 by means of welding or gluing, and having a cutting edge 10. The cutting edges 10 lie in a shaving plane at the top side of the first housing part 2 and are arranged one behind the other in a shaving direction so as to exert a consecutive cutting action in use when the shaving plane is moved across a user's skin in the shaving direction.

The rack 4 is unitary and comprises a front edge 5 and a rear edge 6 and spaces 7 between each blade 9 which is mounted on a corresponding flat blade mounting surface 8 to which it is glued or welded. The spaces 7 between each blade 9 and between and each blade 9 and the adjacent rear edge 6 or front edge 5 permits the debris produced during shaving to be readily washed through by rinsing by the user to keep the blades clean.

Securing means 11, 12 are provided for securing the first housing part 2 to the second housing part 3 such that the blade rack 4 is movably secured between the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 3.

The first housing part 2 has an opening 13 into which the cutting edges 10 of the blades are located to form the cutting surface which effects the shave. The shaving plane formed by the first housing part 2 of the cartridge 1 also contains a plurality of skin engaging surfaces defined by permanent parts of s the plastics housing part 2, including a guard arranged adjacent the leading side of the cartridge, and a trailing surface, the guard and the trailing surface encountering the user's skin respectively in advance of and behind the cutting edges of the blades respectively when the cartridge is moved across the user's skin. This is best shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

The blade rack is permitted to move within the housing to a limited extent. Such movement of the blade rack is generally orthogonal to the cutting surface and limited in its extent by corresponding abutting surfaces on the first and second housing parts. The rack 4 is subject to an urging force provided by spring means 14 which urges the blade rack 4 and therefore the cutting edges 10 to their desired positions in the shaving plane in the first housing part 2. There are four separate spring means 14 in this embodiment arranged in pairs of spring fingers on either side of the second housing part 3. The forward position of the blades is defined by the ends of one or more of the blades abutting the underside of the front housing.

Referring again to Fig. 1 an anodic part 15 is provided, made from aluminium, whereas the blades and blade rack are made from steel. The anodic part 15 is located between the spring means 14 and the blade rack 4 and the spring means urges the anodic part 15 against the blade rack 4 and in turn urges the blade rack 4 against the first housing part 2. This ensures that there is intimate contact between the anodic part and the blade rack and helps prevent corrosion of the black rack 4 and blades 9.

The anodic part 15 is generally C-shaped with an open side. This ensures even contact between the anodic part 15 and the rack with as much contact area as possible whilst at the same time leaving an opening for the wash-through of debris from between the blades. The second housing part 3 has a corresponding opening 16.

The cartridge 1 also comprises handle attachment means 17 for immovably attaching the blade cartridge to a razor handle 19 as shown in fig. 1A. The razor handle 19 comprises corresponding attachment means 20 which are fixed to the razor cartridge 1 and do not permit any movement between the cartridge and the razor handle 19 at the point of fixing. The attachment means 17 is an integral part of the first housing part moulding and is configured at a particular desired angle to the shaving plane created by the blade edges 10.

The position and configuration of the handle 19 with respect to the mounting portion also ensures that the mounting portion always trails behind the handle 19. This provides a smooth shaving action and makes it very difficult for the cartridge to be inadvertently applied to the skin in a gouging motion as is sometimes possible with prior art razors having a short, straight section which supports the cartridge at a point between the guard and the cap and below the shaving plane (i.e. on the opposite side of the shaving plane from the user's skin). Generally, the smaller the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the shaving plane (or a plane parallel with the shaving plane), down to an optimal angle of about 20°, the smoother and safer the shaving action.

An attachment means 17 is located centrally on the leading side of the cartridge 1 and orientated towards the underside of the cartridge 1. The attachment means 17 comprises an enlarged portion at its remote end, in this embodiment in the form of a rounded lozenge which extends lengthwise in a s direction parallel to length of the cartridge. The attachment means 17 fixedly attaches the cartridge 1 to a handle by locating in a correspondingly shaped void 20 in the handle 19.

The cartridge will preferably be sold in a dispenser and presented to the razor handle 19 by the user whilst still in the dispenser so that the user does not actually contact the cartridge itself. Dispensers are known for replaceable cartridges of this type and comprise a plastics moulding defining a shallow tray having outer walls and a generally flat base and a plurality of compartments.

Each compartment includes a retaining structure which is adapted to retain a cartridge in a retained position in the respective compartment, and to release the cartridge when the cartridge is attached to the handle 19 and retracted from the dispenser.

Referring now to Figs. 4 -6, an alternative embodiment of a blade support rack 24 is shown in which the front and rear edges 5, 6 of the rack 24 are accompanied by flanges 21, 22 which join the rear edges 5, 6 and extend generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack on the opposite side to the cutting edges. These flanges 21, 22 serve to provide additional strength to the rack 4, 24.

In this embodiment the anodic part 25 is in the form of a square washer and provides intimate contact with the rack along all four ends and sides.

In both of these embodiments shown in Fig 1-3 and Figs 4-6, the rack 4, 24 is a single pressed steel part made from a number of sequential pressing stages. In Fig. 5 the flat blade mounting surface 8 is formed, by pressing out from the s planar sheet form of the pre-pressed rack, as the top portion of an angle section, the lower part of which is the supporting leg part of the blade mount support.

In both embodiments a trimmer blade 18 is provided which is also secured by 10 the attachment of the first housing part 4 to the second housing party and provides an alternative single cutting edge for the user to conveniently use for trimming.

Reference is now made to Figs 7 and 8. Which show a further alternative embodiment of a blade support rack 34. In this embodiment during manufacture the rack 34 is pressed in an upwards direction to form the five blade mounting surfaces 38, but in this embodiment there is no supporting leg. Instead the gaps 37 are formed by a downward pressing so the resulting leg is formed below the original plane of the rack 34. This results in a relatively more robust structure than the previous embodiments.

Referring now to Figs 9 -12 show a further embodiment in which the rack 44, instead of being made from pressed metal is made from moulded plastic. The rack includes orthogonal support sides which extend generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack on the front and rear ends and the corresponding sides. The inside surfaces of the two side portions 46 of the rack 44 include slots 51 into which the same side as the cutting edges and a blade support side which is set at the desired blade angle and on which the blade is permanently secured.

In the embodiments of Figs 9 to 11 and 14 to 17, each blade 49 is fixedly s mounted on a corresponding support angle 48, the support angle comprising an orthogonal support side which extends generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack and a blade support side which is set at the desired blade angle and on which the blade is permanently secured. The orthogonal support side being inserted in corresponding slots 51 in the side walls 46 of the rack. In an alternative embodiment it would be possible to use the same design with self supporting bent blades, as shown in Figs 12 and 13, with the bend providing the require rigidity, so without using the support angle. Each of the five blade support sides is secured fixedly in the corresponding slots 51 by means of an interference fit, so there is no relative movement of the blades 49 and all the blades move together with the rack 44.

In this embodiment the spring means, which urges the rack 44 against the first housing part 2, is in the form of elastomer springs 54 in the form of small cylindrical cylinder blocks, which are moulded integrally with rack 4.

Two elongate anodic parts 45 are provided which are located between the blade rack 44 and the bottom of the support angles 48, and arranged each along each side of the rack, in locating slots in the rack (not shown), such that, when the cartridge is assembled, they are urged in to intimate contact with the metallic support angles so that effective corrosion protection is achieved. In this configuration the geometry of each blade is set during assembly of the cartridge by the distance between the abutting surface on the underside of the first housing part 2 and the anodic parts 45. Steps may be provided in the anodic parts 45 to attain the desired geometry of each blade.

The rack is preferably co-moulded from a relatively rigid material for the side s walls 46 and slots 51 in which the support angles 48 are located and a relatively elastomeric material which forms the spring means. Suitable elastomeric materials will be readily identified by those skilled in the art, and include for example thermoplastic elastomers such as Santoprene (RTM), manufactured by Advanced Elastomer Systems, LP of Akron, Ohio, USA, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Chemical Company of Houston, Texas, USA; and Thermolast K (RTM), manufactured by Kraiburg TPE GmbH & Co. KG of Waldkraiburg, Germany. Thermoset elastomers could also be used. The relatively rigid material may be any suitable polymer, such as currently used to make razors or razor blade cartridges, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ABS, but also may be any vinyl polymers, nylons, carbonate polymers, aliphatic polymers or the like.

In a preferred embodiment this can be made from a carefully chosen single material part. A relatively stiff material to hold the blades in place with a suitably formed spring part, moulded for example as a thin leaf spring section. In the same way the spring legs 54. These legs may be either as part of the rear housing acting on the plastic rack or as an integral part of the plastic rack.

Fig. 13 shows a further embodiment of a cartridge 61 in which the blade support rack part 64 is integrally moulded with the first housing 62. The first housing is itself co-moulded of a first relatively rigid material and second more elastomeric material. The more rigid material providing rigidity and the more elastomeric material providing the skin contacting surfaces and also optionally part of the handle fixing means 17. So the rack part 64 is incorporated into the first housing moulding using the same two materials, preferably using the harder first shot material. In this embodiment instead of having the blade support angles 48 the blades 58 are bent to provide the required rigidity, and s have corresponding edges 59, and are securely fitted to the rack 64 by interference fit and the anodic part 15 is arranged between the second housing and the lower edges of the blades 58 so that when the cartridge is fitted together as before with securing means 11, the anodic part is in intimate contact with the bent blades 58. The blades 58 are still able to move together during the shave to provide the desired shaving comfort and closeness. Referring now to Figures 14-17, two further detailed embodiments are shown of the embodiment of Figures 9 to 11 with the blades 49 supported on an angled blade support 48. Figures 14 and 15 show an angled blade support 148, with a first leg 149 proving a blade support surface and being generally parallel with the shaving plane when fitted and a second leg 150 which provides the secure location of the angled blade support 148 in the blade support rack 44. In this embedment strengthening ribs 151, 152 are formed in the first leg and second leg respectively to increase the flexural rigidity of the angled blade support 148. These ribs 151, 152 are integrally formed as part of the pressing of the angled blade support and do not add to the component cost once the press mould has been made. This embodiment shows both the first and second legs having ribs but it would also be possible to provide an angled blade support with just one of the legs having a rib. Furthermore the rib may run continuously along the legs as shown or alternatively it may include interruptions or run only partially along a leg or both legs.

Referring now to Figures 16 and 17, a further embodiment is shown of the angle blade supports of Figures 9 to 11. As with the previous embodiment as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the support angles 248 of figures 16 and 17 have a first leg 249 which supports a blade and a second leg 250 which securely locates the angled support 248 in the support rack 44. In this embodiment however strengthening webs 251 are provided in place of the ribs 151, 152.

s Fig 16 shows both the underside and outside of the support angle 248. There are five webs 251 and each extend across from part way along the first leg 249 to part way along the second leg 250. These webs similarly add rigidity to the support angle 248. In a further embodiment it could be envisaged that webs and ribs could be included to maximise the stiffness of the support angle.

In all the embodiments a skin engaging surface 42 is provided by the outside surface of the first housing part 2. The skin engaging surface 42 preferably has a durable coating to improve the comfort and smoothness of the shave. As best shown in Figs 1 4, 9 and 13 the skin engaging surface 42 is shaped to have the portions along the sides raised above the level of the portions at each end. In this way the skin of the user is guided to the cutting edges of the blades and smoothly away from the extreme ends of the blades. The raised side portions are preferably raised at least 0.5mm to 1 mm higher than the upper most limit of the protrusion of the blade edges 10, 49. Too high is not good for shave performance and closeness of the shave. Nevertheless the skin engaging surface 42 forms smooth continuous contours with no sharp edges. The edges forming the opening 13 are rounded and smooth.

As well as being coated the skin engaging surface is preferably textured to define a pattern of micro bumps and hollows which act as a temporary reservoir of lubricating fluids applied to the skin (e.g. by the user and/or from a leachable strip arranged on the cartridge), distributing the fluids over the region which is about to be shaved so as to ensure a smooth, close shave.

They also serve to improve the fixation of the coating to the surface. The textured surface is generally flat (i.e. the asperities lie approximately in a flat plane) and extends substantially in alignment with the shaving plane.

s The unitary co-moulding of the first housing part incorporating multiple functional elastomeric elements is economical and easily cleaned, avoiding the accumulation of shaving debris which can impair other more intricate assemblies of prior art razors.

Advantageously, the housing and the elastomeric skin engaging surface 42 is moulded at relatively low cost as an integral, fixed part. Since the cartridge preferably includes other elastomeric elements, this is accomplished without any additional manufacturing step and hence at very little additional cost.

The side walls of the cartridge may blend smoothly and continuously into the top and bottom sides, rather than meeting the top and bottom sides at defined edges, and the sides and side walls may be generally rectilinear, round, ovoidal, or any other desired shape.

Advantageously, the cartridge is engaged with a snap-fit action by a simple movement of the mounting portion along a single engagement axis, although in less preferred embodiments, more than one engagement axis (requiring consecutive movements or a compound movement of the mounting portion to engage the cartridge) could be provided. In alternative embodiments the retaining structure of the dispenser may be any recess, protuberance or other feature, whether rigid or flexible, which receives, abuts, engages or otherwise cooperates with a corresponding part of the cartridge to retain the cartridge in the dispenser.

Numerous other adaptations will be evident to those skilled in the art on perusing the foregoing description, the scope of the invention being limited solely by the claims.

Component List 1. Razor cartridge 2. First housing part s 3. Second housing part 4. Blade support rack 5. Front edge 6. Rear edge 7. Spaces 8. Blade mounting surface 9. Razor blades 10. Cutting edges 11. Securing means 12. Securing means 13. Opening 14. Spring means 15. Anodic part 16. Not used 17. Cartridge attachment means 18. Trimmer blade 19. Razor handle 20. Corresponding cartridge attachment means (on handle) 21. Side flange 22. Wash-through opening 24. Blade support rack 34. Blade support rack 37. Wash-through opening 38. Blade mounting surface 42. Skin engaging surface 44. Blade support rack 45. Anodic part 46. Side wall s 48. Razor blade support angles 49. Razor blades 51. Slots 54. Spring means 58. Razor blades 59. Razor blade cutting edges 61. Razor cartridge 62. First housing part 64. Blade support rack 148. Razor blade support angles 149. First leg 150. Second Leg 151. Rib 152. Rib 248. Razor blade support angles 249. Firsts Leg 250. Second Leg 251. Web

Claims

CLAIMS1. A razor blade cartridge comprising: a first housing part and a second housing part; s a unitary blade support rack with at least two blades securely fixed thereto, the rack comprises a front edge and a rear edge and spaces between each blade and each blade and the adjacent rear edge or front edge; each blade having a corresponding cutting edge; securing means for securing the first housing part to the second housing part such that the blade rack is movably secured between the first housing part and the second housing part; the first housing part having an opening in which the cutting edges of the blades are located to form the cutting surface which effects the shave and that such movement of the blade rack is generally orthogonal to the cutting surface and limited in its extent and subject to an urging force provided by spring means which urges the blade rack and therefore the cutting edges to the desired position in the opening in the first housing part, characterised in that the spring means are arranged on each of two sides of the opening.
2. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that an anodic part is provided, made from an anodic material relative to the blades and blade rack, and located between the spring means and the blade rack.
3. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring means is in the form of spring fingers located on the second housing part.
4. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the anodic part is generally C-shaped with an open side.s
5. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the second housing has an opening which corresponds to the opening in the first housing and which permits the debris produced during shaving to be washed through so maintaining the gaps between each blade to be free of debris.
6. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the first housing comprising handle attachment means for immovably attaching the blade cartridge to a handle 19.
7. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the front and rear edges of the rack comprise flanges which extend generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack on the opposite side to the cutting edges.
8. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that rack has opposite side edges which comprise flanges which extend generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack on the opposite side to the cutting edges.
9. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that rack includes blade supports which are angle shaped and include an orthogonal support side which extends generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack on the same side as the cutting edges and a blade support side which is set at the desired blade angle and on which the blade is permanently secured.
10. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 9, characterised in that at least one of the blade supports includes at least one rib portion on either blade support or orthogonal support sides.
11. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 9, characterised in that at least one of the blade supports includes at least one web portion joining the blade support side to the orthogonal support side.
12. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring means are provided on the rack.
13. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the rack is made from pressed metal.
14. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the rack is made from a moulded plastic.
15. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 14, characterised in that each blade is fixedly mounted on a corresponding support angle, the support angle comprising an orthogonal support side which extends generally orthogonally to the plane of the rack and a blade support side which is set at the desired blade angle and on which the blade is permanently secured, the orthogonal support side being inserted in corresponding slots in side walls of the rack.
16. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 15, characterised in that each blade support side is secured in the corresponding slots by means of an interference fit.
17. A razor blade cartridge according to claim 14, characterised in that the spring means are an integrally moulded part of the rack.
18. A razor blade cartridge comprising: s a first housing part and a second housing part; a unitary blade support rack with at least two blades securely fixed thereto, the rack comprises a front edge and a rear edge and spaces between each blade and each blade and the adjacent rear edge or front edge; each blade having a corresponding cutting edge; securing means for securing the first housing part to the second housing part such that the blade rack is movably secured between the first housing part and the second housing part; the first housing part having an opening into which the cutting edges of the blades are located to form the cutting surface which effects the shave the first housing part having a skin engaging surface surrounding the opening having front and rear portions joined by side portions, characterised in that the side portions are raised above the level of the front and rear portions.Component List 1. Razor cartridge 2. First housing part s 3. Second housing part 4. Blade support rack 5. Front edge 6. Rear edge 7. Spaces 8. Blade mounting surface 9. Razor blades 10. Cutting edges 11. Securing means 12. Securing means 13. Opening 14. Spring means 15. Anodic part 16. Not used 17. Cartridge attachment means 18. Trimmer blade
19. Razor handle
20. Corresponding cartridge attachment means (on handle)
21. Side flange
22. Wash-through opening 24. Blade support rack 34. Blade support rack 37. Wash-through opening 38. Blade mounting surface 42. Skin engaging surface 44. Blade support rack 45. Anodic part 46. Side wall s 48. Razor blade support angles 49. Razor blades 51. Slots 54. Spring means 58. Razor blades 59. Razor blade cutting edges 61. Razor cartridge 62. First housing part 64. Blade support rack 148. Razor blade support angles 149. First leg 150. Second Leg 151. Rib 152. Rib 248. Razor blade support angles 249. Firsts Leg 250. Second Leg 251. Web