SHARPENING DEVICE FOR MANUAL SHARPENING OF RAZOR BLADES

Abstract

 The invention relates to a sharpening device for manual sharpening of razor blades of a shaving system, wherein the shaving system comprises a handle and a releasable head comprising the razor blades, such that the razor blades lie substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the handle during use of the shaving system, wherein the sharpening device comprises a sharpening surface over which the head with razor blades can be moved and a holder for the sharpening surface.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sharpening device for manual sharpening of razor blades of a shaving system, wherein the shaving system comprises a handle and a releasable head comprising the razor blades, such that the razor blades lie substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the handle during use of the shaving system, wherein the sharpening device comprises a sharpening surface over which the head with razor blades can be moved and a holder for the sharpening surface.

[0002] The sharpening device according to the preamble is known in the field. The known sharpening device is described in the American patent application US20100223792.

[0003] A device for straightening razor blades is also known in the field, as described in the American patent application US20090221214. This device is however not suitable for sharpening of razor blades, since this device has no sharpening surface.

[0004] The invention has for its object to improve a sharpening device according to the preamble.

[0005] The invention has for this purpose the feature that the sharpening surface takes a convex form. Owing to the curvature of the sharpening surface the razor blades can be sharpened by a movement of the head over the sharpening surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the razor blades. The sharpening device according to the invention will hereby sharpen the razor blades sharper than the known device. Owing to the curvature of the sharpening surface the razor blades can in addition be brought into contact with the sharpening surface in all cases, irrespective of the shape of the head.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the sharpening device according to the invention the sharpening surface takes at least partially a substantially cylindrical form. The cylindrical form ensures that the razor blades can be moved over the sharpening surface in uniform manner.

[0007] The sharpening surface is preferably arranged substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the holder. The holder can hereby function as a handle during use, without a hand blocking the movement of the razor blades over the sharpening surface.

[0008] The sharpening surface is preferably formed by an outer surface of a cylindrically formed body. The manufacture of the sharpening surface is hereby simplified.

[0009] The body is preferably hollow here in order to reduce the weight of the sharpening device.

[0010] In order to aid a user of the sharpening device with correct use of the sharpening device the sharpening surface is preferably provided with a boundary all around the sharpening surface, which boundary defines a path for movement of the head over the surface.

[0011] In order to increase the quality of sharpening the sharpening surface is manufactured from steel provided with a coating with a greater hardness than steel. The great hardness ensures that the razor blades are sharpened properly.

[0012] In order to increase the quality of sharpening further still the coating preferably has a hardness greater than the hardness of the material of the razor blades.

[0013] A suitable coating can be obtained by chrome-plating the sharpening surface.

[0014] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the sharpening device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the sharpening device according to Figure 1, wherein a shaving system rests with its head on the sharpening surface;

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C each show a top view of the sharpening device according to Figure 1, wherein the shaving system rests with its head on the sharpening surface in different positions;

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the sharpening device according to the invention.

[0015] The same numerals designate the same components in the different figures.

[0016] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of sharpening device 1 according to the invention. Sharpening device 1 is intended only for manual sharpening of razor blades of a shaving system for manual shaving which is provided with a handle and a head comprising the razor blades, wherein the head can be releasably mounted on the handle. An example of such a shaving system is shown in the other figures. Sharpening device 1 has a sharpening surface 2 over which a head (of the shaving system with razor blades) can be moved. In addition, sharpening device 1 comprises a holder 3 for sharpening surface 2. Sharpening surface 2 is convex. In the shown preferred embodiment sharpening surface 2 extends substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of holder 3. Sharpening surface 2 is preferably formed by an outer surface of a cylindrically formed body 4. The width of cylindrical body 4 is chosen such that this width forms a boundary and thereby defines a path for movement of head 11 over sharpening surface 2. The width of cylindrical body 4 is preferably once to twice the width of head 11. In the shown embodiment body 4 is hollow. This produces a certain weight saving and also has production engineering advantages. This is however not essential. Sharpening surface 2 is preferably manufactured from steel provided with a chrome-plated coating. The coating hereby obtains a greater hardness than the razor blades.

[0017] Holder 3 preferably has a recess 5 in which a head of a shaving system can be placed. The shaving system then takes up a stored position in the sharpening device.

[0018] Figure 2 shows a side view of sharpening device 1 according to Figure 1, wherein a shaving system 10 rests with head 11 thereof on sharpening surface 2. Shaving system 10 has a handle 12. Head 11 can be releasably mounted on handle 12. The razor blades are comprised in head 11. The razor blades thus lie substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of handle 12 during use of shaving system 10. Head 11 must be placed flat on sharpening surface 2 before sharpening, after which head 11 must be moved around sharpening surface 2.

[0019] Figures 3A, 3B and 3C each show a top view of sharpening device 1 according to Figure 1, wherein shaving system 10 rests with head 11 on sharpening surface 2 in different positions. Figure 3A demonstrates a possible starting position of shaving system 10 during sharpening of the razor blades using the sharpening device. In this position head 11 is placed flat on sharpening surface 2.

[0020] In Figure 3B shaving system 10 has been rotated by a user to an intermediate position, in which the longitudinal direction of shaving system 10 lies substantially parallel to the axis of sharpening surface 2. Head 11 is here also placed flat on sharpening surface 2.

[0021] In Figure 3C shaving system 10 has been rotated by the user to an end position, after which the user can once again rotate shaving system 10 in the direction of the positions in Figure 3B and Figure 3A.

[0022] A user can repeat these rotating movements a number of times, after which the razor blades will have been sharpened.

[0023] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of sharpening device 100 according to the invention. Sharpening device 100 has a sharpening surface 102 over which a head (of the shaving system with razor blades) can be moved. In addition, sharpening device 100 comprises a holder 103 for sharpening surface 102. Sharpening surface 102 is convex. In the shown alternative embodiment sharpening surface 102 extends substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of holder 103. Sharpening surface 102 is preferably formed by an outer surface of a cylindrically formed body 104. In the shown embodiment body 104 is hollow. This produces a certain weight saving and also has production engineering advantages. This is however not essential. Sharpening surface 102 is preferably manufactured from steel provided with a chrome-plated coating. The coating hereby obtains a greater hardness than the razor blades. Sharpening surface 102 is provided with a boundary 106 all around sharpening surface 102. Boundary 106 defines a path and boundary for movement of the head of the shaving system over surface 102.

[0024] It is expressly noted that the invention is not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiment. The invention extends generally to any embodiment which falls within the scope of the appended claims as seen in the light of the description and the accompanying figures.

Claims

1. Sharpening device (1, 100) for manual sharpening of razor blades of a shaving system (10) for manual shaving, wherein the shaving system (10) is provided with a handle (12) and a head (11) comprising the razor blades, wherein the head (11) is releasably mounted on the handle (12) such that the razor blades lie substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the handle (12) during use of the shaving system (10), wherein the sharpening device (1, 100) is provided with a sharpening surface (2, 102) over which the head (11) with razor blades can be moved and a holder (3, 103) for the sharpening surface (2, 102), characterized in that the sharpening surface (2, 102) takes a convex form.

2. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sharpening surface (2, 102) takes at least partially a substantially cylindrical form.

3. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sharpening surface (2, 102) is arranged substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the holder (3, 103).

4. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the sharpening surface (2, 102) is formed by an outer surface of a cylindrically formed body (4, 104).

5. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the body (4, 104) is hollow.

6. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the sharpening surface (2, 102) is provided with a boundary (106) all around the sharpening surface (2, 102), which boundary defines a path for movement of the head (11) over the surface.

7. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the sharpening surface (2, 102) is manufactured from steel provided with a coating with a greater hardness than steel.

8. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the coating has a hardness greater than the hardness of the material of the razor blades.

9. Sharpening device (1, 100) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the coating contains chrome.

Drawing