PERSONAL GROOMING DEVICE HANDLE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME |
|||||||
申请号 | EP09708206.9 | 申请日 | 2009-02-02 | 公开(公告)号 | EP2250003B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2014-03-26 |
申请人 | The Gillette Company; | 发明人 | PENNELL, Evan, Kent; LEE, Alejandro, Carlos; | ||||
摘要 | |||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | This application relates to handles for personal grooming devices and methods of manufacturing the same. Handles for personal grooming devices are well known. Some device handles are formed by a "two-color" injection molding process combining a relatively rigid material with a relatively flexible material. The combination of rigid and flexible materials may improve the ergonomics associated with such handles and provide an improved shaving experience over single material handles. Some personal grooming device handles have relatively large cross sections for improved handling and comfort while being used. Larger cross sections may require longer cycle times during molding to completely fill out the mold cavities and avoiding sinks in the handle material during cooling. In one example, a rigid inner core is molded in a first mold cavity and a second layer of rigid material is molded over the inner core in a second mold cavity. A flexible grip portion is molded onto the second layer in a third cavity. All three cavities are contained in the same mold. The parts are moved from cavity to cavity by in-mold automation. In another example, a device handle has a rigid first molded portion, a flexible second molded portion, and a battery-operated device that is at least partially encased between the first and second molded portions. Some personal grooming devices are disposable in that they are meant to be discarded when they no longer provide an adequate grooming experience. Disposable personal grooming devices must strike a balance between its price and the quality of the grooming experience. Lowering manufacturing costs of disposable personal grooming devices without sacrificing features that contribute to the quality of the grooming experience represents an unmet need in the marketplace. While disposable personal grooming devices are more price sensitive than so-called "system" devices (e.g., a safety razor shaving system having a reusable razor handle and detachable, disposable blade units), such system devices may also benefit from lower manufacturing costs. The invention relates to handles for personal grooming devices and methods of manufacturing the same. A method as defined above is characterized in the present invention in that the substrate portion comprises a tower portion disposed between the first and second walls and extending from a surface of the channel, the tower portion comprising a top surface, wherein the insert member comprises an opening sized to receive the tower portion and the tower portion extendsthrough an exterior surface of the grip portion. Certain implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The substrate portion has a rib portion transversely extending between the first and second walls. The insert member has a slot sized to receive the rib portion and disposing the insert member within the channel includes inserting the rib portion into the slot. The insert member has a hook portion. Disposing includes hooking the hook portion onto the substrate portion. The insert member has a finger portion projecting from an upper surface. Disposing the insert member within the channel includes clamping the finger portion to fix its position within the channel during forming of the grip portion. The substrate portion includes a tower portion disposed between the first and second walls and extending from the joined portion. Disposing the insert member within the channel includes inserting the tower portion into the opening. The top surface is at least substantially flush with an exterior surface of the grip portion. The grip portion completely encases the insert member. The substrate portion is formed of a rigid material. The substrate portion is formed of a polyethylene plastic. The grip portion is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. The substrate portion includes a blade unit connecting portion. The blade unit connecting portion comprises tab member forming a first snap fit recess in a top surface thereof and forming a second snap fit recess in a bottom surface thereof. Features of the present invention may have one or more of the following advantages. The cross-sections of the three component parts allow for faster cycle times and, thus lower manufacturing costs over more commonly known two part handles of similar size and ergonomics. The parts may be assembled by hand, avoiding expensive handling and assembly equipment, thereby further reducing the manufacturing costs.
Referring to Handle 12 has a core portion 22 at least partially enclosed by a grip portion 24. Generally, core portion 22 may have a substantially consistent cross-section for good plastic flow, filling, and cooling during molding, as is understood in the art. In some examples, core portion 22 has a channel 26 extending along its length and formed by walls 28 and 30. One or more ribs 32 (shown in broken line in Grip portion 24 forms the body portion 44 of handle 12 by filling channel 26 and at least partially enclosing exterior 45 of core portion 22. Grip portion 24 may form gripping elements to enhance a user's shaving experience, such as bands 46 or other elements, such as bumps, ridges, ribs, and fins, for example. Body portion 44 should be wide enough to be comfortably held by a range of adult hands. In one example, body portion 44 has a width W of about 16mm (0.65 inches), while in other examples, the width W may be about 10, 11.5, 12.7, 14, 17.8, 19 or 20mm (0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.70, 0.75 or 0.80 inches). Those skilled in the art will understand that plastic parts with thick cross sections take longer to mold and require larger molding presses to manufacture, increasing the cost of such parts. Referring to Insert member 48 forms opening 52 sized to receive tower portion 34 and slots 54 sized to receive ribs 32. An interference fit between these features of insert member 48 and core portion 22 keeps the two assembled until grip portion 24 is formed about them. In other examples, insert member 48 includes a post 56 ( In some examples, core portion 22 and insert member 48 are formed of a relatively rigid plastic, such as HP741T polypropylene, available from Basell Polyolefin Corp. (Hoofddorp, The Netherlands). Grip portion 24 is formed of a relatively flexible thermoplastic elastomer, such as LC316-110A available from GLS Polymers Pvt. Ltd (Bangalore, India). However, any suitable combination of materials may be used, including different materials for core portion 22 and insert member 48. Referring to Alternative embodiments are within the scope of the claims. For example, referring to The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm." While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. |