This non-provisional patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/854,632 filed on May 30, 2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wet shave razors, and more particularly, to a wet shave razor that uses current flow through the blades to heat the blades while simultaneously vibrating the blades.

Discussion of the Related Art

Wet shave razors are used by millions of men and women every day. Most wet shave razors include a handle and a razor head with multiple metal (e.g., steel) blades supported in the razor head in parallel, equally spaced arrangement so that the cutting edges of the blades are optimally angled to cut hairs when moving the razor head along the skin surface without cutting into the user's skin. Many wet shave razors from different manufacturers allow for easy removal and replacement of the razor head. In this instance, the razor heads are manufactured in the form of replaceable blade cartridges, each having a plastic frame that holds the multiple blades in the correct parallel, equally spaced arrangement. Various shave products, such as shave cream, shave gel and special soaps are available to help promote smooth movement of the blades against the skin surface without cutting or nicking the skin. Many blade cartridges now include a strip of lubricating material to promote gliding of the blade cartridge over the skin surface in a manner that helps to prevent nicks and cuts.

For consumers, two of the most important features of wet shave razors are cutting performance and comfort. Naturally, when a person shaves, they want their skin to be left smooth and free of stubble, and preferably in one shaving stroke without having to go over the same area multiple times in order to achieve a clean shave. This requires a razor to have excellent cutting performance. And, when a person shaves, they want to enjoy the process. The feeling of the blade cartridge moving along the skin surface needs to be comfortable and soothing.

An excellent way to improve the cutting performance and comfort of a wet shave razor would be to vibrate the multiple blades in the blade cartridge. The vibrating action of the blades would enhance the cutting performance of the blades and, at the same time, the feeling of vibration against the user's skin would provide for a more pleasant and comfortable shaving experience. Currently, there are vibrating wet shave razors in the related art and available on the market for purchase by consumers. These vibrating wet shave razors include a battery power source and a miniature electric motor in the handle of the razor that causes the handle and blade cartridge to vibrate when the motor is energized by operation of a switch on the handle. While the vibrating action of the handle and the blade cartridge may feel comfortable to the user, the feeling of the actual blades vibrating is illusory to some extent. This is because the blades are not being directly vibrated. Instead, the handle is vibrated which transmits a feeling of vibration to the blade cartridge. Improving the cutting performance of the blades through vibration requires that the blades themselves be directly vibrated. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved wet shave razor that provides for enhanced cutting performance of the blades, while simultaneously providing greater comfort to the user when shaving. More particularly, there remains an urgent need for a wet shave razor that directly vibrates the multiple blades in the blade cartridge to increase the cutting performance of the blades, while also providing a comfortable and pleasant feeling as the blade cartridge is moved along the user's skin. Moreover, there is an urgent need for a wet shave razor that provides for vibration of the blades by directing electric current through the blades while simultaneously warming the blades for added comfort to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of vibrating and heating blades in a wet shave razor that includes a handle and a blade cartridge pivotally connected to the handle. The blade cartridge includes multiple blades that are electrically connected in series to a power source, such as a battery power source in the handle of the razor, wherein the blades are heated as a result of electrical resistance created by the electric current flow through the blades. The electric current flow through the blades creates a magnetic field around each of the blades, which is opposite in polarity due to the blades being electrically connected in series, wherein current flow is in opposite direction in each adjacently positioned blade. The method includes the step of rapidly alternating direction of current flow through the blades to change the polarity of electric fields around each blade to cause momentary attraction between adjacent blades in rapid impulses (e.g., 700 hz to 75 khz) that results in vibration of the blades.

