Shave brush with gel dispensing system

Abstract

The invention provides an exclusive device for applying shave cream to the body which includes a proprietary, replaceable, Aerosol reservoir (can) that contains shave gel and is small enough to fit in the hand to easily apply the gel to the body. The brush attached to the can contains a brush head. It is designed to aerate and apply the gel in a foamy manner. The dispensing mechanism in the brush contains a simple spring loaded button which, when depressed in a downward direction, allows the gel to move from the can through a delivery tube, through the body of the brush to the hollow core of the bristles of the brush to be applied to the body. This shave cream dispensing system employs simple mechanics and it is small enough for travel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Shave cream brushes have long been known and widely used to apply shave cream/gel/soap to the body to achieve optimum hydration to the body hairs to be removed via a shaving razor.

[0002] Aside from electric razor use, the use of a `straight edge` or `safety` razor typically requires the use of a cream, gel or soap in order to hydrate the whiskers to be shaved from the body. Shave gel is typically dispensed from an aerosol can into the hand of the user. Then spread on the body part to be shaved with the other hand of the user. This application process creates an excess use of the product and an extra step in cleaning as; once applied to the body part to be shaved, the excess shave gel has to be rinsed from the hands before shaving the body part can commence. Using hands to apply shave gel also creates an uneven application of the product to the body part to be shaved.

[0003] The use of a shave brush utilizes a brush and a cake of soap stored in a cup. The brush is moistened with water and rapidly brushed on the cake of soap creating a lather that is then applied to the body part to be shaved. Although the brush does provide much better moisturizing action to the body hairs via the swirling motion of the bristles on the whiskers, this process most often, creates an inferior lather and creates a storage issue for the cake of soap and its storage cup. The hygiene and maintenance issues with the cup full of lather also become an unnecessary challenge.

[0004] This invention combines the shave brush and aerosol dispensing can to eliminate the aforementioned problems and provides the ultimate moisturizing of the body part to be shaved resulting in a clean, efficient, quick and close shave.

[0005] There have been other shave cream application brushes that attach to a large shave cream can which makes it difficult to apply because of its large size. Other shave cream application devices also include complicated activation mechanisms which increases the possibility for failure of such device.

[0006] United States of America patents:

TABLE-US-00001 02764772 October, 1956 W. Staskowski ci. 15-138 028-6638 August, 1954 F. Fisher ci. 222-394 3,370,908 October, 1965 J. Cupp ci. 401-190 3,231,923 February, 1966 W. A. Gains ci. 15-552 3,256,549 June, 1966 R. Evesque ci. 15-552 5,133,130 July, 1992 G. Pololsky 4,625,402 December, 1986 J. Kavoussi 1,892,836 April, 1992 G Harvey 5,092,041 March, 1991 G. Podolsky 4,998,545 March, 1991 P. Hiromura

[0007] This shave cream/gel application brush with its proprietary cream/gel can is easy to handle, stores easily and is an efficient `all in one` gel dispensing & application system for home use and travel . The cream/gel can is replaceable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, it is the object of this invention to eliminate the aforementioned challenges and create a shaving device that avoids the disadvantages of applying shaving cream as mentioned before.

[0009] In keeping with this object and others which will become apparent hereinafter, this invention includes a proprietary, replaceable, reservoir (aerosol can) which contains shave gel and is small enough to fit in one hand to easily apply the gel to the body. The brush attached to the can contains a brush head. It is designed to aerate and apply the gel in a foamy manner. The dispensing mechanism in the brush contains a simple spring loaded button which, when depressed in a downward direction, allows the gel to move from the nozzle of the can through a delivery tube, through the body of the brush to the hollow core of the bristles of the brush to be applied to the body.

[0010] This invention has a simple deployment method of gel delivery from the aerosol can to the brush head thus eliminating the chance for mechanical failure of the system. When the brush head is submersed in warm water prior to applying the gel it warms the gel once delivered to the brush head creating a warm, moist, whisker penetrating shaving foam to the body part to be shaved. This process also delivers a virtual massage to the body part to be shaved.

[0011] This shave cream/gel application brush with its proprietary cream/gel aerosol can is easy to handle and stores in any medicine cabinet, shave kit or travel bag. The cream/gel aerosol can is replaceable.

[0012] This invention will be best understood when the following claims, drawings, and detailed description of the invention are read and reviewed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The shave cream/gel application system includes a cream/gel aerosol can and a brush attachment. The simple application mechanism allows a clean application of the gel and insures longevity of the product.

[0014] FIG. 1 depicts the shave brush head and body with gel can in its assembled form. FIG. 2 depicts the two major components of the system. FIG. 3 depicts the cross section, detail of the application mechanism of the brush head and a detail (A) of the plunger.

[0015] FIG. 1 contains a brush head (reference numeral 1) made from a stiff bristle (usually of boar's hair) typically an average of one and a half inches in length. The brush bristles are attached to the body (reference numeral 2) of the head which contains the dispensing mechanism--detailed in FIG. 3. The body (reference numeral 2) also contains a gel delivery button (reference numeral 8). The head/body appliance is attached to the aerosol can (reference numeral 3) which contains the gel to be dispensed.

[0016] FIG. 2 contains the two major components of the system. The base of the brush head/body (reference numeral 2) is made of a sturdy material which contains a ridge (reference numeral 4) on the inside of the body used to connect to the top of the aerosol can (reference numeral 7). The body of the system contains a hole in the middle large enough to house the delivery tube (reference numeral 5) and an O-ring (reference numeral 15--FIG. 3) as to not allow water and contaminates to penetrate the top of the aerosol can. The aerosol can contains moisturizing gel which is dispensed into the center of the brush head (reference numeral 1) by depressing the button (reference numeral 8) which activates the attached nozzle (reference numeral 6). This action occurs when the plunger (reference numeral 8-A FIG. 3) is manually depressed. The gel then travels though the nozzle and attached delivery tube (reference numeral 5) to the base of the brush head and is dispersed into the bristles of the head to be applied to the body part to be shaved. The aerosol can contains a metal ridge (reference numeral 7) which mates with the ridge on the base of the body (reference numeral 4) to create a solid bond between the two units during use.

[0017] FIG. 3 contains the cross section, and detail of the application mechanism of the brush head and body including a detail of the plunger. As mentioned above the gel is delivered from the aerosol can (reference numeral 3) to the bristles of the brush head (reference numeral 1) via the nozzle (reference numeral 6) and delivery tube (reference numeral 5). To activate the delivery of gel the plunger (reference numeral 8-A) is depressed by manually pushing on the exposed button (reference numeral 13) thus opening the nozzle (reference numeral 6). As long as the plunger is depressed, gel will be delivered to the brush head. The plunger automatically retracts once manual pressure stops, closing the nozzle, via a spring loaded device imbedded in the body of the brush head. The plunger (detail letter A) is made of durable material and contains a `U` shaped tip (reference numeral 12) which secures its connection to the aerosol can nozzle. The spring (reference numeral 9) is kept in place by a washer (reference numeral 10) which is fixed to the body on one end and allows the plunger to slide through it. This washer (reference numeral 10) is wide enough to insure smooth and accurate movement of the plunger as to seat properly on the nozzle of the aerosol can (reference numeral 6). The other end of the spring is held in place by a washer (reference numeral 11) fixed to the plunger. The unique shape of this washer (reference numeral 11) fits to the curve of the body thus eliminating the possibility of twisting and becoming disconnected to the nozzle. On the outside of the plunger button and fixed to the inside of the body housing is a flexible waterproof membrane (reference numeral 14) which prevents water and other contaminates from entering the interior of the application mechanism of the brush head and body.

Claims

1. A Shave Cream dispenser consisting essentially of: a gel reservoir (aerosol can), a shave brush and a method to dispense the gel through the center of the brush.

2. The replaceable aerosol can of gel being a convenient size to hold in one hand, easy to store and convenient for travel.

3. The brush attached to the can has a simple button mechanism for dispensing the gel into the middle of the brush for application.

4. The brush body contains a rimmed base made of a durable material which snaps onto the aerosol can of gel. The durability of the brush body allows countless replacement cans to be snapped onto it without failure.

5. The simple gel initiation mechanism contains a notched plunger and a spring leaving few working parts for fatigue and failure.

6. The replaceable aerosol can referred to in claim 2 contains a tube which allows a clean and precise delivery of the shave gel from the aerosol can to the center of the base of the brush for a smooth and even application of the gel with no contact other than from can to skin.