Reciprocating razor assembly with different amplitudes of motion

Abstract

A shaving razor having at least two independent blade assemblies coupled to substantially rigid linkages. The linkages each defining a pivot point between the two independent blade assemblies. A bridge spans between the linkages such that movement of the bridge causes pivoting about the pivot point enabling reciprocating motion of the blade assemblies where assemblies on opposite sides of the pivot point reciprocate in opposite directions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shaving razor comprising:
 at least two blade assemblies including a first independent blade assembly and a second independent blade assembly, each blade assembly having at least one blade; 
 a first and second substantially rigid linkages coupling together the first and second independent blade assemblies, the linkages each defining a pivot point between the first and the second independent blade assemblies; 
 a bridge spanning between and coupled the first and second linkages, wherein movement of the bridge causes the linkages to pivot about the pivot points such that the first and second blade assemblies move in opposite lateral directions responsive to a force applied by an actuator. 
 
     
     
       2. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein an amplitude of lateral movement is greater for the second blade assembly than the first blade assembly. 
     
     
       3. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein the first blade assembly is coupled to the linkages more proximate to the pivot points than the second blade assembly. 
     
     
       4. The shaving razor of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle; and 
 the actuator residing within the handle to engage the bridge to cause motion of the bridge. 
 
     
     
       5. The shaving razor of  claim 4  where in the actuator comprises:
 an armature; and 
 an armature housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The shaving razor of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third independent blade assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The shaving razor of  claim 6  wherein a relative motion of the first blade assembly to the third blade assembly is in a range from 0.1 mm to less than 0.5 mm and a relative motion of the second blade assembly to the third blade assembly is in a range of 0.05 mm to less than 0.25 mm. 
     
     
       8. The shaving razor of  claim 6  wherein a relative motion between the first blade assembly and the third blade assembly is less than 0.5 mm and the relative motion between the second blade assembly and the first blade assembly is no more than half the relative motion between the first and third blade assemblies. 
     
     
       9. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein each linkage defines a plurality of bores, each bore to receive a post of one of the at least two, blade assemblies and wherein the post remains rotatable within the bore after assembly. 
     
     
       10. The shaving razor of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pair of stops and wherein each linkage engages one of the pair of stops at the pivot point during use. 
 
     
     
       11. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein each linkage defines a stop retention feature at the pivot point. 
     
     
       12. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein an amplitude of the movement in a first lateral direction is substantially equal to an amplitude of the movement in a second lateral direction for each blade assembly. 
     
     
       13. The shaving razor of  claim 1  wherein the relative motion between any two immediately adjacent blade assemblies is less than 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       14. A shaving razor comprising:
 a first blade assembly having a first razor blade with a first cutting edge, the first blade assembly displaceable along a first path substantially parallel to the first cutting edge:   a second blade assembly having a second razor blade with a second cutting edge, the second blade assembly deployed to cut in a same direction as the first blade assembly and to be displaceable along a second path substantially parallel to the second cutting edge:   a first linkage coupling together a first end of the first blade assembly with a first end of the second blade assembly: and   a second linkage coupling together a second end of the first blade assembly with a second end of the second blade assembly:   wherein the first and second linkages are configured such that a first displacement of the first blade assembly along the first path causes a second displacement of the second blade assembly along the second path, the second displacement being in the same direction as, but with a different amplitude from, the first displacement.   
     
     
       15. The shaving razor of claim 14 further comprising:
 a first pivot element associated with the first linkage; and   a second pivot element associated with the second linkage,   wherein the first and second pivot elements defining pivot points for the first and second linkages, respectively.   
     
     
       16. The shaving razor of claim 14 further comprising: a third blade assembly having a third razor blade with a third cutting edge, the third blade assembly deployed for cutting in the same direction as the first and second blade assemblies and being displaceable along a third path substantially parallel to the third cutting edge: and
 wherein a first end of the third blade assembly is coupled to the first linkage and a second end of the third blade assembly is coupled to the second linkage: and   wherein the first and second linkages are configured such that the displacement of the first blade assembly along the first path causes a displacement of the third blade assembly along the third path in a direction opposite to the displacement of the first blade assembly.   
     
     
       17. The shaving razor of claim 14 further comprising:
 a handle: and   an actuator coupled to the handle to displace the first blade assembly.   
     
     
       18. The shaving razor of claim 17 wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil. 
     
     
       19. The shaving razor of claim 17 wherein an amplitude of relative motion generated by the actuator between the first blade assembly and the second blade assembly is in the range from 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
       20. The shaving razor of claim 1 wherein the first and second blade assemblies reside aligned in a rest position when no force is applied and are, in use, displaced less than 0.25 mm in one direction from the rest position.