Abstract: A razor head is advantageously formed with a spacer that is capable of expanding after manufacturing assembly to provide a tighter blade package.

Abstract: A device for shaving hair has a housing which is formed with a handle and which supports a razor blade and a heating means. More specifically, the heating means, which may be either a linearly-scanned laser beam or a ceramic or metallic heating element, is mounted in the housing to pre-heat the hair to be cut. Accordingly, the heating means softens the hair that is near the cutting edge of the blade, so that a blade which is less sharp than conventional blades may be used to cut the hair without unduly irritating the skin. Appropriate power supplies for the heating means may be contained within the housing, if desired.

Abstract: A pivoting safety razor assembly for holding a blade device has a handle and a flexible member which interconnects the handle with the blade device. The blade device defines a cutting edge and the flexible member bends in response to shaving forces to move the handle in a rotational motion about the cutting edge.

Abstract: An electro-optical measuring system is described wherein a laser or light beam is precisely translated in a straight line perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the beam at a uniform, repeatable speed to define a time-varying sensing field whose energy is picked up by a photosensor which yields an output signal. An object whose dimension is to be measured is inserted in the field whereby the output signal of the photosensor takes the form of a pulse whose leading edge is developed by the traversal of the beam across one edge of the object, thereby blocking passage of the energy to the photosensor. The trailing edge is developed by the traversal of the beam across the opposite edge of the object thereby restoring the energy to the photosensor. The width or time duration of the pulse is a measure of the distance between the two edges.