Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Metcalf

Stephen C. Metcalf has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7043840
    Abstract: A shaving razor blade unit that has a plurality of blades and a guard that includes two groups of rows of elongated, elastomeric fins arranged generally parallel to the cutting edges of the blades. The first group of fins has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a first dimension, and the second group in has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a second dimension, the second dimension being less than one fifth of the first dimension. Also disclosed are elastomeric guard fins having base to tip heights less than 0.15 mm, and the fins being the last skin engaging structure contacted by a user's skin before contacting the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Vincent P. Walker, Jr., Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20040134072
    Abstract: A shaving razor blade unit that has a plurality of blades and a guard that includes two groups of rows of elongated, elastomeric fins arranged generally parallel to the cutting edges of the blades. The first group of fins has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a first dimension, and the second group in has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a second dimension, the second dimension being less than one fifth of the first dimension. Also disclosed are elastomeric guard fins having base to tip heights less than 0.15 mm, and the fins being the last skin engaging structure contacted by a user's skin before contacting the blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: The Gillette Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Vincent P. Walker, Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 6675479
    Abstract: A shaving razor blade unit that has a plurality of blades and a guard that includes two groups of rows of elongated, elastomeric fins arranged generally parallel to the cutting edges of the blades. The first group of fins has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a first dimension, and the second group in has tips with generally uniform base to tip heights of a second dimension, the second dimension being less than one fifth of the first dimension. Also disclosed are elastomeric guard fins having base to tip heights less than 0.15 mm, and the fins being the last skin engaging structure contacted by a user's skin before contacting the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Vincent P. Walker, Jr., Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 6192586
    Abstract: A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges including latches that retain cartridges in predetermined positions permitting connection to a handle connecting structure on a handle as the handle is moved toward the cartridge, each latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle camming structure so as to cause the latch to be deflected and to unlatch a cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to cartridge connecting structure of a cartridge. The dispenser also has blade unit dividers that extend from the base, are substantially perpendicular to the base, and define blade unit regions in which the blade units are received, and angled dividers that extend from the ends of respective blade unit dividers at acute angles with the base and define angled regions through which the blade units pass in delivery to and removal from the blade unit regions and in which the cartridge connecting structure is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Metcalf, John D. Petricca, Robert A. Trotta
  • Patent number: 6161287
    Abstract: A safety razor system includes an elongated housing pivotably attached to a member connecting the housing to a handle. The housing is substantially rectangular, having arcuate end portions. A plurality of razor blades and a guard member extend from the upper surface of the housing and an annular retainer clip is disposed about the periphery of the housing serving to retain the blades onto the housing and position the blades relative to the guard member. The connecting member pivotably supports the housing by four coaxial bearing surfaces contacting mating surfaces on the housing during rotation of the housing relative to the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Gerald Ted Swanson, Paul Flaherty, Matthew Joseph Guay, Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 6085426
    Abstract: A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges including latches that retain cartridges in predetermined positions permitting connection to a handle connecting structure on a handle as the handle is moved toward the cartridge, each latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle camming structure so as to cause the latch to be deflected and to unlatch a cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to cartridge connecting structure of a cartridge. The dispenser also has blade unit dividers that extend from the base, are substantially perpendicular to the base, and define blade unit regions in which the blade units are received, and angled dividers that extend from the ends of respective blade unit dividers at acute angles with the base and define angled regions through which the blade units pass in delivery to and removal from the blade unit regions and in which the cartridge connecting structure is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Metcalf, John D. Petricca, Robert A. Trotta
  • Patent number: 6052903
    Abstract: A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges including latches that retain cartridges in predetermined positions permitting connection to a handle connecting structure on a handle as the handle is moved toward the cartridge, each latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle camming structure so as to cause the latch to be deflected and to unlatch a cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to cartridge connecting structure of a cartridge. The dispenser also has blade unit dividers that extend from the base, are substantially perpendicular to the base, and define blade unit regions in which the blade units are received, and angled dividers that extend from the ends of respective blade unit dividers at acute angles with the base and define angled regions through which the blade units pass in delivery to and removal from the blade unit regions and in which the cartridge connecting structure is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Metcalf, John D. Petricca, Robert A. Trotta
  • Patent number: 5956851
    Abstract: A replaceable razor blade cartridge including a blade unit, and cartridge connecting structure for connecting the blade unit to handle connecting structure of a handle, the cartridge connecting structure having inwardly directed surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces on the handle connecting structure, the blade unit being pivotally connected to the cartridge connecting structure, the cartridge connecting structure including a latching member that is movable to release the cartridge from the handle connecting structure prior to retraction of the cartridge connecting structure from the handle connecting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Domenic V. Apprille, Jr., William C. Carson, III, Alejandro C. Lee, Stephen C. Metcalf, Charles B. Worrick
  • Patent number: 5890296
    Abstract: A cartridge-connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle including a cartridge connecting structure, a handle connecting structure, and a movable component within the cartridge connecting structure that interacts with a replaceable cartridge when it is connected. The cartridge connecting structure and handle connecting structure have outer side surfaces that mate with inwardly directed surfaces of the cartridge and handle so that the subassembly is substantially covered when it is mounted in the handle and a cartridge is connected. The subassembly has an assembly opening for receiving the movable component during assembly, a cartridge interaction opening through which the component is movable for interaction with the cartridge, and blocking structure that retains the movable component in the subassembly. The movable component is an ejector structure that is separate from the cartridge connecting structure. The subassembly is connected to the handle by staking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Gillete Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Metcalf, Charles B. Worrick
  • Patent number: 5784790
    Abstract: A cartridge-connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle including a cartridge connecting structure, a handle connecting structure, and a movable component within the cartridge connecting structure that interacts with a replaceable cartridge when it is connected. The cartridge connecting structure and handle connecting structure have outer side surfaces that mate with inwardly directed surfaces of the cartridge and handle so that the subassembly is substantially covered when it is mounted in the handle and a cartridge is connected. The subassembly has an assembly opening for receiving the movable component during assembly, a cartridge interaction opening through which the component is movable for interaction with the cartridge, and blocking structure that retains the movable component in the subassembly. The movable component is an ejector structure that is separate from the cartridge connecting structure. The subassembly is connected to the handle by staking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: William C. Carson, III, Alejandro C. Lee, Stephen C. Metcalf, Paul Nowak, Robert A. Trotta, Charles B. Worrick
  • Patent number: 5299354
    Abstract: An oscillating wet shave razor with a battery powered motor rotating an eccentric element within the head portion of the razor handle to generate an oscillating vibration signal which is transmitted to the razor blade cartridge to desensitize the facial nerves from the discomforts of shaving. The vibration which is transmitted to the cartridge is partially damped in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the cartridge that engages the user's face so that the blades mounted in the cartridge tend not to chop at the whiskers of the user's beard during shaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Metcalf, Robert A. Trotta, Donald R. Chaulk, Hiroshi Harigai
  • Patent number: 5232127
    Abstract: A dispenser device for a foam producing gel includes an actuator and a hood, the actuator being mounted at the top of a gel container and having an inlet contacting the valve stem of the gel container and a nozzle having an outlet directed radially outwardly from the top of the container. The hood is open at the bottom and engages the outer surface of the actuator to cover the actuator when not in use. An opening is provided in the hood and a notch in the rim of the opening contacts a detent on the outer surface of the actuator to ensure that the hood opening is opposite the nozzle outlet of the actuator when the hood is in place. The hood opening when so positioned serves to inhibit excess foaming of gel remaining between the actuator inlet and nozzle outlet when the hood is in place after usage, and a notch is formed in the nozzle structure below the actuator outlet to provide a path of flow downwardly from the outlet as foamed product expands outwardly from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Trotta, Brian A. Rogers, Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: D401014
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: D422380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Stephen C. Metcalf
  • Patent number: D424745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Stephen C. Metcalf