EP2303525A2 - Razor blade technology - Google Patents

Razor blade technology

Info

Publication number
EP2303525A2
EP2303525A2 EP09751358A EP09751358A EP2303525A2 EP 2303525 A2 EP2303525 A2 EP 2303525A2 EP 09751358 A EP09751358 A EP 09751358A EP 09751358 A EP09751358 A EP 09751358A EP 2303525 A2 EP2303525 A2 EP 2303525A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cutting edge
razor blade
pattern
razor
elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP09751358A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2303525B1 (en
EP2303525A4 (en
Inventor
Gordon Krauss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
Original Assignee
Eveready Battery Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eveready Battery Co Inc filed Critical Eveready Battery Co Inc
Publication of EP2303525A2 publication Critical patent/EP2303525A2/en
Publication of EP2303525A4 publication Critical patent/EP2303525A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2303525B1 publication Critical patent/EP2303525B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00—Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/54—Razor-blades
    • B26B21/56—Razor-blades characterised by the shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00—Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/54—Razor-blades
    • B26B21/58—Razor-blades characterised by the material
    • B26B21/60—Razor-blades characterised by the material by the coating material

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to razor blades, and more particularly to methods of treating cutting edges of razor blades.
  • PTFE polytctrafluorocthyicne
  • a typical PTFE coating is disclosed for example in U.S. Patent number 3,774,703 to Sanderson.
  • the coating applied is too thick for optimal shaving comfort, especially during the first shave.
  • the thick coating on the cutting edge is peeled back during shaving, especially during this first shave.
  • the PTFE coating on the cutting edge of a razor blade acts as a hydrophobic layer between the cutting edge and the hair being cut and also between the cutting edge and the skin surface the cutting edge is passing over.
  • the inherent hydrophobic nature of the PTFE coating causes a film-like array of water droplets of a microscopic scale to form and be retained on the cutting edge. This film- like array enhances the effect of the normally lubricious PTFE coating to further reduce the aforementioned cutting force.
  • the present disclosure has for its objective to eliminate, or at least substantially alleviate the limitations of the prior art razor blades.
  • a surface texture to the cutting edge of a razor blade and/or skin engaging surfaces of the razor cartridge it is possible to lower the friction between these surfaces and corresponding skin and hair surfaces.
  • a suitable coating to the textured surface it is possible to increase the hydrophobicity of the surface.
  • Surface texturing can be achieved by modification of a surface in an organized pattern or by random roughening of the surface.
  • Surface texturing can be by subtraction from the surface or addition thereto or combinations thereof. Examples of subtraction processes include laser etching. Examples of addition processes include deposition of a material by a sputtering or other suitable vacuum deposition process.
  • Surface texturing can be applied to the substrate of the cutting edge of a razor blade that is then over-coated with a suitable hard coating, such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art.
  • a suitable hard coating such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a hard coating applied to the substrate.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a lubricious coating applied to the substrate or to the hard coating.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to the skin engaging surfaces of the
  • One advantage of the present disclosure lies in the cutting edge thus textured has increased hydrophobicity and decreased friction relative to the hair being cut during a normal shaving operation thus decreasing the force required to cut the hair resulting in a more comfortable shave for the user.
  • Another advantage of the present disclosure lies in the skin engaging surfaces of the cartridge thus textured have increased hydrophobicity and decreased friction relative to the skin surface the razor cartridge is passing over during a normal shaving operation also resulting in a more comfortable shave for the user.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exemplar ⁇ ' textured surface of the present disclosure.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
  • Fig. 3A is a plan view of a further embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
  • Fig, 3 B is a plan view of a yet further embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
  • Fig, 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary razor cartridge
  • Fig, 5 is a schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of a razor blade of the razor cartridge of Fig. 4.
  • the cartridge includes a frame 20 having a skin engaging guard surface 30 adapted to engage the skin surface being shaved in advance of one or more razor blades 50 mounted in the frame.
  • Each razor blade 50 includes a cutting edge 60
  • the frame also includes a skin engaging cap surface 40 adapted to engage the skin surface being shaved after the cutting edges of the one or more razor blades.
  • Fig, 5 depicts an enlarged schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of the razor blade.
  • the razor blade includes a substrate 70 that has a tip 72 and adjacent facets 74 and one or more coatings 80 that are well known in the art such as alpha-diamond or DLC and can have an outer coating 82 of PTFE.
  • the surface can be a skin engaging surface of the cartridge frame or the cutting edge of the razor blade.
  • the texture can include combinations of regular shapes such as cylindrical 110 and other polygonal shaped elements 120 as depicted in Fig. 1.
  • the texture can also include random combinations of irregular or random shapes 210 as depicted in Fig. 2,
  • the elements can protrude from or be recessed in the respective surface, Element spacing is at least 10 nm, e.g. at least 50 nm or 100 nm and can be up to about 1 micron or more. Element height is at least 5nm, e.g. at least 10 nm or 25 nm and can be up to 0.1 microns (100 nm).
  • the elements can have a constant cross section along their respective height or can be tapered. Surface texturing can be by subtraction from the surface or addition thereto or combinations thereof. Examples of subtraction processes include laser etching or laser ablation.
  • Examples of addition processes include deposition of a material by a sputtering or other suitable vacuum deposition process.
  • Surface texturing can be applied to the substrate of the cutting edge of a razor blade that is then over -coated with a suitable hard coating, such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art.
  • a suitable hard coating such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a hard coating applied to the substrate.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a lubricious coating applied to the substrate or to the hard coating.
  • Surface texturing can also be applied to skin engaging surfaces, e.g. 30, 40 of the razor cartridge housing.
  • a textured surface 300 is depicted.
  • the texture is achieved by a regular or irregular plurals of elongated elements 310 applied to the surface.
  • the elements can be grooves achieved by e.g. laser ablation or can be deposited by e.g. sputtering a suitable material.
  • the grooves preferably extend parallel to the cutting edge of the razor blade (as depicted in Fig, 3B) or another direction that is not in the direction of movement of the razor blade or the razor cartridge having such a razor blade against the skin surface being shaved (as depicted in Fig. 3A).
  • Surface texturing can extend over substantially the entire surface having such a texture (as depicted in Fig. 3A) or can extend over portions of the entire surface having such a texture (as depicted in Fig. 3B).
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of a razor blade having a surface texture on the substrate 70, the layer of one or more coatings 80 and the outer coating 82 of PTFE.
  • the surface texturing can be omitted from one or more surfaces, e.g. the surfaces of the substrate.
  • Surface texturing can also be by combinations of the aforementioned features adjacent to or superimposed on one another.

Abstract

A razor cartridge is provided. The razor cartridge includes a frame having skin engaging guard and cap surfaces and one or more razor blades each having a sharpened cutting edge. The cutting edge of the razor blade and/or a skin engaging surface of the frame includes a surface texture. The surface texture has a pattern of elements having a height at least 10 nanometers. The texture can be applied by addition to, or subtraction from the surface or combinations of the two. The texture can be a regular pattern of features or a random pattern of random features or combinations of the two. Surface subtraction can be by laser etching or laser ablation. Surface addition can be by sputtering or other suitable vacuum process. The surface thus textured has increased hydrophobicity and decreased friction relative to the hair being cut or skin surface being shaved.

Description

RAZOR BLADE TECHNOLOGY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application serial number 61/054,563, filed May 20, 2008, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Background
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to razor blades, and more particularly to methods of treating cutting edges of razor blades.
2. Background
Many razor blades for wet shaving razors have their cutting edges treated with a coating such as polytctrafluorocthyicne (PTFE) in order to reduce the cutting force required to use the razor blade. A typical PTFE coating is disclosed for example in U.S. Patent number 3,774,703 to Sanderson. However, in many instances, the coating applied is too thick for optimal shaving comfort, especially during the first shave. The thick coating on the cutting edge is peeled back during shaving, especially during this first shave. The consequently thinner PFTE coating yields an increased shave performance for the razor blade after the first shave. Accordingly, efforts have been directed towards reliably and reproducibly thinning the blade coating to simulate the effects of the peeled back coating. Examples of methods to achieve a peeled back coating include U.S. Patents number 5,985,459 to Kwiecien et al. and 7,247,249 to Trankiεm.
It is believed the PTFE coating on the cutting edge of a razor blade acts as a hydrophobic layer between the cutting edge and the hair being cut and also between the cutting edge and the skin surface the cutting edge is passing over. In a normal wet shaving operation the inherent hydrophobic nature of the PTFE coating causes a film-like array of water droplets of a microscopic scale to form and be retained on the cutting edge. This film- like array enhances the effect of the normally lubricious PTFE coating to further reduce the aforementioned cutting force. SUMMARY:
The present disclosure has for its objective to eliminate, or at least substantially alleviate the limitations of the prior art razor blades. By applying a surface texture to the cutting edge of a razor blade and/or skin engaging surfaces of the razor cartridge it is possible to lower the friction between these surfaces and corresponding skin and hair surfaces. Furthermore, by applying a suitable coating to the textured surface it is possible to increase the hydrophobicity of the surface.
Surface texturing can be achieved by modification of a surface in an organized pattern or by random roughening of the surface. Surface texturing can be by subtraction from the surface or addition thereto or combinations thereof. Examples of subtraction processes include laser etching. Examples of addition processes include deposition of a material by a sputtering or other suitable vacuum deposition process. Surface texturing can be applied to the substrate of the cutting edge of a razor blade that is then over-coated with a suitable hard coating, such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art. Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a hard coating applied to the substrate. Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a lubricious coating applied to the substrate or to the hard coating. Surface texturing can also be applied to the skin engaging surfaces of the razor cartridge housing.
One advantage of the present disclosure lies in the cutting edge thus textured has increased hydrophobicity and decreased friction relative to the hair being cut during a normal shaving operation thus decreasing the force required to cut the hair resulting in a more comfortable shave for the user.
Another advantage of the present disclosure lies in the skin engaging surfaces of the cartridge thus textured have increased hydrophobicity and decreased friction relative to the skin surface the razor cartridge is passing over during a normal shaving operation also resulting in a more comfortable shave for the user.
The above features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exemplar}' textured surface of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
Fig. 3A is a plan view of a further embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
Fig, 3 B is a plan view of a yet further embodiment of a textured surface of the present disclosure.
Fig, 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary razor cartridge,
Fig, 5 is a schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of a razor blade of the razor cartridge of Fig. 4.
Detailed Description:
Referring now to the drawings and in particular Fig. 4, an exemplary razor cartridge 10 is depicted. The cartridge includes a frame 20 having a skin engaging guard surface 30 adapted to engage the skin surface being shaved in advance of one or more razor blades 50 mounted in the frame. Each razor blade 50 includes a cutting edge 60, The frame also includes a skin engaging cap surface 40 adapted to engage the skin surface being shaved after the cutting edges of the one or more razor blades. Fig, 5 depicts an enlarged schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of the razor blade. The razor blade includes a substrate 70 that has a tip 72 and adjacent facets 74 and one or more coatings 80 that are well known in the art such as alpha-diamond or DLC and can have an outer coating 82 of PTFE.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, enlarged views of exemplary textured surfaces 100,
200 respectively arc depicted. The surface can be a skin engaging surface of the cartridge frame or the cutting edge of the razor blade. The texture can include combinations of regular shapes such as cylindrical 110 and other polygonal shaped elements 120 as depicted in Fig. 1.
The texture can also include random combinations of irregular or random shapes 210 as depicted in Fig. 2, The elements can protrude from or be recessed in the respective surface, Element spacing is at least 10 nm, e.g. at least 50 nm or 100 nm and can be up to about 1 micron or more. Element height is at least 5nm, e.g. at least 10 nm or 25 nm and can be up to 0.1 microns (100 nm). The elements can have a constant cross section along their respective height or can be tapered. Surface texturing can be by subtraction from the surface or addition thereto or combinations thereof. Examples of subtraction processes include laser etching or laser ablation. Examples of addition processes include deposition of a material by a sputtering or other suitable vacuum deposition process. Surface texturing can be applied to the substrate of the cutting edge of a razor blade that is then over -coated with a suitable hard coating, such as alpha-diamond or DLC (diamond-like carbon), both being well known in the art. Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a hard coating applied to the substrate. Surface texturing can also be applied to the outer surface of a lubricious coating applied to the substrate or to the hard coating. Surface texturing can also be applied to skin engaging surfaces, e.g. 30, 40 of the razor cartridge housing.
Referring now to Figs. 3A and 3B, further embodiments of a textured surface 300 is depicted. The texture is achieved by a regular or irregular scries of elongated elements 310 applied to the surface. The elements can be grooves achieved by e.g. laser ablation or can be deposited by e.g. sputtering a suitable material. The grooves preferably extend parallel to the cutting edge of the razor blade (as depicted in Fig, 3B) or another direction that is not in the direction of movement of the razor blade or the razor cartridge having such a razor blade against the skin surface being shaved (as depicted in Fig. 3A). Surface texturing can extend over substantially the entire surface having such a texture (as depicted in Fig. 3A) or can extend over portions of the entire surface having such a texture (as depicted in Fig. 3B).
Surface texturing including a series of elongated elements can also be applied to the skin engaging surfaces of the razor cartridge housing. Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the cutting edge portion of a razor blade having a surface texture on the substrate 70, the layer of one or more coatings 80 and the outer coating 82 of PTFE. However, the surface texturing can be omitted from one or more surfaces, e.g. the surfaces of the substrate.
Surface texturing can also be by combinations of the aforementioned features adjacent to or superimposed on one another.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. For instance, modifications or changes as can be made within the scope of the attached claims and features disclosed in connection with any one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with each feature of the respective other embodiments. Thus, the breadth and scope of any embodiment should not be limited by any of the above described exemplar}' embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS:What is claimed is:
1. A razor blade, comprising:
5 a substrate with a cutting edge defined by a tip and adjacent facets, a layer of a coating on the cutting edge; wherein one of the cutting edge and the layer of a coating includes a textured surface including a pattern of elements having a height at last about 5nm.
2, The razor blade of claim 1, wherein the pattern of elements that is one of a random 1.0 pattern and a regular pattern, and combinations thereof
3, The razor blade of claim 2, wherein the pattern of elements includes a series of elongated elements.
4, The razor blade of claim 3, wherein the elongated elements extend in a direction parallel to the cutting edge.
15 5. The razor blade of claim 3, wherein the elongated elements extend in a direction that is not in a direction of movement of the razor blade against a skin surface being shaved.
6. The razor blade of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each element of the pattern of elements is spaced at least 10 nm from the next adjacent clement.
7. The razor blade of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting edge includes an outer 20 layer of μolytetrafluoroethylene.
8. A razor cartridge, comprising: a frame including skin engaging guard and cap surfaces, and at least one razor blade having a cutting edge disposed in the frame; wherein one of the skin engaging guard surface and the skin engaging cap surface includes a 25 textured surface including a pattern of elements having a height at least 5nm. 9, The razor cartridge of claim 8. wherein the cutting edge of the razor blade is defined by a tip and adjacent facets and a layer of a coating on the cutting edge; and wherein one of the cutting edge and the layer of a coating includes a textured surface including a pattern of elements having a height at last about 5nrn,
EP09751358.4A 2008-05-20 2009-05-19 Razor blade technology Active EP2303525B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5456308P 2008-05-20 2008-05-20
PCT/US2009/044485 WO2009143130A2 (en) 2008-05-20 2009-05-19 Razor blade technology

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2303525A2 true EP2303525A2 (en) 2011-04-06
EP2303525A4 EP2303525A4 (en) 2011-10-19
EP2303525B1 EP2303525B1 (en) 2016-11-30

Family

ID=41340813

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09751358.4A Active EP2303525B1 (en) 2008-05-20 2009-05-19 Razor blade technology

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2303525B1 (en)
PL (1) PL2303525T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2009143130A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11230024B2 (en) 2014-12-22 2022-01-25 Bic-Violex Sa Razor blade

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040163262A1 (en) * 2001-04-17 2004-08-26 King Rodney L. Ceramic blade and production method therefor
US20070062047A1 (en) * 2005-09-19 2007-03-22 Andrew Zhuk Razor blades
US20070082229A1 (en) * 2005-10-11 2007-04-12 Mirchandani Rajini P Biocompatible cemented carbide articles and methods of making the same
WO2007064699A2 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-06-07 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Razor blade and method of making it

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9022128D0 (en) * 1990-10-11 1990-11-21 Gillette Co Safety razors
US20040172832A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-09 Colin Clipstone Razor blade
US20050235495A1 (en) * 2004-04-22 2005-10-27 Aviza Gregory D Shaving systems with exfoliation
US7882640B2 (en) * 2006-03-29 2011-02-08 The Gillette Company Razor blades and razors

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040163262A1 (en) * 2001-04-17 2004-08-26 King Rodney L. Ceramic blade and production method therefor
US20070062047A1 (en) * 2005-09-19 2007-03-22 Andrew Zhuk Razor blades
US20070082229A1 (en) * 2005-10-11 2007-04-12 Mirchandani Rajini P Biocompatible cemented carbide articles and methods of making the same
WO2007064699A2 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-06-07 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Razor blade and method of making it

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2009143130A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2303525B1 (en) 2016-11-30
WO2009143130A3 (en) 2010-01-07
WO2009143130A2 (en) 2009-11-26
PL2303525T3 (en) 2017-05-31
EP2303525A4 (en) 2011-10-19

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