CN1105000C - Shaving system - Google Patents

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shaving unit that comprises at least one blade and a skin engaging member that has a surface for engaging the user's skin adjacent the blade edge. The shaving unit may be of a disposable cartridge type adapted for coupling to and uncoupling from a razor handle or may be integral with a handle so that the complete razor is discarded as a unit when the blade or blades become dulled. The blade edge (or edges) cooperate with skin engaging surfaces to defines having geometry. The skin engaging member is comprised of an elongated sheath made of a mixture of water insoluble matrix material and an effective amount of shaving aid material and a rigid core material extending axially through out said sheath. The axial position of the core need not be through the central axis.

Description

shaving equipment

The present invention relates to an improved skin engaging member for a razor cartridge assembly and a wet shaving type shaving device. Broadly speaking, the present invention pertains to providing skin engaging shields and/or protective surfaces with structures that reduce the frictional resistance of the razor across the skin. The invention also relates to a new method of manufacturing the skin engaging member of the invention.

In wet shaving type shaving devices, many factors such as the frictional resistance of the razor across the skin, the force required to shave hair, and irritation of pre-existing skin damage can contribute to an uncomfortable shave. The discomfort and other problems that accompany wet shaving equipment can be alleviated by applying shaving aids to the skin. Shaving aid can be applied before, during or after shaving. A number of problems can arise with the use of shaving aid first and shaving aid last. Previously applied shaving aid may evaporate or may be carried away from where it was applied by repeated strokes of the razor. A post-applied shaving aid during shaving is not present on the skin, so its application may be too late to prevent undesired effects. Both shaving aid first and shaving aid last add steps to the shaving process.

Various proposals have been made to incorporate shaving aids such as lubricants, beard softeners, razor cleaners, medicaments, emollients or combinations thereof into razors, e.g. by depositing shaving aids in the grooves of the razor, Adding shaving aid directly to the molded polymer component of one or more razors, adhesively securing the shaving aid composition to the razor and mechanically linking the shaving aid composition to the razor . Water soluble shaving aids such as polyethylene oxide are mixed with water insoluble materials such as polystyrene polymers to make insoluble polymer/soluble shaving aid compositions. Such compositions have been incorporated into the razors of single or multiple blade shaving apparatus and on shaving frame structures adjacent to the razors. When exposed to water, the water soluble shaving aid will leach from the composition onto the skin.

Extruded compositions having a relatively large amount of shaving aid (up to 80% by weight) and relatively small amounts of water-insoluble matrix material (as low as 20% by weight) are relatively fragile when assembled and used susceptible to mechanical damage. The mechanical strength can be improved by increasing the amount of matrix material. However, increasing the amount of matrix material reduces the release ability of the shaving aid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shaving unit having at least one blade and a skin engaging member having a surface for engaging the user's skin with an adjacent blade edge. The shaving unit may be of the detachable frame type adapted to be integrated or detached from the razor handle, or may be integral with the handle so that when the blades become dull, the entire razor is useless. The cutting edge cooperates with the skin-engaging surface to define a structure with the desired geometry. The skin engaging member is comprised of a water insoluble matrix material and an effective amount of shaving aid material and an elongated sheath of rigid core material extending along said sheath guide axis. The axial position of the inner core need not pass through the central axis.

It would be desirable to provide a skin engaging member with high mechanical strength.

It would also be desirable to provide a skin engaging member having high shaving aid material release characteristics.

The present invention relates to the following aspects:

CLAIMS 1. A skin engaging member for a wet shaving unit, said skin engaging member comprising an axially coextensive outer coating (72) covering an inner portion (70) extending from the outer coating Dyed in different colors, the outer coating (72) mainly includes a water-soluble shaving aid, and the inner part (70) has sufficient rigidity to provide suitable mechanical strength for the skin engaging member in use. does not crumble during use, wherein said outer coating is adapted to wear away at said skin engaging surface during use to expose said inner portion (70), indicating to the user the shaving unit and/or skin engaging member has reached its useful life.

2. The skin engaging member according to item 2 above, wherein said inner part contains at least 50% of a water-insoluble polymer.

3. The skin engaging member according to item 1 or 2 above, wherein the inner part further contains a water-soluble polymer.

4. The skin fitting member according to item 3 above, wherein the water-soluble shaving aid contains polyethylene oxide.

5. The skin fitting part according to item 4 above, wherein the content of polyethylene oxide is 65-82wt%.

6. The skin engaging member according to item 1 or 2 above, wherein the water-insoluble polymer includes polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon.

7. The skin engaging member according to item 6 above, wherein the water-insoluble matrix includes nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyacetal.

8. The skin engaging member according to item 1 or 2 above, wherein the inner part further contains a water-soluble polymer.

9. The skin fitting member according to item 8, wherein the water-soluble polymer is polyethylene oxide.

10. The skin fitting part according to item 1 above, wherein the shaving aids include polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylimidazoline, polyethylene glycol Alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, starch, water soluble vinyl polymer, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, silicone polymer, sucrose stearate, vitamin E, panthenol, aloe vera resin, essential oil or its combination.

11. A wet shaving unit comprising blades and a polymeric shaving aid strip adjacent said blades, said polymeric shaving aid strip comprising an outer layer of shaving aid dyed in different colors and an inner shaving aid layer A shaving aid layer, the outer shaving layer comprising polyethylene oxide and a water-insoluble matrix, the inner layer comprising a water-insoluble polymer, wherein during shaving using the wet shaving unit , the outer layer of shaving aid gradually bleeds the polyethylene oxide and wears away at the skin engaging surface to expose the inner layer, indicating to the user that the shaving unit and/or skin engaging member has reached the end of its useful life.

12. The wet shaving unit according to item 11 above, wherein the outer coating layer contains 65 to 82% of the polyethylene oxide.

13. The wet shaving unit according to item 11 or 12 above, wherein said water-insoluble polymer comprises polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon.

14. The wet shaving unit according to item 13 above, wherein said water-insoluble matrix comprises nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyacetal.

15. The wet shaving unit according to item 13 or 14 above, wherein the water-soluble shaving aid is polyethylene oxide.

Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a skin engaging member that exhibits an indication of wear.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a razor unit of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another razor unit of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the skin anastomotic component of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figures 6-7 are cross-sectional views of Figure 5 showing alternative core geometries;

Fig. 8 is also a sectional view;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an extrusion die suitable for making the skin engaging member of FIG. 4. FIG.

The shaving unit 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a high-impact polystyrene molded base or cartridge member 12 (which includes an integral connection tongue-and-groove structure 14 for connection to the razor handle) and a protective structure. 16 (the structure defines a laterally extending skin engaging surface 18). A steel front blade 20 with a sharp edge 22, a steel rear blade 24 with a sharp edge 26, and an aluminum spacer member 28 for maintaining a certain distance between the blades 20 and 24 are placed on the knife holder 12. The cover 30 is molded from high impact polystyrene and has a main body portion 32 defining a skin engaging surface 34 extending transversely between the projecting end walls 32 and a front edge 38 behind which the cutting edge 26 is placed. . Assembly rivets 40 pass from transversely extending body portion 32 down through holes in blades 20 and 24 , spacer 28 and holder 12 to secure cover 30 , blades 20 , 24 and spacer 28 to holder 12 . Adhesively secured to skin engaging surface 34 is skin engaging member 42 .

The shaving unit 50 shown in FIG. 3 is of the type shown in US 4,586,255 (Jacobson), which includes a main body 52 with a front portion 54 and a rear portion 56. Resiliently secured to the main body 52 are a guard member 58 , a front blade unit 60 and a driven blade unit 62 . A shaving aid composition in the form of an elongated insert 64 is frictionally secured within the opening 66 of the rear portion 56 .

Figures 4-9 generally represent different variants of the invention. The term "core" as used herein refers to the inner portion of the skin engaging member as viewed in cross-section. The inner core generally moves along an axis throughout the skin engaging component. The axis need not be a central axis. The inner core is determined as 70 in the figure. Embodiments of the present invention have at least one inner core. The term "skin" as used herein refers to the outer coating on the core. In the figure, the outer cortex is designated as 72.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 4, the elongated skin engaging member 64 is illustrated. Member 64 has a skin engaging surface 74 and an elongated insert member 76 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the insert is frictionally secured in opening 66 . The skin engaging member also has a rigid inner core 70 surrounded by an outer skin layer 72 made of a mixture of a water insoluble matrix material and an effective amount of a shaving aid material.

The sheath material comprises from about 0 to about 30% by weight (preferably from about 5 to about 15% by weight) of a water-insoluble matrix and from about 70 to about 100% by weight (preferably from about 85 to about 95% by weight) of a water-soluble Sexual shaving aid. Suitable water-insoluble polymers for the matrix include, for example, nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacetal, and combinations thereof. Suitable shaving aid materials include, for example, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylimidazoline, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, Starch, water-soluble vinyl polymers (sold under the ^trademark Carbopol® by the BF Goodrich company), polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, silicone copolymers, sucrose stearate, vitamin E, panthenol, aloe vera resin, essential oils such as peppermint Alcohols and combinations thereof. The examples illustrate skin layers comprising 65-82% polyethylene oxide.

The outer cuticle may contain additional components such as plasticizers, such as polyethylene glycol; beard softeners; additional lubricants, such as silicone oil, ^Teflon® polytetrafluoroethylene powder (manufactured by DuPont), and waxes; shaving aids , such as menthol, eugenol, eucalyptol, safrole, and methyl salicylate; fillers, such as calcium carbonate, mica, and fibers; enhancers, such as Hercules Regalrez 1094 and 1126; fragrances; Irritants; antimicrobial/protein-dissolving agents such as 1,3-cyclohexanediol; anti-inflammatory agents such as candelilla resin and glycyrrhetinic acid; astringents such as zinc sulfate; surfactants such as ethylene oxide -Propylene oxide block copolymer materials and iconol materials; compatibilizers such as styrene-ethylene oxide copolymers; foaming agents such as Uniroyal Celogen Aznp 130. These additives leach from the surface for an improved shave. These components may be dispersed throughout the skin, alternatively extruded into a second skin containing additional ingredients or coated only on the first skin.

The skin anastomotic part is produced by co-extrusion, so that the rigid inner core material replaces a part of the outer skin layer material. The nature and relative proportions of the polymeric materials of the outer skin and inner core are such that the skin-engaging component shall have adequate mechanical strength, whether freshly produced or after leaching of a large amount of water-soluble material, provided that the quantity of water-soluble material is sufficient Effective shaving aids, such as lubrication, prolong the life of the blades. The inner core not only provides added rigidity, but also replaces trapped shaving aid. In conventional skin engaging members, as disclosed in US 5063667, 5095619 and 5113585, there is a large amount of shaving aid left in the insoluble matrix. By instead, the shaving aid is brought closer to the skin engaging surface 74, allowing for a shorter diffusion path and more efficient delivery. In addition, the inner core provides additional mechanical strength to the securing mechanism (if used).

The inner core must have sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength to the entire skin engaging component, whether freshly produced or after a substantial amount of water soluble material has been leached out of the outer skin layer. Preferably, the core may be made of a water insoluble polymer or a blend of at least about 50% water insoluble polymers to prevent chipping of the core. Water-soluble polymers useful in such blends include polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylimidazoline, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, starch, water-soluble vinyl polymers (sold under the trademark Carbopol ^(R ) by BF Goodrich), polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof. Suitable water insoluble polymers for the core include polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, nylon and blends such as 70% nylon/30% polyethylene oxide, 60% Polystyrene/40% polyethylene oxide.

Optionally, the inner core material may contain various additives, such as lubricants, foaming agents, microspheres, baby powder, fillers such as CaCO ₃ , colorants such as TiO ₂ , silicone copolymers, sucrose stearate, Vitamin E, panthenol, aloe vera resin, essential oils like peppermint oil and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, when the outer skin layer or outer layer and inner core (or inner layer) are made of materials of different colors (such as a white outer skin layer and a blue inner core), an indication of wear can be obtained. Effect. When in use, the outer skin layer on the skin engaging surface is worn away by use. Due to extensive use, the second color zone is reproduced through the exposure of the inner core, thus indicating to the user that the shaving unit and/or the skin engaging surface has reached the end of its useful life. In a preferred embodiment, the outer skin layer is composed of a white polyethylene oxide/polystyrene blend and the inner core is composed of FD&C Blue #2 dye dyed nylon and/or polystyrene. Other suitable dyes or pigments include FD&C Red No. 40, Erythrosine (FD&C Red No. 3), Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue No. 1), Indigotine (FD&C Blue No. 2), Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), Sunset Yellow FCF (FD&C Yellow No.6) and Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green No.3) and Titanium Dioxide.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another skin engaging element. The inner core 70 has a general surface contour defined by the contour of the outer skin. FIG. 6 shows a slightly modified inner core with a thicker outer skin layer along the skin engaging surface 74 . Additionally, Figure 7 provides a cross-sectional view in which there is more material of the outer skin layer along the anastomotic surface of the skin.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows the skin engaging member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with an outer layer 72 and an inner layer 70 . It should be noted that in this case the inner core (or inner layer) provides the unit with material strength which is not necessary to mechanically secure the unit. The skin engaging components of Figures 1 and 2 are secured with an adhesive. According to the present invention, the skin engaging component can be fixed with adhesive (such as Loctite Super Bonder 499), mechanical fixing mechanism, heat welding.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an extrusion die suitable for making the skin engaging member of the present invention. The inner core material 50 is sent into the feeding die head 51 and the inner core inlet 52 by extrusion screw, hot melt or other suitable methods, and the dense inner core material meets the outer skin layer material at the die hole 53 and is sent into the outer core material. A skin inlet 54 where the inner core is sealed by the outer skin material when viewed in cross-section through the flow of die material. The sealed inner core then passes through die outlet 55 where the continuous skin engaging member can be cured and/or removed to the appropriate size. It should also be noted that the core material may be formed from solid wire or solid plastic material which is fed through a conventional die to produce the airtight skin engaging member. A general discussion of coextrusion technology. See Levi's "Handbook of Plastic Extrusion Technology", pages 168-188, published by Industry Publishing Company, 1981, which is hereby incorporated by reference. After the continuous skin-adapting component is produced, the incoming wire is further processed, where it is usually drawn to the correct size and cut to length suitable for insertion into the main body of the razor cartridge. This cutting can be done with a knife edge, laser or water laser. The skin engaging surface of the present invention is generally rectangular, about 0.05 to about 0.1 inches wide, and about 1.2 inches long.

Applicants consider some equivalent embodiments to be part of this invention. For example, a non-rectangular skin-engaging surface (eg, oval) may be used, as may a non-planar pattern. These and other equivalent embodiments are also contemplated by the invention. The invention and the manner of making and using the invention will become apparent from the following examples:

Example

The following samples were co-extruded with the cross-sectional view in Figure 5. Example Core material Outer skin material 1 Nylon 70% Blue Pigment 0.5% Polyethylene Oxide 29.5% 10% polystyrene 76% polyethylene oxide 8% polyvinyl alcohol 5% polyethylene glycol 1% white pigment 2 25% polyethylene oxide 25% nylon 78% polyethylene oxide 14% polystyrene 3% polyethylene glycol 5% polyvinyl alcohol 3 100% polystyrene 82% polyethylene oxide 14% polystyrene 3% polyethylene glycol 1% polyvinyl alcohol 4 70% Nylon 29.5% Polyethylene Oxide 0.5% Blue Dye 80% polyethylene oxide 16% polystyrene 4% polyvinyl alcohol 5 98% polystyrene 2% blue dye 73% Polyethylene Oxide 5% Salsorb 5% Polyvinyl Alcohol 6 100% polystyrene 74% polyethylene oxide 10% Polystyrene 10% Polyvinyl Alcohol 5% Polyethylene Glycol 1% White _TiO2 Pigment 7 98% polystyrene 2% blue dye 68% polyethylene oxide 15% polyvinyl alcohol 10% polystyrene 5% polyethylene glycol 2% white _TiO2 pigment 8 100% polystyrene 67% Polyethylene Oxide 4% Salsorb 14% Polyvinyl Alcohol 10% Polystyrene 4% Polyethylene Glycol 1% White TiO ₂ Pigment 9 99% polystyrene 1% blue dye 68% polyethylene oxide 20% polyvinyl alcohol 10% polystyrene 2% white _TiO2 pigment 10 99% polystyrene 1% blue dye 70% polyethylene oxide 13% polyvinyl alcohol 15% polystyrene 2% white _TiO2 pigment 11 99% polystyrene 1% blue dye 65% Polyethylene Oxide 15% Polyvinyl Alcohol 15% Polystyrene 3% Salsorb 2% White TiO ₂ Pigment 12 99% polystyrene 65% polyethylene oxide 1% blue dye 10% Polyvinyl Alcohol 15% Polystyrene 3% Salsorb 2% White TiO ₂ Pigment

Example 13

The following steps can be used to produce the skin engaging component shown in FIG. 4 .

The extrusion equipment consisted of two single-screw extruders, right-angle die heads, cooling channels and extruders. Extruded tape from the extruder was drawn through a cooling tunnel with a Farris extruder (draw-off mechanism) at a rate of about 10 ft/min with minimal tension on the tape. The tape was air dried by blowing dry compressed air through the tunnel at a rate of about 10 ^ft3 /min.

The core blend (70% Zytel 330 brand amorphous nylon/blue pigment, 30% polyethylene oxide blend 60/40) was extruded through a first 3/4 inch Haake extruder (machine Barrel pressure was 4343 ^psig and temperature was 180°C). Skin Blend (80% Polyethylene Oxide Blend 60/40, 14% Polystyrene/White Pigment, 3% Polyethylene Glycol and 3% Polyvinyl Acetate) through the 2nd 3/4 in. Haake extruder extrusion (barrel pressure 6131 ^psi , temperature 180°C). The two materials were then passed together through a right angle die at 180°C with a die temperature of 180°C and a die pressure of 3600 ^psi to produce a continuous lubricated strip. The line speed was about 10 inches/minute.

Claims (15)

1. a skin that is used for wet shaving unit parts that coincide, the identical parts of described skin comprise the external coating (72) that axially extends jointly and covered the extension of interior part (70), should interior part dye different colors with external coating, described external coating (72) mainly comprises a kind of water-soluble shaving aid, and described interior part (70) has enough rigidity in use can be not cracked to provide suitable mechanical strength to the identical parts of skin, wherein said external coating in use is fit to wearing and tearing at described skin match surface place, so that expose described interior part (70), the identical parts of indication user's shaving unit and/or skin have reached its useful life.

2. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 2, wherein said interior part contains at least 50% insoluble polymer.

3. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 1 or 2, wherein said interior part also contains water-soluble polymer.

4. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 3, wherein said water-soluble shaving aid contains PEO.

5. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 4, the content of wherein said PEO is 65～82wt%.

6. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 1 or 2, wherein said insoluble polymer comprises polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon.

7. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 6, wherein said water-insoluble matrix comprises nylon, vinyl-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyacetals.

8. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 1 or 2, wherein said interior part also contains water-soluble polymer.

9. parts that coincide of skin according to Claim 8, wherein said water-soluble polymer is a PEO.

10. according to the identical parts of the skin of claim 1, wherein said shaving aid comprises PEO, PVP, polyacrylamide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl imidazol quinoline, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, starch, water-soluble ethylene based polyalcohol, poly hydroxy ethyl acrylate, silicone polymer, stearic acid sucrose, vitamin E, panthenol, aloe, essential oil or its combination.

11. wet shaving unit, it comprises the polymer shaving aid band of blade and close described blade, described polymer shaving aid band comprises and dyes outer shaving aid layer and the interior shaving aid layer that different colours is arranged, the described outer layer that shaves comprises PEO and water-fast matrix, described internal layer comprises water-insoluble polymer, wherein in the process of using described wet shaving unit to shave, described outer shaving aid layer oozes out PEO gradually and weares and teares at skin match surface place, so that expose described internal layer, the identical parts of indication user's shaving unit and/or skin have reached its useful life.

12. according to the wet shaving unit of claim 11, wherein said external coating contains 65～82% described PEOs.

13. according to the wet shaving unit of claim 11 or 12, wherein said insoluble polymer comprises polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon.

14. according to the wet shaving unit of claim 13, wherein said water-insoluble matrix comprises nylon, vinyl-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyacetals.

15. according to the wet shaving unit of claim 13 or 14, wherein said water-soluble shaving aid is a PEO.

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