The present invention is generally directed to the delivery of one or more shaving aids onto a user's skin during a shaving operation, and is more specifically directed to the use of encapsulation and microencapsulation technology, such as microcapsules, microspheres, vesicles and nanospheres, as a shaving aid storage and delivery vehicle.
As used herein, the term “shaving aid” is to be broadly construed to include shaving creams, soaps, gels, aloe and foams, as well as any other pre-, mid- or post-shaving skin preparations, such as, but not limited to, lotions, aftershaves, perfumes, balms, razor cleaners, whisker softeners, vitamin containing substances or other cosmetic and medicinal skin applications, and combinations thereof.
Over the years, many improvements have been made to razors in order to make such razors more comfortable to use and more efficient at their intended task. Towards this end, many wet shaving razors now employ shaving aids applied before, during and/or after shaving. Shaving aids are applied to the skin surface for various reasons. For example, shaving cream, soap, gel or foam is typically applied by a user prior to shaving to soften the hair to be cut and to lubricate the skin surface. Lotions, balms and other medicinal skin application are often used to relieve skin irritation caused by shaving. Perfumes and other scented aftershaves are often applied after shaving.
Shaving aid preparations are typically applied to the skin surface in several ways: (1) via manual application of gels, creams or lotions before or after shaving; (2) through lubrication or comfort strips attached to the razors; or (3) with devices added to the razor assembly that deliver materials through conventional means such as aerosols, squeeze tubes, pumps and the like.
Conventional methods of applying shaving aids to the user's skin have drawbacks that affect the application of the shaving aids and the shaving performance of the razors with which such shaving aids are used. Existing lubrication or comfort strips have provided advantages over other known shaving aid delivery methods by being attached to the razor cartridge, typically proximate the razor blades, and applying shaving aid during a shaving operation. However, release of shaving aid from such strips is difficult to control both during a shaving operation and through the life of the razor cartridge. The shaving aid preparations embodied in such strips can be unstable under varying conditions, and are often difficult to apply to the skin in a consistent and efficient manner, especially as the strip wears away. Further, the provision of shaving aid in many of the existing methods often interferes with the effectiveness of the razor by, for example, creating excess waste and shaving debris, or relying on a liquid preparation that clogs the razor cartridge and blocks the razor blades.
There exists a need in the art for a more efficacious means of dispensing shaving aids that not only accomplishes the objective of lubricating, soothing or treating the hair and skin surface, but also one which may be provided in a more controlled and efficient fashion, in greater amounts than with the known delivery systems, and in a variety of formulations to satisfy personal needs for the user.
With the foregoing problems and concerns in mind, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a shaving aid delivery system which overcomes or improves upon the above-described drawbacks.
The present invention resides in a first aspect in a shaving aid delivery material comprising at least one layer of binder material having a plurality of microspheres embedded therein. Each of the microspheres defines an interior area containing shaving aid, and at least a portion of the microspheres being degradable so that the shaving aids contained therein are released onto the skin of a user during a shaving operation.
The present invention resides in a second aspect in a shaving implement comprising a handle portion, a razor cartridge attached thereto and defining at least one cutting edge for cutting hair from a hirsute surface, and a comfort strip, or lubrication strip, coupled to the razor cartridge. The comfort strip is defined by at least one layer of binder material having a plurality of microspheres embedded therein. Each of the microspheres defines an interior area containing shaving aid, and at least a portion of the microspheres being degradable during a shaving operation so as to release any shaving aids from said interior area onto the skin of a user. The comfort strip may be positioned on the razor cartridge before, between, or after the blades, or anywhere on the razor cartridge that would allow the strip to contact the user's skin during a shaving operation. Additionally, multiple strips may be provided on the razor cartridge, each strip having a plurality of microspheres embedded therein.
The present invention provides an efficient storage and delivery system for shaving aids during pre-shave, mid-shave and post-shave operations that improve shaving performance and comfort. Additional advantages provided by the present invention include controlled or metered release of shaving aid materials, increased amounts of shaving aid provided to the user, protection of shaving aid compositions until time of release, extended shelf life of the shaving aid and/or the razor, and increased variety of shaving aid formulations provided to consumers.
As shown in
The binder material 18 also acts as a shaving aid and is preferably formed from a shaving aid preparation that works in combination with the shaving aid preparation provided in the microspheres to improve the efficiency and performance of the razor. Typically, the binder material 18 comprises a polymer or copolymer binder. The binder material 18 is preferably formed from, but is not limited to polyurethane hydrogel, polyvinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymers, polyethylene oxide, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)-wax, ester of montanic acids, or hot melt adhesives. During a shaving operation, abrasion causes the binder material 18 to wear, thereby exposing the microspheres 12. Alternatively, the binder material 18 can be at least partially soluble so that when exposed to moisture as a user shaves, the binder dissolves at a rate sufficient to expose the microspheres 12 to the user's skin.
Similar to the binder material 18, the microsphere material is also preferably of a character such that abrasion resulting from the microspheres 12 being drawn over a hirsute surface causes the microspheres to rupture, thereby allowing the shaving aid contained therein to flow onto the user's skin. Alternately, the microspheres 12 can be formed from a semi-soluble material that dissolves when exposed to a moist environment, or from a material that reacts to a pH level or a temperature. Preferably, the microspheres 12 are formed from urea formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde modified with melamine, gelatin, gelatin coaceravate, polyoxymethylene urea (PMU), agar or metholphenols. As previously noted, the interior areas of the microspheres 12 are at least partially filled with a shaving aid preparation.
The present invention is adaptable, in general, to encapsulation and microencapsulation technology. That is, the reference to “microspheres” generally comprises microcapsules, vesicles and nanospheres, in addition to microspheres.
Still referring to
The microspheres 12 may be arranged within each binder layer 18 in an array, as is shown in
The microspheres 12 can all contain the same shaving aid preparation, or different microspheres 12 can contain different shaving aid preparations. Moreover, the microspheres 12 forming part of one layer of the material 10 can all contain one shaving aid preparation while the microspheres 12 forming part of another layer of the material 10 can contain a different shaving aid preparation.
A second embodiment of the material of the present invention, shown in
As is readily observed, the material 110 is a single layer material, which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a plurality of microspheres 112 of varying size. The differently sized microspheres 112 allow for tighter packing of the microspheres in the binder material 118, thereby allowing for more shaving aid to be delivered to a user's skin during a shaving operation. However, while differently sized microspheres 112 have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as microspheres having substantially the same size can also be employed without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. Moreover, while a single layer of material 110 has been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as more than one extruded layer of material can be employed.
A third embodiment of the material of the present invention, shown in
A fourth embodiment of the material of the present invention, shown in
The layers and laminates for the embodiments discussed above can be processed using any of several known coating processes, including, but not limited to, gravure coating, knife coating, die or extrusion coating, hot melt binder coating, or combinations of various coating methods. For example, with reference to the embodiment of
An alternate process that may be used to create the layers or laminates of the present invention is a knife-over-roll coating process. This coating process allows for a higher viscosity slurry material that is created in one thick continuous layer. The thickness of the material is dictated by the amount of clearance between the coating knife and the base roll or plate.
Additional processes that may be used to create the layers or laminates of the present invention are slot die or extrusion coating processes. A solid layer of slurry material is pumped or extruded through dies, rollers or other openings having predetermined shapes and thicknesses. Typically, the material is heated to modify the viscosity so that the material will flow through the opening.
As shown in
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, one skilled in the pertinent art to which the present invention pertains will immediately recognize that various modifications and substitutions may be made. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example, and not by limitation.
This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in Provisional Patent Application No. 60/496,249 filed on Aug. 19, 2003.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60496249 | Aug 2003 | US |