Patent Application
20090211100
This invention relates to razor blade protection, and more particularly to a system for maintaining razor blades between uses.
A major drawback to the use of razors in shaving is their short life span. After shaving, a razor is typically set aside on a shelf or bathtub surface, with some amount of water as well as residual debris such as hair remaining on the blade. Prolonged contact with water and/or air causes the razor blade to corrode (calcify, oxidize, etc.) and/or bond with adhered debris, effectively dulling the blade and reducing its performance and life span.
Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,459 disclosed a “Non-Corrosive Flexible Storage Pouch with Reservoir Bottom for Storing a Shaving Razor” (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), which ameliorated these drawbacks significantly by separating water and debris from a razor while immersing it in a non-corrosive liquid that preferably also includes conditioner. A razor is placed in a receptacle (pouch 10) that includes a reservoir at its bottom and a support structure that holds the razor above the reservoir. The receptacle contains a water-immiscible solution (preferably oil and conditioner) that is lighter than water (and likewise typical shaving debris), so that when the razor is placed in the receptacle, water (and debris) falls off the razor and settles into the reservoir where it is separated from the razor blade and solution. Once the accumulated water and debris reaches a certain level below the stored razor (ascertainment of which is preferably aided by the receptacle being transparent or having a transparent portion), the receptacle can enjoy continued use by emptying and refilling it with new solution.
Applicant's subsequent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/360,008 disclosed an “Anti-Microbial Solution for Storing Razors,” which addressed the possibility of localized portions of water adhering on the blade of a razor even though suspended in a non-corrosive liquid (as in the '459 patent) by including an anti-microbial additive (e.g., a mixture of isopropyl myristate, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, BHT, and triclosan) dissolved in the non-corrosive liquid (e.g., mineral oil).
There remains a concern, however, that a user using a system according to the '459 patent and '008 application may—notwithstanding a visual indication and product instructions—continue using a receptacle after the level of accumulated water and debris has reached the razor. The razor would then be subject to corrosion to contamination by bacteria harbored in the accumulated water.
The present invention provides a shaving razor maintenance system including a containment means and a two-phase liquid comprising a first, water-miscible liquid having an anti-microbial agent and a second, non-corrosive liquid that has a specific gravity less than that of the first liquid and is immiscible with the first liquid. The containment means includes a razor container (having a reservoir bottom and means for preventing a razor from entering the reservoir bottom, as generally known in the prior art) and/or a sealed liquid container that is capable of being readily opened and preferably contains the two-phase liquid in a selected ratio along with an air gap.
Referring FIGS. 1 and 3-5, a razor container 20 according to an embodiment of the invention has walls 21, elevated support structure 22, a reservoir bottom 25 (the vertical extent of which is indicated by the bracket in FIG. 5}, and a fill line 26. The razor container 20 may preferably be formed of a material that is stiff, such as polycarbonate. The ratio of the volume of the bottom reservoir 25 to the total volume of the razor container 20 up to fill line 26 may be in the range of 1:2 to 1:5. As shown in
The liquid container 30 is partially filled with the two liquids, with the ratio of the first liquid 23 to the total liquid volume preferably being relatively small, e.g., 1:4 to 1:12. Upon manual shaking (the turbulence of which is enhanced by the provision of air gap 32), the two liquids readily form an emulsion 27 as shown in
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples have been shown in the drawings and as described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is intended to cover all modifications and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents.
