Erodable Shaving Aid Body for Consistent Lubrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern safety razors face challenges in providing consistent shaving aid distribution, especially in wet environments, where existing shaving preparations are often washed away before they can be effective, and new users require a gradual introduction to shaving aid deposition to ease the shaving process.

Innovation Solution

A water-soluble, erodable shaving aid body with a contact and non-contact portion, designed to maintain razor blade alignment as it erodes, providing a gradual increase in shaving aid deposition and optimized for use with a pivotally coupled handle, ensuring consistent lubrication and drag reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a strip of shaving aid material is attached to the razor housing, then the shaving process is enhanced by providing lubricating and drag reducing agents, but the volume of shaving aid contained in the strip is insufficient for use on its own

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of shaving aidVSAvoidshaving effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shaving aid is divided into multiple discrete beads contained within the housing, rather than using a single continuous strip. This segmentation allows for a larger total volume of shaving aid to be distributed across multiple application points, thereby increasing the quantity of substance while maintaining ease of operation through controlled release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaving aid beads are nested within the razor housing, creating a contained reservoir system. This nesting approach allows the housing to store a substantial volume of shaving aid material that can be gradually released during use, effectively increasing the quantity of substance available without compromising the compact design and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If water is used in the wet shaving environment, then the shaving process can be performed, but the water removes the shaving preparation before the surface can be shaved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving capability in wet environmentVSAvoidretention of shaving preparation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The shaving aid beads are pre-positioned within the housing to be released at the moment of blade contact with the skin. This preliminary positioning ensures that the shaving preparation is applied at the exact moment needed, just before or during the shaving action, thereby maximizing retention and effectiveness in wet environments where water would otherwise wash away preparatory substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shaving aid beads are designed to release their contents automatically through the housing during the shaving process, without requiring separate application steps. This self-service mechanism ensures that the shaving preparation is delivered precisely when and where it is needed, maintaining effectiveness in wet environments by eliminating the time gap that would allow water to remove pre-applied preparations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the contact area of the shaving aid body is large, then more shaving aid is deposited on the skin, but the razor blade alignment becomes inconsistent as the body erodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving aid depositionVSAvoidrazor blade alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shaving aid is segmented into multiple discrete beads rather than a single large contact area. This segmentation allows for controlled deposition of shaving aid through the housing during use, providing sufficient quantity of substance while maintaining consistent razor blade alignment because the beads release gradually without creating uneven erosion surfaces that would affect blade positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution ensures consistent shaving aid distribution and comfort by maintaining razor blade alignment and gradually increasing shaving aid deposition, enhancing user experience and commercial appeal by addressing the limitations of existing safety razors.

Implementation Method 1

a water soluble, erodable shaving aid body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectErosion: Erosion

Data Source

PatentEP1901887B1Shaving aid body for a safety razor
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS LLC
  • EP1901887B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1901887B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP1901887B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A shaving aid body (10) for a safety razor is provided. The shaving aid body has one or more contact portions (12) and one or more non-contact portions (14) and has an aperture (16). The aperture is sized to receive a housing (20) with one or more razor blades (22) disposed within the housing. In some embodiments of the present shaving aid body the contact portion is contiguous with the non-contact portion and together define a convex surface (70). Some embodiments of the present shaving aid body include a base embedded within the body, the base having one or more features for attaching shaving aid body to the safety razor.