Razor Cartridge Skin Support Elements for Reduced Irritation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaving razors with multiple blades often cause discomfort and skin issues such as PFB, irritation, and acne due to nerve stimulation and improper shaving geometry, failing to provide a comfortable and effective shaving experience.

Innovation Solution

A razor cartridge design featuring a skin support element affixed to each blade assembly, which extends along the blade and provides a skin-contacting surface to reduce nerve stimulation and improve shaving comfort by enhancing the shaving geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple blades are used in the razor cartridge, then the closeness of shave is improved, but skin irritation and discomfort increase due to nerve stimulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloseness of shaveVSAvoidskin irritation and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A skin support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the multiple blades and the skin. This element provides a stable reference surface that improves shaving geometry and blade positioning, enabling closer shaves while reducing direct nerve stimulation and skin irritation caused by multiple blades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the razor cartridge is moved across the skin surface, then shaving is performed, but discomfort occurs due to dragging the cartridge over the skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaving performanceVSAvoiddragging discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The skin support element acts as a mediator between the cartridge and skin during the shaving motion. It provides a stable reference surface that reduces dragging and friction, allowing the cartridge to move smoothly across the skin while maintaining effective shaving performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If blade exposure is increased to improve shaving efficacy, then closer shave is achieved, but skin irritation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaving efficacyVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The skin support element enables optimization of blade exposure parameters. By providing a stable reference surface, it allows for increased blade exposure to achieve closer shaves while maintaining proper shaving geometry that reduces skin irritation and discomfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4180190B1Razor cartridge with one or more skin support elements

Publication Date: 2025.07.30 THE GILLETTE CO

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AI summary

A razor cartridge 14 including a housing 16; a trailing blade assembly 32b mounted to the housing and including a trailing blade 18b with a blade tip 18b-1; a leading blade assembly 32a mounted to the housing in front of the trailing blade assembly and including a leading blade 18a with a blade tip 18a-1; and a skin support element 50 affixed to the leading blade assembly and extending towards the blade tip of the trailing blade assembly. A horizontal length L1 of the skin support element may be greater than a distance from a trailing part 59 of the skin support element to the blade tip of the trailing blade assembly. An interblade span S1 is defined between the blade tip of the leading blade and the blade tip of the trailing blade and the interblade span is between 2.0 mm and 5.0 mm.