US2298508A

US2298508A - Shaving method

Info

Publication number: US2298508A
Application number: US279005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peters Peter Nicholas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-06-14
Filing date: 1939-06-14
Publication date: 1942-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1959-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1942. P. N. PETERS 2,298,508

SHAVING METHOD Filed June 14, 1939 INVENTOR. PeIerMcZm/as Elem,

BY 6261M ATTORNEY.

Pat ented Oct. 13, 1942 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

2,298,508 SHAVING METHOD Peter Nicholas Peters, New York, N. Y. Application June 14, 1939, Serial No. 279,005

2 Claims.

My invention is concerned with shaving methods and, more particularly, with the manner of shaving the human face.

As is well known, most men use hot water in shaving, although some prefer'cold water and some show predilection for lukewarm water. In every case, the same temperature characteristics are applied to both, skin and razor, e. g., when shaving with hot water, both the skin and the razor are heated, and when shaving with cold water, both the skin and the razor are cooled. It is this similarity of temperature characteristics which accounts for much of the discomfort complained of by shavers, such, for instance, as the razor pull. The object of my invention is to do away with this discomfort.

In order better to understand the invention, it may be well to describe briefly the prevailing process of shaving. In this process, a blade edge glides over the lubricated surface of the skin, comes in contact with the thoroughly wetted and degreased hairshaft, nicks it, burrows into it, and finally cuts it off at the base. So long as there is only a side thrust, there is no razor pull, but, under this thrust, the hairshaft bends and is obliquely sliced instead of being sheared off or cut at a right angle. As a result, the side thrust is translated into an upward or longitudinal pull. It is this condition which the present invention seeks to remedy. The means for accomplishing this constitutes the most essential requirement of eflicient shaving. I have found that, if razor pull is to'be avoided, hair must be cut before it has a chance to bend. The resistance of the hair to bending must be greater than its resistance to shearing.

Now, resistance to bending depends primarily on the firmness of the tissues which surround and support the hair follicle. It is an effort to increase this resistance which prompts men to tighten the skin by stretching it with the fingers. Others endeavour to increase this resistance by using cold, instead of hot, water when shaving. n the other hand, resistance to shearing is determined mainly by the condition of the hair itself. This resistance is effectively reduced by moisture and heat. Moisture is supplied by the application of 'water and soap preparatory to shaving. Heat is supplied by water, provided that hot water is used in the operation.

Here is where trouble arises. Water acts both on the skin and on the hair. When the water is hot, while it reduces the resistance of the hair to shearing, it at the same time destroys the firmness of the tissues in which the follicle is embedded, thereby reducing the resistance of the hair to bending. .Heat tends to stimulate local blood circulation; blood vessels located directly underneath the skin become dilated and fill up with extra blood. The increased liquid content of the aflected tissues makes the latter soft, flabby, and no longer capable of maintaining a firm grip on the hair follicle.

When the water is cold, the skin is chilled, blood vessels become constricted, local blood circulation is reduced, skin muscles tighten up, un-- derlying tissues harden and strengthen their grip on the hair. Resistance of the hair to' bending is increased, but there is no adequate reduction in resistance to shearing.

What is required in an efiicient method of shaving is to increase the resistance of the hair to bending and, at the same time, to reduce its resistance to shearing, or, to put it in another way, the eflicient method should embody means for softening the hair while, at the same time, stiffening the skin.

It is the purpose of my invention to evolve a simple and practical shaving technique which retains the beneficial effects of both hot and cold water and, at the same time, avoids the disadvantages peculiar to either. This purpose is attained by the simple expedient of chilling the skin and supplying heat to the wetted hair through contact with a heated razor blade, thus eifecting directly'opposite temperature changes in the skin and in the hair, in contradistinction to the prevailing method of heating or cooling both the hair and the skin.

The chilling of the skin may be effected in various ways, in all of which blood circulation is reduced and remains slowed down during the shaving operation. The latter requirement is not met by the use of alcohol containing lotions which are popular with some men, because, after a momentary initial cooling effect, such lotions tend to stimulate blood circulation. The preferred and, also, the simplest way of cooling the skin is by application of cold water.

The razor blade may be heated either by immersing it in hot water, or electrically, or in any other suitable manner. When the razor, with a supply of heat stored in it, comes in contact with the hairshaft, heat is transmitted to' the hair at exactly the right spot, viz., at the base, and at exactly the right moment. The chilled skin keeps a firm hold on the hair follicle and acts to prevent bending of the hairshaft, and the moist heat transmitted to the hair insures prompt and clean shearing action. The hairshaft iscut beiore any bending can take place. In this improved method of shaving, short, rapid strokes are recommended, because such action lessens the dissipation of heat and because momentum is of noticeable help in electing a clean cut. 7

The process is illustrated in the annexed drawing in which Figures 1-3 show diagrammatically the razor action when heat is applied to both the skin and the blade; and Figures 4-8 show the action of the same blade when my improved method of shaving is used. Figures 1 and 4 show the relative positions of the blade I and hairshait 2, as the edge of the blade comes in "ia'iasoe has become taut, unyielding. Resistance of the hair to bending is increased.- The hair-shaft. softened by heat transmitted irom the advancing blade, oflers less resistance to shearing than to bending. The hair is cut beiore it has a chance to bend. The cut is clean and practically at a right angle to the length of the hairshait. There Having fully described and explained my improved method of shaving, I claim:

1. Preliminary steps in a shaving operation, including, in combination. the cooling of the skin suflicient to reduce, tor the duration oi the shave, the blood content oi the underlying hairsupporting tissue, and the application 0! heat to the razor, to bring heat to the hair shafts during the shaving stroke.

2. Preliminary steps in a shaving operation, including, in combination, the wetting of the face with water cold enough to reduce, for the duration of the shave, the blood content 01' the underlying hair-supporting tissue, and the application oi hot water to the razor, to bring heat to the hair shafts during the shaving stroke.

PETER mcnoms PETERS.