US3150921A - Razor protecting liquid and method of using same - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 3,150,921 RAZOR PRGTECTING LIQUID AND METHOD 9F USING SAD E Allan J. Clark, 2969 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, Calif.,

and Fred 0. Martin, Lynwood, Calif. (6512 Brookside Houston, Tex.) No brawing. Filed June 20, 1961, Sci. No. 118,278 3 Claims. (Cl. 212.5)

The present invention relates generally to the field of shaving accessories, and more particularly to a liquid that will protect and prevent deterioration of the cutting edge of a razor after use thereof, and a method of using said liquid to maintain the cutting edge of a razor indefinitely in the same condition it is in after completion of a shaving operation.

It is a common experience, particularly when steel safety razor blades are used, to obtain a smooth and comfortable shave the first time with a blade, yet a short time later find that the same blade is dull and all but impossible to use. This deterioration of the cutting edge of a razor blade is not only rapid, but appears to take place irrespective of Whether the blade is merely rinsed after being used or rinsed and carefully dried.

With modern manufacturing techniques it is possible to manufacture razor blades having exceedingly keen cutting edges, with these blades in the main, being of uniformly high quality. Normally present-day safety razor blades are each covered with a fine film of oil which is impervious to oxygen, individually wrapped in cellophane or the like, and packaged for sale out of contact with the ambient atmosphere. As a'result of this packaging thereof, each new blade when first used is in substantially the same physical condition as when manufactured.

The cutting edge of a safety razor blade when first used constitutes a line of microscopic width that is the apex of two oppositely disposed elongate tapered surfaces. That portion of the blade adjacent the cutting edge is extremely thin, but due to the high quality of steel used in the blades, has substantial strength and resistance to abrasion. When the cutting edge of a used razor blade is examined under a microscope immediately after use, it will be seen to have striations formed therein and portions thereof are bent, but these changes in character of the cutting edge are so small the cutting action thereof will not appreciably change.

However, the physical condition of the cutting edge of a razor immediately after the first use thereof and the condition of the cutting edge of the same blade a day later are not one and the same. Examination of the same blade 21 day later will show that the original microscopic striations and bent portions are not the only imperfections in the cutting edge and the cutting surfaces adjacent thereto, but the cutting surfaces and edge of the blade have changed to have an irregular, jagged appearance caused by corrosion which has occurred in the metal defining same.

The reason for this relatively rapid change in the exterior surface of the metal defining the blade cutting surfaces and edge is that after the first shave this metal has been subjected to the alkaline action of the shaving cream, and even though the blade is carefully dried thereafter, tiny portions of this alkaline solution remain in the striations and jagged portions of the blade. The blade is then exposed to the atmosphere, and even though carefully wiped, a microscopic film of moisture remains that covers the entire surface thereof. After first use, the cutting edge and the cutting surfaces of the blade are exposed to the ambient atmosphere, but in addition,

those portions of the cutting edge and surface that are jagged or have striations formed therein are also subjected to the action of the alkaline material remaining therein after the blade is dried. Accordingly, the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of the blade are subjected to two different agents, the oxygen in the ambient atmosphere and the alkaline residue left in the striations and jagged portions.

After exposure to the ambient atmosphere, the surface portions of the cutting edge and cutting surfaces free of alkaline material will have a thin film of oxide formed thereover. The surface portions of the cutting edge and cutting surfaces under the particles of alkaline solution adhering thereto are free from this direct attack by oxygen, but are not free from further corrosion.

Thus, innumerable and adjacent small surface areas of the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of the used blade are covered with a fine film of oxide with a large number of surfaces adjacent thereto being deficient of such an oxide film, whereby these surface portions of different physical characteristics are at different electrical potentials and an electric current flows therebetween. The fiow of electrical current between these areas of different surface characteristics results in corrosion of the metal defining the same, which corrosion then takes place below the surfaces of the particles of alkaline solution remaining on the cutting edge and cutting surfaces, as well as at the junction lines between these areas of different surface characteristics. This electrolytic corrosion may, and usually does proceed to the degree that the cutting edge 3 and the cutting surfaces are severely pitted, with striations and other imperfections already therein being greatly enlarged by this electrolytic action. Due to this electrolytic action, the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a used blade may, within a days time, become so severely pitted and roughened as a result thereof as to render the blade incapable of being used to obtain a smooth shave.

Although it has been specified that the above described action occurs between the first use of the blade and the re-use thereof, it will be apparent that this is an action which occurs to even a greater degree after the first re-use of a blade. By means of the present invention the abovedescribed electrolytic action or corrosion is substantially eliminated, and the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a safety razor blade will remain in virtually the same physical condition as when the last shaving operation was completed for a prolonged period of time.

The invention constitutes a liquid in which a safety razor blade is totally immersed immediately after use, but preferably after foreign materials such as soap, whiskers, and the like have been rinsed therefrom.

One liquid composition that has been found quite satisfactory in protecting the cutting edge and cutting surfaces of a razor blade between uses of the blade is as follows, with the percentages given being by weight:

Percent Mineral oil with a density of between 0.83-

0.960 99.902 Oil soluble green dye 00.0001 Butylated hydroxytoluene-di-tert-para-cresol 00.001 Perfume 00.087

The mineral oil used in the liquid composition is liquid paraifin which is a colorless oil liquid, practically tasteless and odorless, even when warm. A U.S.P. grade of mineral oil is preferably used.

Another liquid composition that is also satisfactory in protecting the cutting edge and surfaces of safety razor blades is as follows, with the percentages being given by Weight:

When a razor blade is immersed in either of the above two liquid compositions, the surface tension of any moisture or water which may adhere to the blade causes the water to coalesce into tiny droplets, which even though they adhere to the blade, have a minimum of surface contact therewith. As a result of this action, the cutting surfaces and cutting edge or" the blade are in substantially contact with one of said liquid compositions. Butylated hydroxytoluene di-tert-para-cresol is commercially available under the trademark Dalpac-FG manufactured by the Hercules Powder Company of Wilming: ton, Delaware, which compound has anti-oxidant properties. Dalpac-FG is a White crystalline material that is soluble in mineral oil, petroleum ether, isopentane, benzone, and toluene, as well as in menthanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and methyLethyl-ketone. The butylated hydroxytoluene di-tert-p ra-cresol is dissolved in the mineral oil, and of course, as soon as the moisture is removed from the cutting edge and surfaces of the razor blade, the dissolved anti-oxidant materialis in contact therewith Whereby further oxidation is prevented. Obviously, the dye and perfume do not provide any action in restraining corrosion of the razor blade when immersed in either the first or vthe second of the two above described liquid compositions, but simply make these materials more attractive to use.

The orthobenzyl-para-chlorophenol used in the second of the liquid compositions set forth hereinabove is a germicide, and even in low concentrations is effective in destroying bacteria and fungi. The ortho-benzyl-parachlorophenol maintains the second liquid composition free of objectionable odors which might arise from severed 4 whiskers or other organic material that could adhere to a razor blade when immersed in the liquid solution. Ortho-benzyl-para-chlorophenol is commercially available and is sold by the Monsanto Chemical Company under the trademark Santophen 1.

Although the inventions herein shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and we do not mean to limit ourselves to the details previously disclosed and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The process of immersing a steel cutting blade in mineral oil wherein butylated hydroxytoluene-di-tert-paracresol is dissolved to prevent deterioration of the cutting edge thereof between uses of saidblade.

2. The process as defined in claim 1 in which the percentage by weight of said butylated hydroxytoluene-ditert-para-cresol is no great r than 00.1% of the total Weight of said butylated hydroxytoluene-di-tert-paracresol and mineral oil.

3. The process as defined in claim 1 in which said mineral oil has ortho-benzyl-para-chlorophenol dissolved therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,708 Musher Nov. 24, 1942 2,428,745 Stillson Oct. 7, 1947 2,443,579 Fuller et a1. June 15, 1948 2,471,887 Nelson May 31, 1949 2,667,456 Young Jan. 26, 1954 2,981,628 Hall Apr. 24, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Ind. Eng. Chem, vol. 42, 1950, pp. 675-685.

American Meat Institute Foundation, Bulletin No. 18, Tune 1954, 939 E. 57th St, Chicago, Ill.

Applegate: Cathodic Protection, McGraw-Hill Book Co., N.Y., 1960, page 19.

Claims (1)

1. THE PROCESS OF IMMERSING A STEEL CUTTING BLADE IN MINERAL OIL WHEREIN BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE-DI-TERT-PARACRESOL IS DISSOLVED TO PREVENT DETERIORATION OF THE CUTTING EDGE THEREOF BETWEEN USES OF SAID BLADE.