US3805387A - Fiber razor blade - Google Patents

Fiber razor blade Download PDF

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Publication number
US3805387A
US3805387A US00255545A US25554572A US3805387A US 3805387 A US3805387 A US 3805387A US 00255545 A US00255545 A US 00255545A US 25554572 A US25554572 A US 25554572A US 3805387 A US3805387 A US 3805387A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cutting
cutting instrument
fibers
end faces
instrument
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00255545A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Siegmund
R Strack
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
American Optical Corp
Warner Lambert Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
American Optical Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by American Optical Corp filed Critical American Optical Corp
Priority to US00255545A priority Critical patent/US3805387A/en
Priority to CA169,603A priority patent/CA977134A/en
Priority to DE2322650A priority patent/DE2322650A1/de
Priority to NL7306573A priority patent/NL7306573A/xx
Priority to JP5574773A priority patent/JPS566800B2/ja
Priority to GB2445873A priority patent/GB1386529A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3805387A publication Critical patent/US3805387A/en
Assigned to WARNER LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A CORP OF TX. reassignment WARNER LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A CORP OF TX. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WARNER LAMBERT COMPANY
Assigned to WARNER LAMBERT COMPANY, A CORP. OF DEL. reassignment WARNER LAMBERT COMPANY, A CORP. OF DEL. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION,
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00—Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/54—Razor-blades
    • B26B21/58—Razor-blades characterised by the material
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S76/00—Metal tools and implements, making
    • Y10S76/08—Razor blade manufacturing

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A cutting instrument wherein a plurality of generally axially aligned hollow fibers are fused to form a substantially integral assembly.
  • the assembly has at least one surface contoured to define a desired angle between portions of the fiber end faces and their axes respectfully.
  • the fiber end faces so defined then form a plurality of cutting edges on the surface. Translational movement of the surface with respect to the material produces a cutting action.
  • cutting instruments generally and more particularly those of the razor blade type having comprised cutting edges defined by two intersecting planes having a narrow included angle therebetween.
  • the cutting edges are formed from hardened stainless steel appropriately ground to have the necessary or optimum performance included angle.
  • a second facet of a narrower included angle is groud into the blade at a position further removed from the ultimate edge thus providing a relief to the hair being cut.
  • Almost universally blades are now coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene dispersion assuring a low coefficient of friction between the skin and the hair being parted.
  • the first facet or the intersecting planes forming the ultimate edge of the blade extend approximately two to three thousandths toward the center of the blade.
  • an opposing cutting edge is placed upon the extreme opposite margin of the blade blank thus providing an overall increase of cutting edge length.
  • the useful life of razor blades is principally limited by two factors.
  • the blades being fabricated of metal are subject to severe corrosion particularly due to the harsh environment normally experienced.
  • the second factor limiting life is the ultimate strength of the metal.
  • a razor blade In normal use a razor blade must cut beard hairs having a toughness equivalent to that of soft copper wire of equal diameter, it must perform this task employing an ultimate cutting edge having a radius in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 Angstroms. Realizing the extreme fatigue induced by this almost impossible task, it is amazing that useful blade life has reached present day standards.
  • the applicants invention is directed to the ameleoration of these prior art problems and the production of an improved cutting instrument.
  • Another object of the present invention isto provide an improved razor blade, yet another object of the applicants invention is a glass cutting instrument.
  • the applicants invention contemplates a cutting instrument in which a plurality of generally axially aligned thin hollow fibers are fused to form a substantially integral assembly.
  • the fused assembly has at least one surface appropriately contoured to define or establish a desired included angle between portions of the fiber end faces and their axes respectfully. Establishing the desired included angle thereby forms a plurality of cutting edges on the surface. Translational movement of these cutting edges with respect to a particular material produces the required cutting action.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fiber cutting instrument.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the cutting instrument of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a partial diagramatic representation of apparatus for the drawing of glass fibers.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a glass fiber assembly.
  • FIG. 6 is a partial fragmentary cross-sectional view of a single fiber cutting edge penetrating a beard hair.
  • FIG. 5 is a typical perspective view of a single fiber contained in the cutting instrument of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fiber razor blade having a cylindrically contoured surface.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fiber cutting instrument having a spherically contoured cutting surface.
  • FIG. 1 represents a cutting instrument of the applicants invention finding principal utilization as a razor blade.
  • Razor blade 10 constitutes a plurality of fused glass fibers l1 havingtheir end faces formed at a desired included angle 0 with respect to their axes. End faces 16 of hollow fibers 11 are co-planar with the upper and lower cutting surfaces of razor blade 10. Translational movement of blade 10 in the direction of arrow L produces a cutting action on the lower surface while translational movement in a direction of arrow U Produces cutting on the upper surface.
  • Fibers 11 are encapsulated or clad by an outer glass sleeve 12 thus forming an integral structure with fibers 11.
  • FIG. 2 the structure and cutting action of blade 10 may be better understood.
  • Fibers 11 are shown as having eliptical end faces 16 fused together at tangential points of contact.
  • the outer sleeve 12 is shown fused to those fibers 11 located near the periphery of the structure.
  • Interstices 13 between the fibers 11 as well as the center apertures 14 of the fibers are shown as hollow thus providing a maximum of cutting edges.
  • End faces 16 form cutting edges in the direction of the narrow included angle and on those portions substantially transverse to the cutting direction.
  • the eliptical shape of fibers 11 maximizes the cutting edge formed by the fiber end faces 16.
  • the final geometry of the fiber 11 end faces 16 may be controlled to have almost any desired shape to best solve the particular cutting problem and to maximize cutting edge.
  • the control of fiber geometry is eas ily achieved by methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the thickness of end faces 16 is greater than approximately eight thousandths of an inch with the fiber openings 14 of substantially greater dimension to provide relief for the beard hair being cut.
  • FIG. 3 demonstrates in schematic form apparatus for achieving this purpose.
  • a fiber optic bundle 20 comprising a plurality of fibers clad within an outer sleeve are clamped within the apparatus by a mechanism 21.
  • the bundle 20 is then placed within an aperture surrounded by heating coil 24 held within an insulative member 22.
  • Heating coil 24 held within an insulative member 22.
  • the application of heat approximating but below the softening point of the glass involved causes a reduction in diameter with a retention of original geometry.
  • blade is fabricated from a large number of fibers 11 as depicted in FIG. 4.
  • a sectional core 15 made of soluble glass and having a diameter D is assembled to a cladding 11 having a complementary diameter D2 and length and a wall thickness A D.
  • Wall thickness A D provides the desired strength for the blade 10 cutting edges as well as the overall cutting edge facet depth.
  • These fibers are axially aligned and assembled within a tube or sleeve 12. The sleeve is then clamped by a fixture 21 and the distal end of the bundle is placed within an area defined by heating coil 24.
  • the entire bundle is fused and drawn to the desired diameter for providing the necessary shaving area.
  • the resultant boules or fiber assembly is parted along lines 23 thereby providing the desired blade 10 thickness as well as the included angle 6 of the cutting edges.
  • the parting angle of lines 23 with respect to the axis of the bundle is complementary of the included angle 0.
  • the final geometry of the blade is determined by the shape of the bundle after placement in the sleeve or by utilization of rollers and other shaping techniques. Techniques and devices useful in forming a glass fiber bundle are further described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,227,032, 3,216,807, and 3,190,735.
  • the wafers are cut from the boule by a diamond saw or convenient parting instrument and although any included angle 0 may be selected, it has been found that an included angle of between 15 and 45 is most suitable.
  • the wafers are then ground and polished using standard optical techniques. After grinding and polishing, they are placed in a bath containing a solution in which the core 15 is soluble.
  • the cladding or fiber 11 is of course insoluable in this solution and thus after appropriate etching time only the core 15 is removed. Removal of core 15 opens up the lumens of fibers 11 exposing cutting edges on those portions of the inner circumference having narrow included angles. External portions of the end faces having the same included angle 0 may also form cutting edges due to the exposure provided by interstices 13. There is thus created a large number of cutting edges on blade 10 and a vast amount of cutting surface relative to the ordinary straight line cutting instrument or razor blade.
  • FIG. 5 shows a single typical fiber of razor blade assembly 10.
  • the depth of the cutting surface is proportional to the wall thickness of fiber 11 and inversely 65 with cutting requirements and structural integrity may be utilized.
  • the included angle 0 may be varied anywhere between 10 and 90.
  • the final anciliary step in producing the razor blade 10 is coating the surfaces with a low coefficient of friction material.
  • a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene dispersion having a molecular weight of approximately twenty thousand.
  • Such dispersion is well known to those skilled in the art of razor blades and methods for its application are similarly well known.
  • a lubricious coating may similarly be supplied by placing a reservoir of appropriate material above the razor blade and allowing it to suffuse down through the fibers across the cutting surface.
  • Other coatings that may be used are, for example, silicone, polyhexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene polymers, polyethylene and many other low friction fluids.
  • the life and performance of blade 10 may be improved by placing on the cutting surfaces a coating of metal or refractory material.
  • Such coatings have been found to increase the cohesion between the lubrication coating and the cutting surface and to some extent improve the wear characteristics of the blade.
  • One method of applying such coatings is described in US. Pat. No. 3,632,494 issued Jan. 4, 1972 entitled Coating Method and Apparatus;'lnventors L. F. Herte et al. This patent describes a method of sputtering metalic coatings as well as lubricious coatings onto razor blade edges and may be similarly employed for the application of refractory materials. This application is incorporated by reference within this specification.
  • Example 1 Monofibers were drawn consisting of a soluble glass such as a lanthanum crown with a soda lime cladding glass of desired thickness. The cores were ground and polished round and the cladding was used as tubing. Three cladding tubes were used to yield a desired percent clad cross-sectional area which appears to provide the optimum structural integrity. Core diameter after drawing was approximately 1 mm. This provided a wall thickness of approximately eight thousandths of an inch.
  • the monofibers approximately 250 were assembled and axially aligned into an outer tubing of the same soda lime glass as the cladding. This assembly was drawn under a very slight drawing ratio to fuse the monofibers together. A bundle or boule approximately one inch in diameter was provided.
  • various size fibers and glass compositions may be used in fabricating a razor blade or cutting instrument in compliance with the applicants invention.
  • the cutting angles as well as necessary relief are susceptible of variation over a wide range and thereby suitable for varied tasks.
  • a fiber cutting instrument may be made from materials other than glass such as drawn metal fibers or refractory materials thereby providing improved cutting characteristics or shaving efficacy as the case may be. Again the techniques and apparatus necessary to accomplish this are well known to those skilled in the art of fabricating fiber instruments and devices when guided by the teachings of this specification.
  • FIG. 6 in schematic form displays the mechanism involved in a fiber razor blade cutting or parting a single beard hair.
  • the wall 11 of a single fiber having included angle 0 is shown impinging upon a single hair protruding above the skin 31.
  • the leading internal edge 32 has penetrated the hair and is shown as both cutting and wedging apart the fiberous material.
  • the placement of lubricious coatings on the cutting surfaces involved reduce the friction in cutting or slicing through the hair itself as well as in any contact with the skin 31 surface. Again, it is seen that the hair 30 must find some relief within the core diameter D of thefiber 11.
  • FIG. 7 demonstrates a razor blade 10 having a cylindrical cutting surface. It is seen that surface generates a portion of a cylinder and that fibers 41 are at a particular angle necessary to provide the included angle 0 thereby forming cutting edges. Again, it is noted similar to the razor blade of FIG. 1 that the blade is unidirectional, i.e., can only cut when translated in a particular direction. The blade of FIG. 7 is further limited by the fact that as opposed to that of FIG. 1, it may only cut on a particular surface 40.
  • FIG. 8 demonstrates a fiber cutting instrument having an omnidirectional cutting surface 51.
  • the cutting surface 51 is contoured to have a spherical or eliptical shape.
  • the spherical or eliptical surface 51 provides a variation in cutting angle 0 with respect to each fiber 50 of the bundle.
  • the minimum included angle 6 occurring near the periphery of the blade and the maximum angle 0, actually reaching 90, closer to the axis of the instrument. Irrespective of the direction of translation with respect to the material being cut, edges of narrow included angle are met thus providing an onmidirectional cutting instrument.
  • the Applicants invention has thus provided an economical durable cutting instrument particularly adapted for use as a razor blade. It consists of a plurality of generally axially aligned thin hollow fibers fused to form a substantially integral assembly.
  • the assembly has at least one surface defining desired included angles between portions of the fiber end faces and their axes respectively. The included angles so defined thereby form a plurality of cutting edges on the surface giving greatly enlarged cutting edge length as well as safety and ease of use.
  • a cutting instrument having a plurality of individual cutting edges comprising a plurality of generally axially aligned thin hollow glass fibers drawn to a desired diameter and fused in side-by-side relationship within an outer sleeve to form a substantially integral assembly, said drawn fused fibers further formed into disklike sections exposing opposite end faces of said fibers, said assembly having at least one surface in which one of said opposite end faces of said fibers lie in co-planar relation, said surface defining a desired included angle between portions of said fiber end faces and axes,
  • said lubricious coating comprises a low viscosity lubricant suffusing over the cutting surface.
  • the cutting instrument of claim 3 wherein said surface is curved thereby providing at least bidirectional cutting motion.
  • lubricious coating is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyhexafluorapropylene,

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Knives (AREA)
  • Re-Forming, After-Treatment, Cutting And Transporting Of Glass Products (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
US00255545A 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Fiber razor blade Expired - Lifetime US3805387A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00255545A US3805387A (en) 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Fiber razor blade
CA169,603A CA977134A (en) 1972-05-22 1973-04-26 Fiber razor blade
DE2322650A DE2322650A1 (de) 1972-05-22 1973-05-03 Faser-rasierklinge
NL7306573A NL7306573A (de) 1972-05-22 1973-05-10
JP5574773A JPS566800B2 (de) 1972-05-22 1973-05-21
GB2445873A GB1386529A (en) 1972-05-22 1973-05-22 Cutting instruments

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00255545A US3805387A (en) 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Fiber razor blade

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3805387A true US3805387A (en) 1974-04-23

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ID=22968812

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00255545A Expired - Lifetime US3805387A (en) 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Fiber razor blade

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3805387A (de)
JP (1) JPS566800B2 (de)
CA (1) CA977134A (de)
DE (1) DE2322650A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1386529A (de)
NL (1) NL7306573A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3926601A (en) * 1972-02-08 1975-12-16 Jr John Wilbur Hicks Method for making glass blades
US4011071A (en) * 1975-07-10 1977-03-08 American Optical Corporation Method of making glass shaving instrument
US5018274A (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-05-28 The Gillette Company Safety razor blade
US6105261A (en) * 1998-05-26 2000-08-22 Globix Technologies, Inc. Self sharpening blades and method for making same
US6640588B2 (en) * 1998-08-31 2003-11-04 Uop Llc Method of making microporous structure defined by a multiplicity of singular channels
US11524420B2 (en) 2018-12-21 2022-12-13 Brengor Innovation Ltd Razor

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU625072B2 (en) * 1988-07-13 1992-07-02 Warner-Lambert Company Shaving razors

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3065920A (en) * 1959-01-22 1962-11-27 Bolton John W & Sons Inc Working surfaces for refining engines
US3480483A (en) * 1965-05-06 1969-11-25 Wilkinson Sword Ltd Razor blades and methods of manufacture thereof
US3514856A (en) * 1967-10-30 1970-06-02 Corning Glass Works Razor blade configuration
US3590472A (en) * 1968-04-24 1971-07-06 Gen Dynamics Corp Composite material for making cutting and abrading tools

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3065920A (en) * 1959-01-22 1962-11-27 Bolton John W & Sons Inc Working surfaces for refining engines
US3480483A (en) * 1965-05-06 1969-11-25 Wilkinson Sword Ltd Razor blades and methods of manufacture thereof
US3514856A (en) * 1967-10-30 1970-06-02 Corning Glass Works Razor blade configuration
US3590472A (en) * 1968-04-24 1971-07-06 Gen Dynamics Corp Composite material for making cutting and abrading tools

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3926601A (en) * 1972-02-08 1975-12-16 Jr John Wilbur Hicks Method for making glass blades
US4011071A (en) * 1975-07-10 1977-03-08 American Optical Corporation Method of making glass shaving instrument
US5018274A (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-05-28 The Gillette Company Safety razor blade
WO1991015340A1 (en) * 1990-04-05 1991-10-17 The Gillette Company Safety razor blade
US6105261A (en) * 1998-05-26 2000-08-22 Globix Technologies, Inc. Self sharpening blades and method for making same
US6389699B1 (en) 1998-05-26 2002-05-21 Globix Technologies, Inc. Self sharpening blades and method for making same
US6640588B2 (en) * 1998-08-31 2003-11-04 Uop Llc Method of making microporous structure defined by a multiplicity of singular channels
US11524420B2 (en) 2018-12-21 2022-12-13 Brengor Innovation Ltd Razor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS566800B2 (de) 1981-02-13
GB1386529A (en) 1975-03-05
DE2322650A1 (de) 1973-12-06
NL7306573A (de) 1973-11-26
CA977134A (en) 1975-11-04
JPS4941988A (de) 1974-04-19

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AS Assignment

Owner name: WARNER LAMBERT COMPANY, 201 TABOR ROAD, MORRIS PLA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION,;REEL/FRAME:004034/0681

Effective date: 19820513

Owner name: WARNER LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; 6373 STEMMONS F

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WARNER LAMBERT COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004034/0700

Effective date: 19820514