One morning in late ’72, Ray L Stone woke up and realised what the world needed. Yet another disposable plastic razor. Which, honestly, is the last thing the world need – but the early seventies were a different time. So Ray went and patented his idea, so lets look at the result.
Most inventions have a purpose.
Continue readingA few days ago we looked at a guard bar for safety razors. In that post, I mentioned wanting to take a look at a patent for a double edge injector. Guess what we’re doing today? That’s right – we’re looking at the double edge injector!
The patent was filed by Gerald Stahl and Charles A Johnson Jr in 1961, and granted four years later. And it is delightfully detailed and lavishly illustrated. Even the full title is quite a mouthful; “Injector razor having means for flexing a flexible double edge blade as it moves into position and arrangements for operating the same”.
Continue readingOr, perhaps more correct, a double double edged cartridge razor. Which sounds both weird and pointless, but stay with me here.
Invented by Sergio Somonetti, and assigned to Warner Lambert Co LLC, the double edged cartridge razor strikes me as a typical transitional device. It looked like a traditional safety razor, yet used the recent idea of cartridges. And since Sergio suggested using two blades in each cartridge, it became a double double edged cartridge razor.1
Continue readingA guard bar for a safety razor don’t sound like something you could file a patent for in 1971. After all, all safety razors – well, almost all – have had a guard since the original Kampfe. You could argue that the concept of a guard was inherent to the idea of a safety razor, from Jean Jacques Perret and until today. So… since Jan Dawidowicz did in fact get a patent for a guard bar for safety razors in 1973, it must have been a special guard bar. Special and non-obvious. And Even in hindsight I would say the later is correct.
Most patents seems to revolve around solving a problem, imaginary or otherwise.1 So let us see what problem Jan was wanting to solve.
Continue readingAre you sad that your vintage injector isn’t self-lathering? Does it bring you down that your old Schick isn’t stretching your skin? Fear not, John D Karle took time of from patenting surgical equipment and sewing machine gear to invent an attachment for your Schick injector! Well, a “safety razor of a well known type”, according to the patent.
So what were John trying to achieve? Let us have a look at his patent:
Continue readingWe just looked at a pair of John Heissenberger’s wedge razors. Simple, sane razors… so off course he had to do as so many others and patent a face moistening razor that stretches and lathers the skin. Because quitting while ahead don’t occur to most people, I guess.
Unlike Gillette, and EverReady, Christy, and others, John Heissenberg still didn’t opt for a flat, replaceable blade. He stuck with the wedge blade he was familiar with instead. What he did change was the way to secure the blade, as well as adding complexities. Complexities in the form of a folding roller for face moistening.
Continue readingJohn Heissenberger was a fairly prolific inventor at the turn of the last century. And in between such fun things as machines to exhibit illuminated pictures, punching machines, and mail-delivering apparatuses, he did take the time to invent a couple of wedge razors.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a wedge razor is a safety razor that uses a wedge shaped blade. Think a section of a straight razors, instead of the flat blade of most other safety razors.
Continue readingThis year, I offer discounts on digital copies of my two books on shaving and razor patents.
Prices for both books will be reduced to just 99 US cents. That is 1.98 US dollars for both. A massive 80% discount!
And I do start the sale slightly early, so those of you who are too stuffed with turkey to do much beyond vegetating on the coach can at least read while you’re digesting.
70 razor and shaving patents & Another 80 razor and shaving patents
Both books covers patents on both fondly remembered and thankfully forgotten razors and shaving accoutrements, these books are meandering journeys through shaving history.
The sale have now started, and will run until Monday 28th at 1600 UTC – so you have all weekend to pick up a Kinle copy of my books.
70 razor and shaving patents & Another 80 razor and shaving patents
If you don’t already own a digital copy of my books, now would be a good time to grab one!
We’ve talked about razors that stretches the skin before. But I can do you one better today… It is a razor that stretches the skin and has a lubricant dispenser built in. And as a bonus it still looks like you can shave with it with it – unlike some patented razors I could mention. So what did William Miller get a patent for almost fifty years ago?
Continue readingVibrating razors isn’t a new idea. The idea is almost older than radio. That don’t make it a good idea, even if some have been moderately successful. That didn’t stop Arthur Kuris, Lewis Balamuth, and Anthony P Farina from filing a patent for a new take on the idea in 1971. Behold; the Ultrasonic razor!
Or, to use the full title of the patent that was granted in ’74; Ultrasonic replaceable shaving head and razor.
Continue reading