Technical Field

The present invention pertains to compositions for extending service life of razor blades. More particularly, the present invention pertains to compositions based on natural ingredients for cleansing razor blades from organic and inorganic residues, thereby extending their life.

Background

Razor blades are made of stainless steel and constantly exposed to oxidative media such as acidic solutions, water and air. However, blades usually made of stainless steel do not oxidize and accumulate rust. Rather, their sharpness diminishes during use due to accumulation of organic and inorganic residues remaining on them even after cleansing. Usually blades come in contact with foams applied to the skin when shaving and rinsed with water during and after use. This leaves substantial amount of residues on the blades teeth, some of them washed away with rinsing. Some of the residues, however, are left within the crevices of the blades after the carrying liquids evaporate and the blades are air-dried or wiped off. The dried residues accumulate, forming a crust on the teeth that dulls their sharpness, which results in gradually decreasing shaving efficacy that leads to their disposal after a relatively short service life.

The prior art suggests several solutions for removing such crust or preventing its formation. US 6,039,937 describes an emulsion in which the blades are kept between uses. The emulsion contains water soluble salts, hydrophobic materials and alcohol. Other materials the emulsion may include are soap, sodium salts, sulfate salts and fatty acids. This emulsion peels off the accumulated crust, but requires that the blades are constantly immersed in the emulsion between uses. Otherwise, the curst will accumulate. JP 200S-179603 describes soap solution for cleansing blades of electric shaving machine from hair residues and tatty mater. The solution contains water soluble lubricant, alcohol and ether and fatty acid compounds. Other compositions known in the art, e.g. CN 102994251 , US 2004/0235696, and US 2006/0225258 are used mainly to sterilize the skin being shaved before, and therefore applied to the skin during shaving. Such compositions mainly contain materials that cleanse and sterilize the skin rather than the razor. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide compositions for extending the service life of razors by application of cleansing composition after use that does not require constant contact with the razor blades.

It is yet another object of the present invention mat the ingredients of the cleansing compositions are based on natural sources.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the cleansing compositions of the present invention are friendly to the shaved skin and minimize any possible side effects. This and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds..

Summary

In one aspect, the present invention provides cleansing composition for razor blades that extends the razor service life and enables its re-use a plurality of times significantly greater than the current average times of repeated use.

In another aspect, the present invention provides compositions based on natural ingredients for disposing of and/or dissolving organic residues such as skin cells, hair, fats and fatty acids and inorganic substances such as calcium salts precipitating from washing water on the razor blades.

In one particular embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprise: · Natural oils;

• Olive tree Leaves Extract (OLE);

• Antioxidants;

• Orchid extract;

• Ethereal oils;

* Natural detergents;

• Naturally-based acids and surfactants; and

• Preservatives.

Generally, compositions that comprise ingredients from the general list above are not required to be washed away with water after cleansing the blades. The blades remain free from residues left from the previous use, and any composition material left on the blades remains friendly to user's skin. If rinsed, any inorganic precipitate on the blades will be removed in the next cleansing. Therefore, either rinsed or not, the blades maintain their sharpness during use. Further, the use of natural-based ingredients serves a double purpose of cleansing the blades and providing soothing effect to the skin with the cleansed blade.

The natural oils may be selected from any one of olive, argan, coconut, almond, palm, castor-oil, sunflower, shea butter, grapeseed, sufflower, any other natural oils and any combination thereof. In one particular embod iment, the natural oils comprise long carbon chain fatty acids with improved cleansing effect of organic residues remained on the blades (hair, tatty mater, sweat etc.). Particularly, longer carbon chain of fatty acids provides better medium for carrying the organic residues off of the blades. Therefore, in one particular embodiment, the natural oils ingredient of the compositions of the present invention comprises any mixture of natural oils with long carbon chain fatty acids that impart improved cleansing effect. The relative amounts and content of the different oils may vary to obtain desired results of both effective cleansing of the razor and soothing effect to the shaved skin. The olive tree leaves extract contain mostly antioxidants as oleuropem and

hydroxytyrosol and also polyphenols and flavonoids, including oleocanthal. This mixture compounds the soothing effect of the oils with disinfection effect to both the blades and skin. Thus, the razor is cleansed from organic residues and disinfected, while also disinfecting the shaved skin in a single composition. The olive tree leaves extract also provides protective shield against oxidation to the composition itself and extends its shelf life and long term efficacy. In one particular embodiment, the relative amount of the olive tree leaves extract is between 0.02% and 5%.

The use of natural antioxidants also has positive effect on the shaved skin, protecting it from infections caused, for example, due to unintentionally formed cuts during shaving. However, the presence of such antioxidants protects the composition itself from degradation that may be caused by oxidation and decomposition of the fatty acids.

Particular non-limiting example of such natural antioxidant is vitamin £ that is friendly to the skin and protective to the integrity of the composition itself as well.

In still another particular embodiment, the compositions of the present invention further comprise antioxidants selected from ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, gallic acid and sodium gallate, sulfur dioxide and sulfites, tocopherols, and derivatives and combinations thereof. In one particular embodiment, the relative total amount of the antioxidants is between 0.02% and 0.10%.

Removing dried residue layer off of the blades may require also the incorporation of surfactants such as glycosides, particularly natural or natural-based glycosides. Particular examples of natural glycosides that may be used in the composition of the present invention for cleansing metallic blades and at the same time be friendly to user's skin are: xylitylglucoside, lauryj glucoside, decyl-glucoside, coco-glucoside cetearyl glucoside and glycosides of the family of sophorolipids, which are extracted from yeast and any combination thereof. All these glycoside compounds serve as emulsifiers in compositions that contain both organic and inorganic substances, thereby preventing phase separation. Concurrently, these and such glycosides have beneficial skin care effect, which provides further advantage to the composition of the present invention. Particular skin care effects imparted by the glycosides listed above and the like are moisturizing, preventing water loss, cleansing particularly for sensitive skin, disinfecting when containing alcohol residues and providing velvety feel to the skin. In one particular embodiment, the relative total amount of the glycosides is between 1% and 10%. To maintain the freshness of the composition, extend its shelf life and prevent growth of mold and proliferation of bacteria, organic preservatives obtained from natural sources are introduced. Li one particular embodiment, the composition comprises sorbic acid, benzoic acid and combination, derivatives and salts thereof as useful, user friendly and biologically harmless preservatives. Particular salts of sorbic acid (E200) and benzoic acid (E210) that may be incorporated into the composition of the present invention are sodium sorbate (B201), potassium sorbate (B202), calcium sorbate (E202), sodium benzoate (E211 ), potassium benzoate (E212) and calcium benzoate (E213).

The relative percentage amounts of the preservatives introduced into the compositions may vary. In one particular embodiment, the relative total amount of the preservatives is between 0.1% and 1.0%. In still another particular embodiment, the relative amount of sorbic acid is between 0.025% and 0.3%. In still another particular embodiment, the relative amount of the benzoic acid or salts thereof is between 0.05% and 0.1%. In still another particular embodiment, the relative amount of the sorbic acid or salts thereof is between 0.025% and 0.3%. In still another particular embodiment, the preservatives are selected from

hydroxybenzoate and derivatives, lactic acid, propionic acid and sodium propionate, sulfur dioxide, sulfites and any combination thereof. The acids and surfactants are required particularly for lowering surface tension and enabling peeling the accumulated crust off of the razor blades. In one particular embodiment, the total relative amount of the Orchidaceae extract is between 0.1% and up to 1.0%.

Further to the components discussed above, the compositions of the present invention may also comprise extract of plants belonging to the plant family of Orchidaceae. The antioxidant properties of these plants are known in their beneficial effect to the skin, including anti-aging and other cosmetic effects. The incorporation of extract of

Orchidaceae plants, therefore, serves a double purpose of positive effect to the user's skin while shaving and protective effect to the composition. Since the extract is of organic source and content, it blends well in the composition and may also provide positive cleansing effect to the blades. Such extracts may be obtained from Orchidaceae plants identified under any one the five sub-families of Apostasioideae, Cypripedioideae, Epidendroideae, Orchidoideae and Vanilloideae and any combination thereof. Further, useful extract may be produced from any part of Orchidaceae plants, stem, stalk, branches, buds, leaves, petals and parts of the reproductive organs. Any combination of different parts of Orchidaceae plants from the five sub-families listed above is also possible for producing useful extract incorporated into the composition of the present invention. In one particular embodiment, the total relative amount of the Orchidaceae extract is between 0.1% and 1.0%.

In still another particular embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprise natural detergents that stabilize basic pH, particularly around the value of 9. These detergents stabilize a basic environment for the composition to carry out the cleansing of the blades and at the same time are harmless when in contact with the user's skin. Organic detergents of natural origin are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Particular examples of natural detergents may comprise natural oils that went saponification process. Oils that may be used for preparing the detergent introduced into the compositions are selected from any one of olive, argan, coconut, almond, palm, castor-oil, sunflower, shea butter, grapeseed, sufilower, any other natural oils and any combination thereof. In one particular embodiment, the relative total amount of the detergents is between 0.5 % and 25%.

In still another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprise ethereal oils usually distilled from organic natural sources as plants, and contain the essence of a plant. Such oils usually provide pleasant fragrance to the composition, which is transferred to the user's skin upon cleansing the blades during shaving. These oils are also usually volatile and do not penetrate the dermis. In one particular embodiment, the relative total amount of the ethereal oils is between 0.02% and 0.10%.

In one embodiment, the compositions are provided as standalone product for direct cleansing of the blades. Such compositions are preferably provided in viscous form of application as paste, cream or gel, soap, lotion or liquid applied directly on the blades, then brushed over mem with suitable brush. Then the viscous form of administration may be easily removed off of the blades with suitable liquid, preferably water.

Upon application, the viscous form of the composition peels off the crust accumulated on the blades and in crevices between them and carries the residues left on the blades after use. The crust and residues may be immediately removed upon brushing of the blades with the viscous form of application or it may be left for a certain period of time and men washed off of or cleaned away from the blades.

Other forms of application of the compositions are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Such forms may be selected from spray, ointment, emulsion, liquid formulation (drops), syrup and natural medium based solution (e.g., honey, oil). In another particular embodiment, the compositions may be provided in solid form that is soluble in liquid organic medium, that when dissolved forming viscous fluid that maybe used to cleanse the blades. In particular, the compositions of the present invention may be provided in discrete solid capsules, tablets or lozenges accompanied with appropriate amount of oily fluid solvent.

In another particular embodiment, the compositions may be incorporated into solid soap and applied to the blades with cleansing cloth soaked with organic or aqueous fluid .

In still another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are incorporated into shaving foam, which enables simultaneous cleansing of the blades and applying the shaving foam on the user's skin. In particular, the compositions are compatible with the shaving foam forming homogeneous medium with appropriate surfactants that sustain its long term shelf life. The combined composition and shaving foam is friendly to user's skin imparting triple effect of blade cleansing, application of shaving medium and soothing and disinfecting effects to the shaved skin. Thus, the compositions of the present invention increase blades service life, maintain blades sharpness and shaving quality and impart positive soothing and disinfecting effects to user's shaved skin.

Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it is to be appreciated mat changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.