# US 10,442,098 B2 · Razor blade coating > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,442,098 B2 - Document ID: US10442098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/500,698 - Filed: 2015-07-30 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-31 - Assignees: Bic-Violex SA - Applicants: Bic-Violex SA - Inventors: Stergios Logothetidis; Nikolaos Kalfagiannis; Constantinos Mavroidis; Vassilis Papachristos; Michallis Karoussis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10442098B2 ## CPC - B26B 21/60: by the coating material - B26B 21/4031: {characterised by special geometric shaving parameters, e.g. blade span or exposure} - B26B 21/4068: {Mounting devices; Manufacture of razors or cartridges (B26B21/528 takes precedence)} - C23C 14/067: {Borides} - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) ## Abstract A razor blade substrate having a substrate that includes a blade edge portion having a profiled geometry which is covered by a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion. The strengthening coating covering the blade edge tip, having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converge toward a blade edge tip. The strengthening coating includes a strengthening layer made of a titanium- and boron-containing material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A razor blade comprising a blade edge portion, the razor blade comprising: a razor blade substrate having a substrate edge portion in the blade edge portion of the razor blade, the substrate edge portion having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two substrate sides converging toward a substrate tip, a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion, the strengthening coating covering the substrate tip, the strengthening coating having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converging toward a coating tip, the strengthening coating including a strengthening nanocrystalline layer made of a mixture of titanium and boron, with at least one of Titanium-rich areas and Boron-rich areas, where “rich” is used by reference to a stoichiometric TiB2 composition, wherein the average proportion of boron and titanium atoms in the strengthening layer is between 1.3:1 and 2.3:1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline layer comprises titanium diboride areas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The razor blade according to claim 2, wherein the areas of titanium diboride are non-columnar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening nanocrystalline layer comprises nanocrystalline arrangements, wherein the atoms of the nanocrystals are arranged in a hexagonal lattice configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening layer comprises featureless crystallites having a characteristic dimension between 2 and 15 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening layer is deposited under conditions which, when applied to deposition on a flat witness sample, provide a coating having a density above 3.9 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 5 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 1.8 and 2.5 micrometers, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.4 micrometers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 20 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 5.1 and 7.3 micrometers, and preferably between 5.4 and 7.1 micrometers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the razor blade substrate is made of stainless steel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening coating comprises an interlayer between the razor blade substrate and the strengthening layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The razor blade according to claim 10, wherein the interlayer comprises titanium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The razor blade according to claim 11, wherein the interlayer is made of titanium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening coating comprises a metal-containing overcoat layer over the strengthening layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The razor blade according to claim 13, wherein the overcoat layer comprises Chromium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening layer is the sole layer of the strengthening coating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the strengthening layer, measured normal to the substrate side, is between 20 and 400 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The razor blade according to claim 16, wherein the thickness of the strengthening layer, measured normal to the substrate side, is between 20 and 150 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The razor blade according to claim 16, wherein the thickness of the strengthening layer, measured normal to the substrate side, is between 40 and 250 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The razor blade according to claim 1, further comprising a polymer coating over the strengthening coating. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A razor blade according to claim 1, wherein the strengthening layer disorderly comprises areas having different proportions of titanium and boron atoms, wherein, in at least one area, the proportion of boron and titanium is comprised between y:1 and z:1, wherein y and z are comprised between 1.3 and 1.99, and y is lower than z, and/or wherein, in at least one area, the proportion of boron and titanium is comprised between u:1 and v:1, wherein u and v are comprised between 2.01 and 2.3 and u is lower than v. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A razor head comprising a cartridge and a razor blade according to claim 1, the razor blade being mounted in the cartridge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A razor comprising a handle and a razor head according to claim 21, the razor head being attached to said handle. ### Claim 23 A razor blade comprising a blade edge portion, the razor blade comprising: a razor blade substrate having a substrate edge portion in the blade edge portion of the razor blade, the substrate edge portion having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two substrate sides converging toward a substrate tip, a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion, the strengthening coating covering the substrate tip, the strengthening coating having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converging toward a coating tip, wherein the strengthening coating comprises a mixture of titanium and boron, wherein the strengthening layer is deposited under conditions which, when applied to deposition on a flat witness sample, provide a coating the density of which is above 3.9 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). ### Claim 24 A razor blade comprising a blade edge portion, the razor blade comprising: a razor blade substrate having a substrate edge portion in the blade edge portion of the razor blade, the substrate edge portion having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two substrate sides converging toward a substrate tip, a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion, the strengthening coating covering the substrate tip, the strengthening coating having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converging toward a coating tip, wherein the strengthening coating comprises a mixture of titanium and boron, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 5 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 1.8 and 2.5 micrometers, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.4 micrometers. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The razor blade according to claim 24, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 20 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 5.1 and 7.3 micrometers, and preferably between 5.4 and 7.1 micrometers. ### Claim 26 A razor blade comprising a blade edge portion, the razor blade comprising: a razor blade substrate having a substrate edge portion in the blade edge portion of the razor blade, the substrate edge portion having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two substrate sides converging toward a substrate tip, a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion, the strengthening coating covering the substrate tip, the strengthening coating having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converging toward a coating tip, wherein the strengthening coating comprises a mixture of titanium and boron, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 20 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 5.1 and 7.3 micrometers, and preferably between 5.4 and 7.1 micrometers. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The razor blade according to claim 26, wherein a combined thickness of the blade substrate and strengthening coating, measured between the two coating sides orthogonal to a line bisecting the blade edge portion, at a distance of 5 micrometers from the coating tip, is between 1.8 and 2.5 micrometers, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.4 micrometers.