Patents by Inventor Ronald Richard Duff, JR.

Ronald Richard Duff, JR. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240123642
    Abstract: Razors cartridges including a guard, a cap, and at least two blades with parallel sharpened edges located between the guard and cap are provided. The first blade has a first color and a second blade has a second color, where the first color is different than the second color. The blade color corresponds to an attribute of the blade (e.g., low cut force) that the color is disposed on or an attribute of the razor cartridge (e.g., sensitive skin). The color of the blade corresponds to a target user of the razor cartridge (e.g., male or female). The first blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the guard and a second blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Laura XU, Kenneth James SKROBIS, Neville SONNENBERG, Ronald Richard DUFF, JR., Joseph Allan DEPUYDT
  • Publication number: 20240051167
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a razor blade cutting edge, the method including: applying a single coating of a polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge to form a coated blade edge; selecting a temperature profile, where the temperature profile has a temperature and a time, and wherein the temperature profile is selected based on a composition of the razor blade cutting edge; heating the coated blade edge at the temperature and for the time indicated by the selected temperature profile to adhere the polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge; and optionally treating the coated blade edge with a solvent or a mechanical process to partially remove the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., John Joseph Nisby
  • Publication number: 20240051170
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a razor blade cutting edge, the method including applying a coating of a polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge to form a coated blade edge; performing a first heating of the coated blade edge to adhere the polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge; performing a second heating of the coated blade edge; and optionally treating the coated blade edge with a solvent or a mechanical process to partially remove the coating. Also provided is a razor blade cutting edge produced according to the disclosed method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., John Joseph Nisby
  • Publication number: 20240051168
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a razor blade cutting edge, the method including: applying a single coating of a polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge to form a coated blade edge; performing a single heating of the coated blade edge to adhere the polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge wherein the single heating of the coated blade edge comprises a first heating stage and a second heating stage; and optionally treating the coated blade edge with a solvent or a mechanical process to partially remove the coating. Also provided is a razor blade cutting edge produced according to the disclosed method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., John Joseph Nisby
  • Publication number: 20240051169
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a razor blade cutting edge, the method including: applying a single coating of a polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge to form a coated blade edge; performing a single heating of the coated blade edge at a single temperature of between 620° F. and 795° F. for a predefined time to adhere the polymer material to the razor blade cutting edge wherein the single heating of the coated blade edge comprises one or more heating stages and wherein each of the one or more heating stages is set at the single temperature; and optionally treating the coated blade edge with a solvent or a mechanical process to partially remove the coating. Also provided is a razor blade cutting edge produced according to the disclosed method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., John Joseph Nisby
  • Patent number: 11872713
    Abstract: Razors cartridges including a guard, a cap, and at least two blades with parallel sharpened edges located between the guard and cap are provided. The first blade has a first color and a second blade has a second color, where the first color is different than the second color. The blade color corresponds to an attribute of the blade (e.g., low cut force) that the color is disposed on or an attribute of the razor cartridge (e.g., sensitive skin). The color of the blade corresponds to a target user of the razor cartridge (e.g., male or female). The first blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the guard and a second blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Laura Xu, Kenneth James Skrobis, Neville Sonnenberg, Ronald Richard Duff, Jr., Joseph Allan DePuydt
  • Patent number: 11794366
    Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Skrobis, William Owen Jolley, John Lawrence Maziarz, Bin Shen, Ronald Richard Duff, Jr., Joe David Lussier, Oliver Heinz Claus, Joseph Allan DePuydt, Jason Scott Slattery, John Joseph Nisby
  • Patent number: 11759965
    Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other. One or both of the first and second coatings comprise a plurality of layers of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Skrobis, William Owen Jolley, John Lawrence Maziarz, Bin Shen, Ronald Richard Duff, Jr., Joe David Lussier, Oliver Heinz Claus, Joseph Allan DePuydt, Jason Scott Slattery, John Joseph Nisby
  • Patent number: 11691308
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel application of hard, low friction aluminum magnesium boride (AlMgB14, also known as BAM) based ceramic coatings to surfaces of razor components and in particular to blade edges of razor blades. On razor blade edges, these coatings may elevate blade performance, while also simplifying the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, Jr., Jeffrey Stuart Parker, Yongqing Ju, Xiandong Wang
  • Patent number: 11654588
    Abstract: A razor blade having a substrate with a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened tip. The substrate has a thickness of greater than about 2.30 micrometers measured at a distance of four micrometers from the blade tip, a thickness of greater than about 4.26 micrometers measured at a distance of eight micrometers from the blade tip, and greater than about 7.93 micrometers measured at a distance of sixteen micrometers from the blade tip. A hard coating joined to the substrate has a thickness of 700 Angstroms to about 3500 Angstroms. An outer layer joined to a coated substrate is discontinuous. The outer layer may be produced from a dispersion comprising about 0.03 g/L or less of telomer or from about 0.5 % solids or less of telomer by weight of composition. The novel razor blade cuts at less than 100 % cutting efficiency using a single fiber cutting efficiency measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: John Joseph Nisby, Matthew Robert Stone, Yongqing Ju, Ronald Richard Duff, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220134588
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel application of a compound of chromium and boron, or the application of chromium boride-based coatings (e.g., CrBn where an atomic percentage of boron ranges from greater than zero atomic percent to less than 100 atomic percent of said compound) to surfaces of razor blades, namely cutting edges. On razor blade edges, these novel coatings are hard, durable, and provide a novel, low cutter force and high-quality coating structure, elevating blade performance, while also simplifying the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Vladimirovich Zhuk, Ronald Richard Duff, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210323182
    Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth James Skrobis, William Owen Jolley, John Lawrence Maziarz, Bin Shen, Ronald Richard Duff, JR., Joe David Lussier, Oliver Heinz Claus, Joseph Allan DePuydt, Jason Scott Slattery, John Joseph Nisby
  • Publication number: 20210323184
    Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate, in which the first and second outer sides converge at a tip, the first outer side comprises a first coating disposed substantially thereon and extending from the tip region toward the base, and a first portion of the second outer side is substantially free of any coating, the first portion extending from the tip region toward the base or being spaced apart from the tip region and the base. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth James Skrobis, William Owen Jolley, John Lawrence Maziarz, Bin Shen, Ronald Richard Duff, JR., Joe David Lussier, Oliver Heinz Claus, Joseph Allan DePuydt
  • Publication number: 20210323183
    Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other. One or both of the first and second coatings comprise a plurality of layers of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth James Skrobis, William Owen Jolley, John Lawrence Maziarz, Bin Shen, Ronald Richard Duff, JR., Joe David Lussier, Oliver Heinz Claus, Joseph Allan DePuydt, Jason Scott Slattery, John Joseph Nisby
  • Publication number: 20210031388
    Abstract: Razors cartridges including a guard, a cap, and at least two blades with parallel sharpened edges located between the guard and cap are provided. The first blade has a first color and a second blade has a second color, where the first color is different than the second color. The blade color corresponds to an attribute of the blade (e.g., low cut force) that the color is disposed on or an attribute of the razor cartridge (e.g., sensitive skin). The color of the blade corresponds to a target user of the razor cartridge (e.g., male or female). The first blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the guard and a second blade defines a blade edge near or nearest the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: LAURA XU, Kenneth James Skrobis, Neville Sonnenberg, Ronald Richard Duff, JR, Joseph Allan DePuydt
  • Patent number: 10118304
    Abstract: The present invention relates to razor blade cutting edges and methods of producing edges exhibiting improved shave performance longevity and lower cutting forces. Conventional razor blades have increasing cutting forces with use due to the outer coating wear and adhesion loss. Blade edges produced according to the novel process exhibit significantly lower cutting forces when subjected to wool felt cutting shaving simulation, which correlates to more comfortable shaves initially and over the life of the blades. The present invention treats razor blade edges having a first adherent polyfluorocarbon coating with a first solvent to partially remove the polyfluorocarbon coating, adds a second polyfluorocarbon coating, heats, and treats the blade edge with a second solvent providing a final blade edge having a thin, uniform polyfluorocarbon coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, Jr., John Joseph Nisby, Kenneth James Skrobis, Joseph Allan Depuydt
  • Publication number: 20180162000
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel application of hard, low friction aluminum magnesium boride (AlMgB14, also known as BAM) based ceramic coatings to surfaces of razor components and in particular to blade edges of razor blades. On razor blade edges, these coatings may elevate blade performance, while also simplifying the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., Jeffrey Stuart Parker, Yongqing Ju, Xiandong Wang
  • Publication number: 20180043561
    Abstract: A razor blade having a substrate with a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened tip. The substrate has a thickness of greater than about 2.30 micrometers measured at a distance of four micrometers from the blade tip, a thickness of greater than about 4.26 micrometers measured at a distance of eight micrometers from the blade tip, and greater than about 7.93 micrometers measured at a distance of sixteen micrometers from the blade tip. A hard coating joined to the substrate has a thickness of 700 Angstroms to about 3500 Angstroms. An outer layer joined to a coated substrate is discontinuous. The outer layer may be produced from a dispersion comprising about 0.03 g/L or less of telomer or from about 0.5 % solids or less of telomer by weight of composition. The novel razor blade cuts at less than 100 % cutting efficiency using a single fiber cutting efficiency measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: John Joseph Nisby, Matthew Robert Stone, Yongqing Ju, Ronald Richard Duff, JR., Jeffrey Stuart Parker
  • Publication number: 20160001456
    Abstract: The present invention relates to razor blade cutting edges and methods of producing edges exhibiting improved shave performance longevity and lower cutting forces. Conventional razor blades have increasing cutting forces with use due to the outer coating wear and adhesion loss. Blade edges produced according to the novel process exhibit significantly lower cutting forces when subjected to wool felt cutting shaving simulation, which correlates to more comfortable shaves initially and over the life of the blades. The present invention treats razor blade edges having a first adherent polyfluorocarbon coating with a first solvent to partially remove the polyfluorocarbon coating, adds a second polyfluorocarbon coating, heats, and treats the blade edge with a second solvent providing a final blade edge having a thin, uniform polyfluorocarbon coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Duff, JR., John Joseph Nisby, Kenneth James Skrobis, Joseph Allan Depuydt
  • Patent number: 9220335
    Abstract: A toothbrush head having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface is described herein. The head has a first portion, a second portion, and an opening between the first portion and the second portion. The opening extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. A first plurality of contact elements are positioned on the first portion and the second portion. A second plurality of contact elements are positioned on the first portion and the second portion. Each of the second plurality of contact elements has an elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Phillip Maurice Braun, William Ralph Brown, Jr., Thomas Aurele Christman, Thomas Craig Masterman, Karen Lynn Claire-Zimmet, Ronald Richard Duff, Jr.