the present invention provides new and improved shaving compositions which include insoluble particulate additives . the particulate additives incorporated into the shaving compositions of the present invention serve multiple purposes and provide several benefits . first , the particulate additives provide microscopic support to the razor blade assembly and superior blade glide by providing physical , parallel support of the blade edge as it moves over the skin surface , and especially over skin irregularities . this micro - glide support system promotes nick - free shaves , with ultra - smooth post - shave skin smoothness . second , the solid particles act in conjunction with the blade assembly to extract each hair away from its follicle , just prior to being cut . as a result the post - shave position of each cut hair resides below the surface of the skin , thereby improving the overall smoothness of the post - process skin . third , the particulate additives cooperate with the cleansing agents in the shaving compositions to produce added scrubbing action in conjunction with a soap constituent to provide effective removal of dirt , oils , stains , and dead skin cells , foreign materials , irregular skin surfaces , and dead skin cells , thereby leaving the post - cleansed skin surface extremely smooth . the present invention is not limited to any single shaving composition , but rather to the concept of the inclusion of suitable particulate additives to any shaving composition , regardless of its form before or after it is applied , that is solid , gel , cream , liquid or aerosol . one preferred exemplary shaving composition of the present invention is based on that described in u . s . pat . no . 3 , 852 , 417 by mclaughlin , but includes added water insoluble organic additives is as follows : ______________________________________material % by weight______________________________________potassium stearate 5 . 20sodium stearate 1 . 11lauric acid diethanolamide 1 . 60mineral oil ( saybolt viscosity of 15 . 0075 - 100 seconds at 100 ° f .) stearic acid 0 . 14coconut fatty acid 0 . 68glycerine 3 . 20polyvinylpyrrolidone ( grade k - 30 ) 0 . 12perfume 0 . 37water 57 . 58dichlorodifluoromethane 10 . 00particulate additive - nylon fibers 5 . 00total 100 . 00 % ______________________________________ the nylon fibers in this example are preferably cylindrical particles nominally about 50 μm in diameter and a nominal length of about 200 μm , although other sizes may be utilized as discussed below . the shaving composition in this example will be prepared by mixing 6 . 12 parts of stearic acid , 1 . 60 parts of lauric acid diethanolamide , 15 parts mineral oil and 0 . 68 parts of coconut fatty acids at a temperature in the range of about 167 °- 176 ° f ., followed with agitation and admixture of 0 . 12 parts polyvinylpyrrolidone , 3 . 2 parts of glycerine , 0 . 9 parts of potassium hydroxide , and 0 . 2 parts of sodium hydroxide in 57 . 58 parts of water at a constant temperature in the range of about 167 °- 176 ° f . the resulting mixture will then be cooled to a temperature in the range of about 115 °- 125 ° f . with agitation . the perfume and particulate additive nylon fibers will then be added to the mixture , and the temperature cooled to the range of about between about 84 °- 88 ° f . this final liquid mixture will then be placed in an appropriate dispenser under pressure with the addition of propellant for use as an aerosol cream . when dispensed and applied to the face and used for shaving , this composition will provide a shaving experience in which the particulate additives in the shaving composition will provide microscopic support to the razor blade assembly and superior blade glide by providing physical , parallel support of the blade edge as it moves over the skin surface , and especially over skin irregularities , thereby will promote nick - free shaves , with ultra - smooth post - shave skin smoothness . the post - shave position of each cut hair will be found to reside below the surface of the skin , thereby improving the overall smoothness of the post - process skin . in addition , the particulate additives will cooperate with the cleansing agents in the shaving compositions to produce added scrubbing action to provide effective removal of dirt , oils , stains , and dead skin cells , foreign materials , irregular skin surfaces , and dead skin cells , and will thereby leave the post - cleansed skin surface extremely smooth . when the formulation of example 1 is modified , first using 10 % and then using 20 %, by weight , insoluble nylon fibers , while in each instance proportionally decreasing amounts of water and / or mineral oil , the resulting shaving compositions will provide a shaving experience which is equivalent to the original formula , suggesting that even greater amounts of insoluble particles can be used in the practice of the present invention . another exemplary composition is based on that described in mclaughlin u . s . pat . no . 3 , 852 , 417 , and includes the addition of abrasive inorganic additives , as follows : ______________________________________material % by weight______________________________________potassium stearate 5 . 20sodium stearate 1 . 11lauric acid diethanolamide 1 . 60mineral oil ( saybolt viscosity of 17 . 0075 - 100 seconds at 100 ° f .) stearic acid 0 . 14coconut fatty acid 0 . 68glycerine 3 . 20polyvinylpyrrolidone ( grade k - 30 ) 0 . 12perfume 0 . 37water 57 . 58dichlorodifluoromethane 10 . 00particulate additive - silica sand 3 . 00total 100 . 00 % ______________________________________ the silica sand employed in this example is nominally about 75 μm in size , although other sizes may be utilized as discussed below . this shaving composition will be prepared by mixing 6 . 12 parts of stearic acid , 1 . 60 parts of lauric acid diethanolamide , 17 parts mineral oil and 0 . 68 parts of coconut fatty acids at a temperature in the range of about 167 °- 176 ° f ., followed with agitation and admixture of 0 . 12 parts polyvinylpyrrolidone , 3 . 2 parts of glycerine , 0 . 9 parts of potassium hydroxide , and 0 . 2 parts of sodium hydroxide in 57 . 58 parts of water at a constant temperature in the range of about 167 °- 176 ° f . the subsequent mixture will then be cooled to a temperature of 115 °- 125 ° f . with agitation . the perfume and silica sand will be added to the mixture , and the temperature cooled to the range of about between about 84 ° to 88 ° f . this final liquid mixture will then be placed in an appropriate dispenser under pressure with the addition of propellant for use as an aerosol cream . when the aerosol medium will be disbursed from its container onto the skin surface , either directly or upon admixture of the medium in a suitable container or in the hand of a user , it will quickly foam , and when applied to the face it will wet the surface of the skin , softening the skin surface and the hair to be shaved , forcing the hair strands to stand erect normal to the surface of the skin , and opening skin pores . when a standard blade assembly will be subsequently employed over the surface of the skin , it will cut each strand of hair in its path , using the shaving medium as lubricant with each swath . post - shave skin surfaces will be nick free and ultra - smooth . insoluble particulate additives which are suitable for incorporation into standard shaving media compositions in accordance with the present invention include , but are not limited to thermoplastic and thermosetting resin polymers and inorganic materials such as the following : ______________________________________a ) polyamides ( e . g . nylon ) b ) polytetrafluoroethylene ( teflon ) c ) acetal resins ( delrin ) d ) polypropylenee ) polyethelenes f ) polyurethaneg ) silica h ) pumicei ) wood dust j ) quartzk ) titanium dioxide l ) calcium carbonatem ) calcium phosphate n ) calcium silicateo ) aluminum oxide p ) silicon nitrideq ) boron carbide r ) silicon carbides ) diatomaceous earth______________________________________ because of the ability to shape synthetic fibers such as nylon or acetal resin , these materials are two of the preferred additive materials . furthermore , as softer materials , such synthetic fibers tend to be less of an irritant to the skin , and therefore are less likely to cause rashes or other adverse skin reactions typically associated with the harder or abrasive cleansers . such synthetic fibers are also abundant in supply and easily produced . strands of these fibers are available in many diameters , and easily cut to desired lengths for incorporation into the shaving composition . the optimal synthetic fiber diameter should be on the order of the typical blade edge thickness , or roughly about 50 to about 200 μm ; however , other diameters may also be utilized . in order to allow the maximum coverage area for micro - blade support , the aspect ratio of the chosen polymeric fiber additives are preferably from about 3 : 1 to about 5 : 1 , that is the fiber length is preferably about 3 to 5 times greater than the diameter of the fiber ; however , aspect ratios below 3 : 1 and above 5 : 1 can also be employed if preferred . as noted above , an effective amount of insoluble particulate additives is an amount , by weight , which provides physical support for the blade of a razor blade assembly during the shaving process . in most instances , from about 0 . 1 % to about 20 %, by weight will be adequate , while from about 1 % to about 10 %, by weight is preferred . however , it is to be understood that in some instance an equivalent &# 34 ; effective amount &# 34 ; of insoluble particulate additives less than 0 . 1 % and greater than 20 %, and in thick pastes and gels even as high as 90 % or greater may be used in the practice of the present invention . the shaving media of the present invention is easily adapted for employment with standard or conventional pressurized or aerosol dispensers commonly available for commercial shaving creams and gels , or solid - stick applicators . such application methods are described in u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 174 , 992 by lindauer , et . al ., or 4 , 145 , 411 by mende . since the shaving compositions of the present invention may incorporate a single solid additive or combination of solid additives , no special considerations for media delivery must be reconciled . the minute size of the particles incorporated into the shaving composition allows easy passage from the stable in - situ composition container to the air via traditional dispensing nozzles which incorporate large openings and travel diameters , typically on the order of 10 millimeters or more . standard aerosol propellants may be employed in the delivery of the shaving compositions of the present invention . as noted above , the present invention encompasses any and all shaving compositions , whether in solid , gel , cream , liquid or aerosol form , incorporating insoluble particulate additives which provide improved blade glide , improved hair retraction from skin , and reduced skin abrasion , cutting and nicking over irregular surfaces or skin abnormalities . it is therefore seen that the shaving compositions of the present invention are clearly different not only from prior art shaving compositions , but also clearly different from abrasive facial scrubs , cleaning compounds , and general soaps . furthermore , the present invention is clearly discernable from prior art shaving compositions which employ soluble materials in shaving compositions for improved lubricity . in addition , it is seen that the compositions of the present invention which provide shaving compositions in which insoluble particulate additives , such as organic or inorganic fillers or abrasive materials , are incorporated . it has been shown that when such shaving compositions are used with conventional razor blade assemblies they will minimize nicks and cuts , and yet will provide a close shave , and improve post - shave skin smoothness , and improved cleansing characteristics . the foregoing exemplary descriptions and the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in detail , with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught . while the invention has been so shown and described , it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention , and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art . moreover , the invention as disclosed herein , may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein .
shaving compositions for use in the personal shaving process with a razor blade assembly include insoluble solid particulate additives . the shaving compositions include a mixture of at least one wetting agent , at least one cleansing agent , at least one lather producing composition , and at least one emollient ; and further include at least one solid , insoluble particulate additive in a well dispersed suspension throughout said shaving composition . the solid additives are present in an effective amount to produce physical microscopic support for the blade of a razor blade assembly during the personal shaving process . by providing micro - support of the razor blade parallel to skin surface and above surface irregularities , the solid particulate additives provide improved razor blade glide , thereby preventing nicks and cuts , and also enhancing exfoliation of dead skin and removal of grease and oils , as well as improving hair extraction prior to cutting , thereby improving overall smoothness of the post - shaven skin . the shaving compositions may be in the form of a gel , cream , solid , liquid or aerosol .