Abstract:
A cutting implement using a multi-element mineral to increase the sharpness and durability while also providing therapeutic effects to individuals coming into physical contact with the cutting implement. When used in hairdressing razors and scissors, the anions in the multi-element mineral should produce a mineralizing effect in the individual whose hair is being cut that activates proteins and promotes healthy hair and skin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a cutting implement having a multi-element mineral which improves the effectiveness of cutting implements used in hairdressing razors (for shaping and cutting hair) and hairdressing scissors for use in barber shops and beauty salons. The invention also has application in surgical scalpels, as well as other cutting implements such as kitchen-knives, knives, and the inner and/or outer blades of electric razors.  
           [0003]    2. General Background and State of the Art  
           [0004]    Hairdressing razors, scissors and surgical scalpels, as well as cutting implements such as kitchen-knives and knives, generally include a blade mounted at the end of a grip or, in replaceable-blade cutting implements, a replaceable blade removably mounted in a holder at the end of a grip. When these cutting implements are used, the grip is held in a hand, and the blade is used to cut.  
           [0005]    Hairdressing scissors may be formed by welding respective handle portions to blades to form a pair of scissor members pivotally joined at the boundary between the blade and the handle, which allows the blade and the handle to be cast separately using lost-wax casting methods. To use hairdressing scissors, digits are inserted into finger holes, the two scissor members are opened and closed, and hair caught between the blades is cut.  
           [0006]    When the cutting devices are utilized in accordance with their intended uses, the blade is inevitably worn or abraded. Because hairdressing razors experience a significant degree of wear, they become blunt after a short period of use, which limits their useful life. Cutting implements that come into contact with human skin or which are used to cut animal meat products face a special problem. Oils from human skin or animal products adhere to the surface of the cutting implement and further contribute to the rapid wear and blunting.  
           [0007]    Cutting implements on the market today can cause injury to the user even from proper but repeated use, especially after the blade becomes blunt. Cutting operations in beauty salons and barbershops involve opening and closing the two scissor members repeatedly over a small distance. As a result, a great strain is placed on the fingers of hairdressers and barbers who work for several hours every day. The strain in the fingers can lead to a build-up of fatigue in thee arms, often causing occupational illnesses such as tendinitis and arthritis. Moreover, a high cost results from having to replace rapidly blunting cutting implements. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to develop a blade in various cutting implements that not only lasts longer and cuts better than other blades but also is therapeutic to the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to the incorporation of multi-element minerals in various cutting implements. This incorporation of multi-element minerals increases the durational and functional life of the implement. Further, the presence of multi-element minerals in the cutting device benefits both the person using the device as well as the person on whom the device is being used. Thus, the present invention includes several embodiments that have multi-element minerals as part of their composition.  
           [0009]    It is well known in the prior art that multi-element minerals release anions into the environment. It has now been found that these anions improve hardness, sharpness and durability of a cutting blade. For example, oils from human hair or skin as well as those from animal meat will generally adhere to the blade, and the oils are difficult to remove. These oils contribute to faster blunting. However, because of the effect anions have on oils, oils do not adhere as well on cutting implements with multi-element minerals, and the oil is also easier to wipe off.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, electromagnetic waves (feeble energy) with wavelengths of 4 to 14 μm, which are emitted from the multi-element minerals, can transform the surrounding of an atomic nucleus such that the atom and the material reach an excited state. This transformation accordingly causes a cutting and shortening of the polymerization of water clusters, decreasing the volume of water and increasing the specific gravity. Moreover, sufficient attachment of free water onto the external cell membranes of animals and plants occurs from the transformation. As a result, penetration of water and Ca 2+  is promoted within the cells, activating several functions of the cells. These electromagnetic waves are applied to the hair and scalp when the cutting implement comes into contact with the hair or scalp; water within the hair and scalp will thus be mineralized, and protein in the hair and scalp will be activated, keeping the hair healthy and shiny. As an additional benefit, the combined actions of the anions and of electromagnetic waves promote blood circulation in fingers holding the cutting implement. This relieves fatigue in fingers and can prevent the occurrence of occupational illnesses of barbers and hairdressers such as tendinitis and arthritis.  
           [0011]    The nature of some instruments like a shaping razor, a cutting razor, a surgical scalpel, or an electric razor requires a replaceable blade; other instruments such as knives and scissors require ail irremovably mounted blade due to their inherent design and functional pararmeters. Accordingly, a multi-element mineral can form a component or the entire composition of the handle, grip and blade of any such cutting implement.  
           [0012]    The above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view showing a shaping razor for hairdressing.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view showing a cutting razor for hairdressing.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a surgical scalpel.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a side view showing a kitchen-knife.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a side view showing a knife.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an electric razor.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a plane view showing a pair of scissors. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    As used herein, the term multi-element mineral includes silicon-based minerals such as granite, perlite, pitchstone, and tourmaline. These minerals radiate electromagnetic waves (feeble energy) and release anions. If these minerals are added to stainless steel or Stellite steel, and the like, the hardness and abrasion resistance of the steel is increased, and the sharpness and durability of the stainless or Stellite steel can be improved. In addition, the action of the anions produces a water clustering effect and activates proteins in facial hair and facial skin, allowing for promotion of the health of hair and skin.  
         [0022]    To prepare multi-element minerals for use in the instant invention, the minerals, such as perlite, are milled into a powder preferably with the size of about 0.5 to 3.0 microns using a ball mill. Blending two or more such minerals with the proper blending ratio forms the preferable multi-element mineral powder. The powder can be used to mix into the plating liquid or it can be mixed with the substrate at the time of casting. Alternatively, it can also be used after it is mixed with water, whether heated or pressurized, so that the clear liquid part of the water dries into a powder by vacuum-freeze drying or by spray drying methods.  
         [0023]    The following table shows the content of perlite:  
                           TABLE 1                                       Siliccn dioxide (SiO 2 )   71.94%           Aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 )   14.94           Ferrous oxide (Fe 2 O 3 )   2.54%           Magnesium oxide (MgO)   0.44%           Calcium oxide (CaO)   2.47%           Alkali oxide (K 2 O + Na 2 O)   6.87%           Manganese oxide (MnO)   0.03%           Phosphoric anhydride (P 2 O 5 )   0.14%           Agnition loss   3.43%           Drying loss (at 110° C.)   0.07%           Other, titanium   Trace                      
 
         [0024]    Shown in FIG. 1 is a shaping razor  10  which is used for shaving, according to one embodiment of the present invention. An holder  14  is rotatably mounted by way of an axle  19  at the end of a grip  12 . The blade  16  includes a cutting edge  17  and a plurality of mounting slots  18 , which are used to removably mount the blade  16  into the holder  14 . In one embodiment, when the blade  16  is manufactured, a mixture of powdered perlite and tourmaline, approximately 0.5 to 1.0% by volume, is mixed with molten steel. In this manner, a multi-element mineral component will be incorporated uniformly throughout he blade  16 . Optionally, the holder  14  of the shaping razor  10  may have a multi-element mineral component ranging from 0.5 to 50.0% by volume.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. A cutting razor  20  used for hairdressing includes a grip  22  and a holder  24 . The holder  24  is mounted at the end of the grip  22 , and a blade  26  is removably mounted in this holder  24 . The blade  26  has a cutting edge  28  and is placed inside of a blade mounting member  30 . The blade mounting member  30  is adapted to slide in and out of the holder  24  allowing for easy replacement of the blade  26 . In one embodiment, mixing approximately 0.5 to 1.0% by volume perlite powder wish steel forms the blade  26 . In another embodiment, the holder  24  and the blade mounting member  30  also have a multi-element mineral composition ranging from 0.to 50.0% by volume. The present invention includes T-shaped, folding or rigid formatted razors.  
         [0026]    As depicted in FIG. 3, a surgical scalpel  40 , another embodiment of the present invention, has a holder  44  formed at the end of a stainless steel grip  42 . The holder  44  is adapted to mount and hold a replaceable blade  46  with a mounting slot  48  and a cutting edge  47 . Preferably, in manufacture of the blade  46  with a multi-element mineral component, a mixture of powdered perlite and tourmaline, approximately 0.5 to 1.0% by volume, is mixed with molten steel. In this manner, the multi-element mineral component will be incorporated uniformly throughout the blade  46 . The surgical scalpel  40  may optionally include a multi-element mineral component in the grip  42  and the holder  44  ranging from 0.5 to 50.0% by volume.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a side view of a kitchen-knife  50 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. A blade  52  with a cutting edge  58  is solidly mounted at the end of a grip  54  by means of a retainer  56 . In one embodiment, admixing a mixture of approximately 2.0 to 3.0% by volume of powdered perlite and tourmaline with stainless or Stellite steel forms the blade  52 . The term kitchen-knife includes all knives used in cooking.  
         [0028]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5 is a knife  60 . A blade  62  with a cutting edge  68  is solidly mounted at the end of a grip  64  by means of a retainer  66 . In one embodiment, admixing a mixture of approximately 2.0 to 3.0% by volume of powdered perlite and tourmaline with stainless or Stellite steel forms the blade  62 . The term knife includes all knives used for severing and cutting, such as those used for working, cooking, eating, and those used for outdoor activities such as survival knives.  
         [0029]    As seen in FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present invention is an electric razor  70 . The electric razor  70  has a set of inner blades  76 , preferably rotary, and an outer blade  72 , which has a plurality of holes  74 . Hair enters through the holes  74  and is cut by the inner blades  76 . In one embodiment, a mixture of approximately 2.0 to 3.0% by volume of powdered perlite and tourmaline forms a component for either the outer blade  72  and or the inner blades  76 . The term blade includes both the outer blade  72  and the inner blades  76 . The electric razor  70  may be of revolving type, oscillating type, or rotary type, and it is possible that only one of the outer or inner blades comprise a multi-element mineral component.  
         [0030]    Shown in FIG. 7 is a pair of hairdressing scissors  80 . The scissors  80  are formed by pivotally joining a pair of scissor members  88  with a screw-pin  86  at the boundary between blades  90  and handles  82 . Finger holes  84  are formed in the handles  82 . Each of the scissor members  88  is formed by separately casting the blade  90  in Stellite steel and the handle  82  in stainless steel using lost-wax casting methods. The blade  90  and the handle  82  are then preferably welded together. The handle  82  and the blade  90  are cast using the same percentage of powdered perlite and tourmaline, namely a powdered mixture of approximately 2.0 to 3.0% by volume with molten stainless or Stellite steel. To form the handle  82 , the powdered perlite and tourmaline is mixed with molten stainless steel, whereas to form the blade  90 , the powdered mixture is added to molten Stellite steel. The blade  90  is sharpened according to standard industry methods. As the blade  90  substrate or plating has a multi-element mineral component, the hardness of the blade  90  is increased as a result, providing excellent abrasion resistance and allowing for improvements in the durability of the sharpness of the blade.  
         [0031]    Modes of embodiment of the present invention have been described above, but the specific constitution of the invention is not limited to these modes of embodiment. For example, in addition to those shown in the above modes of embodiment, cutting implements that use replaceable blades may be utility cutters wherein the replaceable blades have a multi-element mineral component. Further, in one mode of embodiment, cutting scissors are shown wherein the blades of both of the scissor members are straight blades. The constitution of the present invention may also be applied so that the blade of one of the scissor members is a straight blade and the blade of the other scissor member is a comb-blade to form comb-scissors.  
         [0032]    In the above modes of embodiment, cases were shown wherein the handle and the blade both had a multi-element mineral component. Other cases may be such that only the handle or only the blade has a multi-element mineral component. The multi-element mineral can form part of the plating layer or the substrate of either the handle or blade or grip. If only the blade has a multi-element mineral component, a multi-element mineral component may be incorporated in the handle plating layer when the surface of the handle is plated. Steel is an alloy of cobalt, chromium, tungsten, iron, and the like, wherein the percentage composition of each constituent can be changed to adjust the grain, hardness, and other qualities of the mold. Therefore, products made of Stellite steel do not require such processes as tempering. In several modes of embodiment, the blade is made out of Stellite. Also, Stellite steel nay also be used for the handle.  
         [0033]    Having thus described different embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any one particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.