Gillette files patent for heated razor

BOSTON — Gillette could sooon be heating up the shaving category, based on a patent filed by the company on March 9 for heated shaving razors.

The patent application describes a razor system with a heating element mounted to the razor’s housing to transfer heat while shaving. It also notes that there have been past attempts to bring heat to shaving — from shaving cream that imparts warmth to razor heads heated with hot air, as well as heated razor blades.

“The drawback with heated blades is they have minimal surface area in contact with the user's skin,” the application says. “This minimal skin contact area provides a relatively inefficient mechanism for heating the user's skin during shaving. … Accordingly, there is a need to provide a shaving razor capable of delivering safe and reliable heating that is noticeable to the consumer during a shaving stroke.”

Procter & Gamble told Boston Business Journal that the company does not comment on patent applications, but that, “Innovation has been an important part of our heritage since our founder changed the way men shave forever in 1901.”