SHAVING MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS
A shaving measurement apparatus, comprising a pad having a top surface, an arm configured to hold a cartridge, the cartridge having a contact surface, and the arm being moveable relative to the pad to bring the contact surface of the cartridge into contact with and/or away from the top surface of the pad, and to move the cartridge along the pad with the contact surface in contact with the top surface, and a sensor coupled to the cartridge for measuring a load on the cartridge as it is moved relative to the pad, and a method of using the same.
1 . A shaving friction measurement apparatus comprising:
a. a pad having a top surface,
b. an arm configured to hold a cartridge, the cartridge having a contact surface, the arm being moveable relative to the pad to:
i. bring the contact surface of the cartridge into contact with and/or away from the top surface of the pad, and
ii. move the cartridge along the pad with the contact surface in contact with the top surface, and
c. a sensor coupled to the cartridge for measuring a load on the cartridge as it is moved relative to the pad.
2 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arm is moveable along at least a first direction in a plane substantially parallel to the top surface and in a second direction in a plane substantially perpendicular to the top surface.
3 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to move the arm.
4 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface is housed within a tray configured to receive and hold a liquid.
5 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a vessel configured to contain a liquid and to receive at least a portion of the cartridge.
6 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said vessel is located along the line of the first direction from the top surface.
7 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a computer configured to control and/or monitor the apparatus.
8 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface is a skin mimic surface.
9 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the skin mimic surface comprises a polymer, natural rubber or synthetic rubber.
10 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the skin mimic surface comprises polyurethane.
11 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cartridge comprises an optionally removable portion forming the contact surface and comprising a polymeric material.
12 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the optionally removable portion comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy resin, an acetate polymer, an acrylic polymer, and a mixture thereof.
13 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is a razor cartridge.
14 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises at least one groove in the contact surface, preferably wherein at least one of the at least one groove comprises a shaving composition.
15 . The shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for measuring the normal load through the cartridge.
16 . A method of measuring shaving friction comprising the steps of:
a. providing a shaving friction measurement apparatus according to claim 1 ,
b. moving the arm so as to draw the contact surface of the cartridge over the top surface,
c. measuring a load on the cartridge, and
d. optionally moving the cartridge away from the top surface.
17 . The method of measuring shaving friction according to claim 16 further comprising the step of immersing at least a portion of the contact surface of the cartridge into a liquid, before moving the arm so as to draw the cartridge over the top surface.
18 . The method of measuring shaving friction according to claim 17 wherein said liquid is a diluted shaving preparation.
19 . A method of measuring shaving friction according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of measuring the normal load on the cartridge.
20 . A method of measuring shaving friction according to claim 16 , further comprising a step of repeating one or more of the preceding steps.