Devices for treating safety razor blades

Abstract

A device for treating a safety razor blade, including blades fixed between end portions of the safety razor blade, may include a polymer-based mat. The mat may include at least one substantially plane surface having an indentation hardness less than 50 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. The mat may be coupled to a substantially rigid frame structure. The mat may sharpen and clean the blades when the safety razor blade is moved along the mat in a direction opposite to a normal shaving direction. The device may further include first and second sidewalls on first and second sides of the mat. The sidewalls may prevent the safety razor blade from sliding off the mat in a first direction when a user of the device is sliding the blades along the mat in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A device for treating a safety razor blade that comprises blades fixed between end portions of the safety razor blade, the device comprising:
 a substantially rigid frame structure; and   a polymer-based mat coupled to the frame structure;   wherein the polymer-based mat comprises at least one substantially plane surface having an indentation hardness less than  50  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale, and   wherein the polymer-based mat is configured to sharpen and clean the blades when the safety razor blade is moved along the polymer-based mat, with the blades in contact with the polymer-based mat, in a direction opposite to a normal shaving direction.   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than  40  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than  30  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than  20  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat varies across the at least one substantially plane surface. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer-based mat comprises channels or pores configured to accommodate an abrasive or cleaning material. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer-based mat comprises silicone. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the device comprises silicone. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the device forms a one-piece component comprising a polymer-based material. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the polymer-based material is silicone. 
     
     
         37 . A device for treating a safety razor blade that comprises blades fixed between end portions of the safety razor blade, the device comprising:
 a polymer-based mat, the polymer-based mat comprising at least one substantially plane surface having an indentation hardness less than  50  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale;   a first sidewall on a first side of the polymer-based mat; and   a second sidewall on a second side of the polymer-based mat;   wherein the first and second sidewalls are configured to prevent the safety razor blade from sliding off the polymer-based mat in a first direction when a user of the device is sliding the blades along the polymer-based mat, with the blades in contact with the polymer-based mat, in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than 40 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than 30 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than  20  measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat varies across the at least one substantially plane surface. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the polymer-based mat comprises channels or pores configured to accommodate an abrasive or cleaning material. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the polymer-based mat comprises silicone. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the device comprises silicone. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the device forms a one-piece component comprising a polymer-based material. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the polymer-based material is silicone.