Notable FYI email received from HeadBlade

[Noodles]

Guys,

I recently emailed Headblade and asked them why they do not make an adapter for use with the Mach3 or Fusion blades, and it seems that the Gillette company will not allow them to do so.             (See email message below)

In case any of you may have wondered about this, (as I have), consider the mystery solved.

Hi Dave,
We're prevented by Gillette from making the HeadBlade compatible with
Mach 3/ Fusion blades. 

Lee Richardson
HeadBlade, Inc.
T: 1.310.842.7630 Ext.206
F: 1.310.842.7633
Admin@HeadBlade.com


-Cap'n Noodles-

[Tyler]

Yeah, because the Gillette designs are patented, they won't release the ability for HeadBlade to make an adapter.

[Hook'Em]

That makes Zero sense. Seems to me they make all their money on the replacement blades and not the handles. Letting Headblade make an adapter would open up the blade sales alot. Guess those blades are going to their heads (or not).

[Noodles]

That makes Zero sense. Seems to me they make all their money on the replacement blades and not the handles. Letting Headblade make an adapter would open up the blade sales alot. Guess those blades are going to their heads (or not).

I agree, Hook - especially since they do allow the adapters to be made for Atra and Sensor blades.

-Dave-

[BReady]

That makes Zero sense. Seems to me they make all their money on the replacement blades and not the handles. Letting Headblade make an adapter would open up the blade sales alot. Guess those blades are going to their heads (or not).

I think they have the patent on the blade to prevent other companies from making cheaper alternatives.  That helps them with making their money on the outrageously expensive replacement blades they sell.  Even though Headblade would help them sell more replacement blades, they would still be prevented from that patent I guess (even though it was intended to prevent cheaper reproduction of the blades?).  PIRATES!

[Tyler]

Yeah, it's a totally stupid move on Gillette's part.

[Jer]

Maybe we should start a petition to give to Gillette...   

Show them just how many of us there are out here that would use Fusion and Mach3 for our HeadBlade's if they were to make an adapter!  I bet more people would even buy HeadBlade if they did it to use the Fusion blades.  It could benefit both companies.

[Duffman]

I agree... petition the man!  We demand HB adapters!!! 

[Alexander215]

I wonder how come some entrepreneurial spirit hasn't made an adapter for it, China doesn't give a sh!t about patents or intellectual property rights.

[Larry]

I can understand Gillette preventing other companies from duplicateing their blades but even with an adaptor for the fusion and mach III, people would still be buying Gillette blades which is where they make the most money.  Maybe it's a liability issue.

[aleutiancowboy]

I wonder how come some entrepreneurial spirit hasn't made an adapter for it, China doesn't give a sh!t about patents or intellectual property rights.

I use a fusion blade with mine. Cause I made up my own adapter starting with headblades adaptar for their triple blades and the tip of the fusion. It works good for me but it is hard to change the blades and it can't be removed from my head blade so if it breaks I have to buy a whole new headblade. I like the petition idea maybe Gillette doesn't realize there is a market out there.

[Stevo]

The patent for the Sensor design is no longer in effect, it expired in either 2003 or 2006.  The Atra patent would've expired well before that, which is probably why Todd Greene used it as part of the original HB design.  I remember getting my first HB in '06 or '07, and they had just started selling them with the Sensor adaptor included.  Mine actually had a sticker on the package telling me the Sensor was included.

Upon further review, it looks like Gillette may have renewed their Sensor patent in '03, so I'm lost.

[Antimidas]

I would think the patent would be for the blade itself and not the adapter it would connect to.  But I have not been in the IPTR for ten years.

[Stevo]

I would think the patent would be for the blade itself and not the adapter it would connect to.  But I have not been in the IPTR for ten years.

The patents I saw were for the handle, which presumably would include the suspension.  It could be that the second patent had minor changes in the suspension that were different enough to where HB could still use the old design.