Gillette Sues Energizer over New Four-Blade Razor

The Gillette Co., Boston, MA, filed a patent-infringement suit against Energizer Holdings Inc. before its competitor from releasing its new four-blade razor in September. The suit, filed in Federal District Court in Boston, alleges Energizer’s Schick Quattro razor violates a patent for in Gillette’s Mach3 progressive-blade geometry technology. Mach3 has three blades that extend gradually closer to the beard. “Adding another blade doesn’t avoid the infringement of the patent,” said Gillette spokesman Eric Kraus.

Gillette’s suit calls for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and unspecified monetary damages. The company hopes to recover triple the amount of money it loses from potential sales of the Quattro, as well as attorneys’ fees and other related damages.

The three-bladed Mach3 is the company’s most-successful brand and generated sales of more than $3 billion last year. The product is protected by more than 50 patents.

Schick, which ranks a distant No. 2 to Gillette, plans to release the Quattro in September. The company is investing a lot in the product, which would be the first four-bladed razor to hit the market. Energizer purchased Schick-Wilkinson Sword from Pfizer Corp. in March.