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Next year they'll strap on a rocket engine. Kind of reminds me of how Gillette spent "ten years of research" to discover the triple-blade razor. It may take another ten years of research to discover the quadruple-blade razor.

Gillette Sues Energizer Over New Schick Quattro Four-Blade Razor

September 2, 2003

On August 12, 2003 St. Louis-based Energizer Holdings, parent company of Schick-Wilkinson Sword, announced that in September it will begin selling a four-blade razor called "Quattro," touting its latest product’s ergonomic design and synchronized blades. Before the day was out, though, Energizer found itself defending a lawsuit brought by rival Gillette in federal court in Boston. The lawsuit alleges that the Quattro violates Gillette’s patent for "progressive blade geometry" technology used in Gillette’s three-bladed Mach 3. Gillette asserts that the Quattro uses the same technique to stack the blades in the cartridge as Gillette’s top-selling Mach 3 three-bladed razor. The complaint calls for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, treble monetary damages and other relief.

"A four blade razor would not function well, and would not have significant market appeal, unless it utilized the progressive geometric blade configuration invented by Gillette," the lawsuit stated. "Energizer is deliberately attempting to capitalize on the superior performance of Mach 3, the world's No. 1 shaving product," Gillette spokesman Eric Kraus said. "It's hard to imagine that progressive blade geometry was included in the Quattro product by accident." Gillette claimed that it spent $750 million to develop Mach 3. Energizer responded that it "has always respected the valid intellectual property rights of third parties, including Gillette, and will continue to do so." It said it believes it has valid defenses and will follow through on its previously announced plans to launch Quattro in September.