EP0349870B1 - Dispensing device for shaving units - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser system for razor blade units, including a dispenser housing in which the razor blade units are successively and displaceably disposed. Via a handle that is provided with a latching mechanism that cooperates with the razor blade units, the razor blade units can be removed from the dispenser housing one at a time. To simplify securement of the handle to a razor blade unit that is to be removed, the dispenser housing has a guide mechanism along which the end of the handle is guided and which brings the latching mechanism of the handle into a disengagement position. After reaching the removal position, the handle automatically engages the razor blade unit, so that this unit can be removed from the dispenser housing.

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser system for razor blade units, several of which are arranged one behind the other in a dispenser housing, one behind the other and can be removed and, if necessary, reinserted by means of a handle to form a razor, the head of the handle and the razor blade units having interlocking devices which correspond to one another and the razor blade units are perpendicular whose longitudinal extensions and in the plane formed by them in their entirety are arranged displaceably in the dispenser housing and the foremost, advanced razor blade unit for removal is located in the removal position common to all razor blade units by means of the handle.

Dispenser systems for razor blade units are known. In this context, razor blade units are understood to mean razor heads in which the single or double razor blades are embedded in a non-detachable manner in a plastic body and which can be attached to a head of a handle, for which purpose the handle head and the razor blade units have interlocking devices which correspond to one another.

In the known dispenser system, several razor blade units are arranged in corresponding compartments in a dispenser housing. In order to be able to remove the individual razor blade units from the dispenser housing and, if necessary, to reinsert them, the handle of the razor has a corresponding actuating button with which the locking device of the handle can be brought into the unlocked position. In this unlocking position, the handle can be attached to the respective razor blade unit and locked with it, so that the razor blade unit can be removed from the corresponding compartment of the dispenser housing by means of the handle attached to it. The razor thus formed can then be used for shaving. Replace a used razor blade unit in the reverse way.

In this known dispenser system for razor blade units, it is disadvantageous that the attachment of the handle head to the razor blade unit to be removed in each case is not always easy and requires some skill, since the locking device of the handle head must be brought exactly into the locking position with the corresponding locking device of the razor blade unit. This can lead to considerable difficulties, especially for people whose hands are trembling or who see poorly.

For example, a dispenser system for razor blade units is known from US Pat. No. 3,833,146, which has a plurality of razor blade units which are arranged one behind the other in a dispenser housing and which can be removed and, if necessary, reinserted by means of a handle to form a razor. In this known dispenser system, the connection between the handle and a razor blade unit to be removed is formed in that a longitudinally extending, undercut groove is arranged in the razor blade unit, into which a corresponding web of the handle can be inserted. The web of the handle and the groove in the razor blade unit form a corresponding locking device. The dispenser system has a removal opening arranged on the side wall for removing the razor blade units on.

In this known dispenser system for razor blade units, it is disadvantageous that the handle for locking with a razor blade unit must be inserted into the groove by means of its web, the handle having to be guided parallel to the longitudinal extension of the razor blade unit. The razor blade units with the handle arranged thereon are then pulled out of the dispenser system in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the handle described above. As a result, when the razor blade units are removed, the handle can become detached from the razor blade unit to be removed, so that removing the razor blade units from the dispenser system requires skill and patience in order not to detach the razor blade unit from the handle when it is pulled out.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to create a dispenser system for razor blade units in which the handle of the razor can be attached in a simple manner to the razor blade unit to be removed from the dispenser housing.

As a technical solution it is proposed with the invention that a removal opening is arranged on an end face of the dispenser housing and that the dispenser housing has a guide device for the head of the handle which ends in the area of the removal opening and which brings the locking device of the handle into the unlocking position when it is guided along and that on reaching the removal position releases the locking device so that it passes into the locking position forming the basic position and thereby locks with the razor blade unit to be removed.

A dispenser system designed according to this technical teaching has the advantage that the razor blade units can be removed from the dispenser housing in a very simple manner by means of the handle. For this purpose, it is only necessary to insert the head of the handle into the guide device of the dispenser housing and guide it to the removal position, where the locking device of the handle automatically locks with the locking device of the razor blade unit to be removed and thus forms the ready-to-use razor. Its razor blade unit located at the front end of the handle then only has to be removed from the dispenser housing. Since the razor blade units are slidably arranged in the dispenser housing, the next razor blade unit moves into the removal position at the removal opening so that it can be removed next.

The guide device is preferably arranged on the top of the dispenser housing and parallel to the direction of displacement of the razor blade units. This represents a simple possibility for attaching the guide device to the dispenser housing.

So that the razor blade units can move up in a simple manner after removal of the foremost razor blade unit from the dispenser housing, a compression spring is preferably arranged between the last razor blade unit and the end wall of the dispenser housing opposite the removal opening.

In the event that the used razor blade units are not reinserted into the dispenser housing, in a preferred development the handle has a manually operable device for transferring the locking device into the unlock position. In this way, the handle can be "disposed of" very easily by a used razor blade unit.

However, in order to be able to reinsert the used razor blade units into the dispenser housing, in a preferred embodiment the dispenser housing has a feed opening on the end face opposite the removal opening for reinserting used razor blade units, the guide device beginning in the region of this feed opening opening the handle from the feed opening to the feed opening Removal opening after inserting the razor blade unit brings the locking device of the handle into the unlocking position and thereby releases the connection to the razor blade unit to be reinserted. In this way, a used razor blade unit can be replaced very easily and very quickly by an as yet unused razor blade unit by first feeding the used razor blade unit to the feed opening of the dispenser housing. The guide device starting here unlocks the handle from the re-inserted razor blade unit by moving the handle in the direction of the removal opening. When the handle arrives there, it picks up the unused razor blade unit that is ready for removal. The "decongestation" of a used razor blade unit and the inclusion of a razor blade unit that has not yet been used thus takes place to a certain extent in one go, that is to say in a continuous movement sequence. Reinstalling a used razor blade unit also has the effect that the razor blade units located in the dispenser housing are moved in their entirety, so that the foremost razor blade unit is brought into the removal position.

A preferred embodiment of the guiding and locking mechanism of the dispenser system proposes that the locking device of the handle consists of two arms which can be pivoted in opposite directions against the force of a spring and which have claws directed at the front ends against the respective pivoting direction, so that the razor blade units are connected to the Claws have corresponding receiving bores and that the guide device on the top of the dispenser housing has two spaced parallel C-shaped guide channels for receiving the claws, the distance between the two guide channels being such that the arms are pivoted into the unlocked position, and wherein the guide troughs in the area of the opening (s) are angled to the razor blade unit to be removed or reinserted into the latching or unlatching position. This represents a technically simple possibility of loosening or establishing the connection between the handle head and the respective razor blade unit. The claws, which are aligned parallel to the cutting edge of the razor blade, serve as a pivot axis for a pivoting head shaver which adapts very precisely to the contours of the face. In this case, the arms are preferably pivotable toward one another and the claws are directed away from one another outward. In this way, a relatively large distance between the claws can be achieved, which ensures good stability between the handle and the razor blade unit attached to it.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is proposed that the dispenser housing in the area of the opening (s) have inclined guides for the locking device of the handle with respect to the direction of displacement of the razor blade units. These guides in particular in the area of the feed opening ensure that when the razor blade units to be reinserted, the locking device arranged on the handle is gradually moved into the unlocked position. Following the guides, the guide channels of the preferred embodiment of the guide device then follow.

In a further constructive embodiment of the dispenser system, it is proposed that the dispenser housing be designed as a substantially flat hollow cuboid, the opposite open end faces of which define a feed opening for reinserting used razor blade units and the removal opening for the still unused razor blade units, and the top of the dispenser housing defines one of them Feed opening to the removal opening has a continuous opening, which is widened trapezoidal in width at the ends in the area of the supply opening and the removal opening, and wherein the edges of the dispenser housing that delimit the opening and parallel to one another in the central region define rails, and that the locking device of the handle consists of two opposites the force of a spring inwardly towards each other to pivotable arms which are directed away from each other at the front ends and have claws corresponding to receiving bores in the razor blade units and each have on the outer edge a guide recess corresponding to the corresponding rail of the dispenser housing. In this way too, a used razor blade unit can be replaced very simply and quickly by an as yet unused razor blade unit by first feeding the used razor blade unit by means of the handle to the feed opening of the dispenser housing. The unlocking device for the pivotable arms of the handle is through the edge-like Rails of the dispenser housing and formed by the guide recesses in the arms of the locking device by the guide recesses engage in the rails delimiting the opening. Due to the trapezoidal tapering of this opening in the area of the feed opening, the arms are pivoted inward so that the claws disengage from the receiving bores in the razor blade unit. During this unlocking process, the razor blade units already located in the dispenser housing are simultaneously transported by one position, so that the used razor blade unit that has just been inserted assumes the last position. The handle is then moved in the direction of the removal opening and picks up the razor blade unit which is ready for removal and is still unused. The "disposal" of the used razor blade unit as well as the as yet unused razor blade unit can be carried out in one go, ie in one continuous movement. Reinstalling the used razor blade unit also has the effect that the razor blade units located in the dispenser housing are moved in their entirety, so that the foremost razor blade unit is brought into the removal position. The dispenser system designed in this way is characterized by a structurally simple structure and very good functionality with a high level of functional reliability. The razor blade units are picked up and released very safely.

In a preferred development of this design, the upper side of the dispenser housing with the rails facing upward and / or the receiving channel for the razor blade units is inside with respect to the plane of insertion and ejection of the razor blade units into the feed opening or out of the removal opening in the central region of the opening of the dispenser housing is displaced downwards in such a way that the arms of the locking device of the handle with their claws can be moved from this rear position to the front removal position via the intermediate razor blade units after the used razor blade unit has been released. Preferably, both the rails and the receiving channel are offset upwards or downwards, so that after a short distance the arms with their claws have reached such a height above the razor blade units that they can be guided over them.

In a further development, the razor blade units are guided laterally within the dispenser housing in the area of the side walls thereof by guide rails. By means of these guide rails, the path along which the razor blade units move is predetermined in a technically simple manner. In particular, this makes it possible in a technically simple manner to lower the receiving channel for the razor blade units downwards in the central region.

In a preferred development of the dispenser housing, it is composed of two halves along the longitudinal central axis. This has the advantage that the dispenser housing can be manufactured very simply by injection molding.

Furthermore, the dispenser housing has reinforcing ribs running transversely on the outside. These reinforcing ribs prevent the upper, free legs from deforming inwards when the dispenser housing is sprayed, and the dispenser housing as such is therefore unusable.

According to a further feature, in order to fix the razor blade units within the dispenser housing According to the invention, spring-like cams are arranged in the dispenser housing in the region of the opening (s), which hold the razor blade units within the dispenser housing, but after overcoming the holding force exerted by them, can be passed through the respective razor blade unit to be removed or reinserted.

If, according to a further development, it is proposed that the razor blade units each have a central web and that the head of the handle has a protruding and corresponding fork that receives the central web and that is spring-loaded in the direction of the head of the handle, the advantage is achieved with an oscillating head shaver that the razor blade unit always assumes a defined starting position, into which it springs back automatically when deflected.

In order to improve the guidance of the head of the handle on the dispenser housing, the guide device preferably has guide strips which interact with the head of the handle.

Finally, the invention proposes that a compression spring is arranged between the last unused and the first used razor blade unit. This ensures that the razor blade units are held firmly within the dispenser housing without, for example, rattling noises when the dispenser housing moves. In addition, the compression spring ensures that the razor blade unit to be removed is located exactly in the removal position. The compression spring is preferably designed such that it cannot pass through the spring-like cams. In addition to the advantage that gaps existing between the razor blade units are compensated for, this also has the main advantage that if there are only used razor blade units located in the dispenser housing, these are removed again, since the compression spring now located at the front acts as a lock and cannot be removed and indicates to the user that he has no unused razor blade unit available.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf ein Spendergehäuse;
• Fig. 2 eine Stirnansicht des Spendergehäuses aus Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie III-III in Fig. 1 durch das Spendergehäuse;
• Fig. 4 eine Ansicht des Kopfes eines handgriffs, wobei der Deckel des Kopfes zur Sichtbarmachung des Innern weggelassen ist;
• Fig. 5 eine Seitenansicht des Handgriffkopfes aus Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 eine Rückansicht einer Rasierklingeneinheit;
• Fig. 7 die Rasierklingeneinheit aus Fig. 6, jedoch mit eingerastetem Handgriff zur Bildung eines Rasierapparates;
• Fig. 8 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie VIII-VIII in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 einen Längsschnitt durch das Spendergehäuse aus Fig. 1, jedoch mit Rasierklingeneinheiten im Innern sowie mit verschiedenen Stellungen eines Handgriffs zum Wiedereinsetzen einer verbrauchten und zur Entnahme einer nach unverbrauchten Rasierklingeneinheit;
• Fig. 10 eine stirnseitige schematische Darstellung des Kopfes des Handgriffs, wie er auf dem Spendergehäuse aufliegt und entlanggeführt wird;
• Fig. 11 eine Draufsicht auf eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Spendergehäuses;
• Fig. 12 eine Stirnansicht des Spendergehäuses aus Fig. 11;
• Fig. 13 eine schematische Seitenansicht des Spendergehäuses aus Fig. 1;
• Fig. 14 das Spendergehäuse entsprechend der Darstellung in Fig. 13 mit verschiedenen Stellungen eines Handgriffs zum Wiedereinsetzen einer verbrauchten und zur Entnahme einer noch unverbrauchten Rasierklingeneinheit;
• Fig. 15 eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 13, wobei das Spendergehäuse vollständig mit verbrauchten Rasierklingeneinheiten gefüllt ist;
• Fig. 16 eine Ansicht des Kopfes eines Handgriffs in einer zweiten Ausführungsform, wobei der Deckel des Kopfes zur Sichtbarmachung des Innern weggelassen ist;
• Fig. 17 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie XVII-XVII in Fig. 16;
• Fig. 18 eine Draufsicht auf eine Druckfeder, die innerhalb des Spendergehäuses zwischen den unverbrauchten und verbrauchten Rasierklingeneinheiten angeordnet ist;
• Fig. 19 eine Vorderansicht der Druckfeder in Fig. 18;
• Fig. 20 eine Seitenansicht der Druckfeder in Fig. 18.

Two exemplary embodiments of a dispenser system for razor blade units according to the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a plan view of a dispenser housing.
• FIG. 2 shows an end view of the dispenser housing from FIG. 1;
• 3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1 through the dispenser housing;
• 4 shows a view of the head of a handle, the cover of the head having been omitted to make the interior visible;
• FIG. 5 shows a side view of the handle head from FIG. 4; FIG.
• 6 is a rear view of a razor blade unit;
• FIG. 7 shows the razor blade unit from FIG. 6, but with the handle engaged to form a razor;
• Fig. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7;
• FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the dispenser housing from FIG. 1, but with razor blade units inside and with different positions of a handle for reinserting a used and for removing an after unused razor blade unit;
• Figure 10 is a front schematic representation of the head of the handle as it rests on the dispenser housing and is guided along.
• 11 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a dispenser housing;
• FIG. 12 is an end view of the dispenser housing from FIG. 11;
• FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the dispenser housing from FIG. 1;
• FIG. 14 shows the dispenser housing corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 13 with different positions of a handle for reinserting a used and for removing an as yet unused razor blade unit;
• Fig. 15 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 13, the dispenser housing completely with spent razor blade units is filled;
• 16 is a view of the head of a handle in a second embodiment, the cover of the head having been omitted to make the interior visible;
• Figure 17 is a section along the line XVII-XVII in Fig. 16 .;
• 18 is a plan view of a compression spring disposed within the dispenser housing between the unused and used razor blade units;
• Fig. 19 is a front view of the compression spring in Fig. 18;
• 20 shows a side view of the compression spring in FIG. 18.

1 to 10 show a first embodiment and in FIGS. 11 to 20 a second embodiment of a dispenser system.

A dispenser housing 1 made of a molded plastic part in accordance with the first embodiment of the dispenser system is designed as a flat cuboid. On the face side, the dispenser housing 1 has a feed opening 2 on one side (top in FIG. 1) and a removal opening 3 for razor blade units 4 on the opposite side (bottom in FIG. 1), which, however, is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are. The dispenser housing 1 is thus shown in the empty state.

While the underside 5 of the dispenser housing 1 is completely flat and self-contained, the top 6 has a guide device 7 for the head 8 of a handle 9 of a razor 10, which, however, is also only shown and described in later figures. The guide device 7 initially consists of two mutually parallel guide channels 11 which, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, have a C-shape and are at a certain distance from one another. These guide channels 11 extend almost over the entire length of the dispenser housing 1 and are angled at the end toward the top 6, as can also be seen in the sectional view according to FIG. 9, for example. A guide bar 12 is formed on the outside of the guide troughs 11 and is chamfered at the end. On the outside of this guide bar 12, a further guide bar 12 'is formed, which is slightly higher than the guide bar 12th

In the area of the feed opening 2, the top 6 of the dispenser housing 1 has a trapezoidal recess 13. The sloping edges serve as guides 14. These end in the region of the guide grooves 11, the upper side 6 of the dispenser housing 1 here having a passage slot 15.

A corresponding recess 13 'is provided in the region of the removal opening 3. There, too, the top 6 of the dispenser housing 1 has a passage slot 15 '.

In the interior of the dispenser housing 1, this has, in the area of the openings 2, 3, cams 16 which are intended to hold the razor blade units 4 within the dispenser housing 1. This can be seen in particular in FIG. 9.

4 and 5, the head 8 of the handle 9 for the shaver 10 is shown in particular. In this head 8 are in Bear 17 two arms 18 pivoted inwards. 4 shows both the basic position and the inner pivoting position of the arms 18. Between the arms 18, a U-shaped spring 19 is arranged, which presses the arms 18 outwards to bear against the head 8 of the handle 9. The free ends of the arms 18 each have an outwardly directed peg-shaped claw 20.

Furthermore, a fork 21 can be seen in FIG. 4, which is mounted in the head 8 so as to be longitudinally displaceable, a spring 22 pressing the fork 21 into the forward basic position. The spring 22 is integrally formed with the U-shaped spring 19. The head is closed by a cover 23. This has been omitted in the illustration according to FIG. 4 in order to be able to recognize the parts arranged inside the head 8.

Fig. 6 shows a razor blade unit 4 of the usual type, i.e. two razor blades are embedded in a plastic body 24. Only the rear of the razor blade unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is interesting. It shows that two webs 26 are formed on the plastic body 24, each of which has a receiving bore 27 corresponding to the peg-shaped claws 20. Furthermore, a central web 28 is formed on the plastic body 24, which corresponds to the fork 21 of the handle 9 in such a way that the fork 21 receives the central web 28 in the assembly position.

This assembly position for forming a complete shaver 10 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In particular in Fig. 7 it can be seen that after the arms 18 of the handle 9 have been briefly pivoted inwards, their claws 20 are received by the receiving bores 27 in the razor blade unit 4 and form as an axis of rotation for a so-called oscillating head shaver. The fork 21 presses the Center bar 28 and thus the entire razor blade unit 4 away from the head 8 of the handle 9, so that the razor blade unit 4 assumes a central position into which it returns resiliently when deflected.

The description shows that the arms 18 with the claws 20 form a locking device 29 assigned to the head 8 of the handle 9 and the receiving bore 27 formed in the webs 26 form a locking device 30 corresponding to the razor blade unit 4.

The dispenser housing 1 filled with a total of five razor blade units 4 can be seen in FIG. 9. They are held by the cams 16. A compression spring 31 is arranged between the two lower razor blade units 4 and the three upper razor blade units 4, which presses the razor blade units 4 outwards against the contact with the cams 16. The two lower razor blade units 4 are still unused copies, while the three upper razor blade units 4 are used and reused.

The operation of the dispenser system of this first embodiment will be described below:

A used razor blade unit 4 is to be replaced by an as yet unused razor blade unit 4. For this purpose, the used razor blade unit 4 still connected to the handle 9 is inserted with the handle 9 into the feed opening 2 of the dispenser housing 1 (in FIG. 9 from above). The arms 18 come to bear on the conically narrowing guides 14 in the recess 13 in such a way that the arms 18 are pivoted inwards. This can also be seen, for example, in FIG. 10, but without the corresponding razor blade unit 4. At the narrowest point of the guides 14 with the smallest distance, the claws 20 of the arms 18 disengage from the receiving bores 17 in the razor blade unit and thus release them. The used razor blade unit 4 has thus reached its dispensing position after it has moved the underlying razor blade units 4 by one position each, so that the still unused razor blade unit 4 at the front assumes the removal position at the removal opening 3.

The handle 9 takes position A after unlocking in Fig. 9. Then the claws 20 of the arms 18 of the handle 9 are guided through the passage slot 15 upwards to the top 6 of the dispenser housing 1 into the guide channels 11 and are displaced along these guide channels 11 to the removal opening 3. This shift position is indicated by position B. Due to the distance between the guide channels 11, the arms 18 remain in the inwardly pivoted position. During the displacement movement, the guide strips 12, 12 'in cooperation with the head 8 of the handle 9 assume guiding properties.

As soon as the head 8 of the handle 9 has reached the removal opening 3, the claws of the arms 18 'enter the dispenser housing 1 through the passage slot 15'. In this position, the peg-like claws 20, which are still pivoted inward, are aligned with the receiving bores 27 of the razor blade unit. This is indicated by position C in FIG. 9. If the head is now moved further in the direction of the removal opening 3, the fork 21 takes the central web 28 and thus the razor blade unit 4 with it. Through the conically widening recess 13 ', the arms 18 can gradually move outwards under the force of the spring 19 and come in the receiving bores 27 of the razor blade unit 4 to lie. In this situation, the razor blade unit 4 is firmly connected to the head 8 of the handle 9, so that a corresponding razor 10 is formed. The razor blade unit 4 can then be completely pulled out of the dispenser housing 1.

In the second embodiment of the dispenser system, this also has a plastic dispenser housing 1. This is the basic shape also as a flat hollow cuboid and is composed of two dispenser housing halves 1 ', 1˝ along the longitudinal central axis, as can be seen in particular in Fig. 12. The end faces of the elongated hollow cuboid are each open and define the feed opening 2 and the removal opening 3 for the razor blade units 4. At the top, the dispenser housing 1 has a longitudinal opening 32 which extends from the feed opening 2 to the removal opening 3 . The opening 32 is defined by the upper edges 33 of the two dispenser housing halves 1 ', 1˝, these edges forming 33 rails, the purpose of which will be explained below. As can be seen in the plan view according to FIG. 11, starting from the feed opening 2, the two edges 33 initially run parallel for a short distance. The edges 33 then bend towards the longitudinal center plane and reduce the width of the opening 32. The edges 33 then run parallel again in order to bend outwards again in the region of the removal opening 3 and then run again parallel with the original width of the opening 32.

Furthermore, in particular in the side views according to FIGS. 13 to 15 it can be seen that in the central area the top 6 of the dispenser housing 1 is offset upwards together with the edges 33, specifically in the area of the opening 32 in which this has the smallest width.

In the region of the side walls 34 of the dispenser housing 1, these have integrally formed guide rails 35 which define the receiving channel for the razor blade units 4 along the dispenser housing 1 and by means of which the razor blade units 4 are guided at their two lateral ends. It can be seen that the receiving channel 36 is bent downwards starting from the feed opening 2 in order to return to the original height at the rear end in the region of the removal opening 3.

Finally, spring-like cams 16 are arranged within the dispenser housing 1 in the region of the two openings 2, 3, which can be passed through the razor blade units 4, but fix them in between such that they do not fall out.

On the top 6, the dispenser housing 1 also has longitudinal guide strips 12. Finally, the dispenser housing 1 is provided with transverse reinforcing ribs 37.

This dispenser housing 1 includes a head 8 of a razor, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The handle 9 is only indicated. In the head 8, two arms 18 are supported in bearings 17. These can be pivoted inward against the force of a spring 19 in the form of a helical spring, the basic position being shown with solid lines and the inwardly pivoted position with dashed lines. At the front end, the arms 18 each have a claw 20, the two claws 20 being directed outwards and corresponding to corresponding receiving bores 27 in the plastic body 24 of the razor blade unit 4 and defining a pivot axis. It is essential in this embodiment farm that the outer edges 38 of the two arms 18 each have a guide recess 39 which correspond to the edges 33 of the dispenser housing 1.

Furthermore, the head 8 also has a fork 21 which is pressed forward by means of a spring 22, which is also designed as a helical spring. The functional mechanism is the same as in the first embodiment of the head 8.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 14, a compression spring 31 is provided between the used and the unused razor blade units 4. This is shown enlarged in FIGS. 18 to 20. At the end, the compression spring 31 has spring areas in the form of fork springs, which are connected to one another by an intermediate web 40. In particular, in the side view according to FIG. 20 it can be seen that the side profile of the compression spring 31 corresponds to the cams 16 arranged inside the dispenser housing 1, in a manner as will be explained below.

The operation of the dispenser system of this second embodiment will be described below:

A used razor blade unit 4 is to be replaced by an as yet unused razor blade unit 4. For this purpose, the used razor blade unit 4 still connected to the handle 9 is inserted with the handle 9 into the feed opening 2 of the dispenser housing 1 (in FIG. 14 from below). The claws 20 of the arms 18 of the head 8 of the shaving apparatus engage in the corresponding receiving bores 27 in the plastic body 24 of the razor blade unit 4.

After pushing the razor blade unit 4 in the direction of the removal opening 3, the edges 33 of the dispenser housing 1 initially take up the guide recesses 39 in the arms 18 of the head 8. The arms 18 are still in their basic and thus in the engaged position with the razor blade unit 4.

After the razor blade unit 4 has been pushed further, the edges 33 bend inwards, so that the arms 18 gradually pivot inwards and thus come out of engagement with the receiving bores 27 of the razor blade unit 4. At the same time, the receiving channel 36 bends downwards due to the arrangement of the guide rails 35, in order finally to pass through the spring-like cams 16 in the region of the feed opening 2. The inserted razor blade unit 4 presses the compression spring 31 in the rearmost position and, together with the razor blade unit 4 in front of it, pushes it forward by one position. In this position, the claws 20 of the arms 18 are already out of engagement with the receiving bores 27 of the razor blade unit 4.

By angling the edges 33 upwards, the arms 18 with their claws 20 of the head 8 then slide forward over the razor blade unit 4 in front to the removal opening 3. The foremost razor blade unit 4 has already been lifted there by the feed through the guide rail 35 located there. Together with the kinking of the edges 33 downwards, the arms 18 of the head 8 engage in the razor blade unit, in order to then latch into the razor blade unit 4 after passing through the two cams 16 and the funnel-shaped extension, when the arms 18 return to their basic position due to the spring 19 move. Finally, the still unused razor blade unit 4 can be removed from the dispenser housing 1.

This process can be repeated until all unused razor blade units 4 have been removed from the dispenser housing 1. The cams 16 in the region of the feed opening 2 are designed such that pulling out of a used razor blade unit 4 to the rear is prevented by the rearmost razor blade unit 4 abutting these cams 16. When there is no unused razor blade unit 4 inside the dispenser housing 1, the compression spring 31 reaches the foremost position and thereby abuts the cams 16 in the region of the removal opening 3 in such a way that it cannot pass through them. The compression spring 31 has the function of a lock, which prevents the foremost of the used razor blade units 4 from reaching the removal position and being erroneously removed and viewed as an unused razor blade unit 4. This situation is shown in Fig. 15.

Claims (18)

1. In a dispenser system for razor blade units (4), several of which are successively arranged in a dispenser housing (1) in such a way that they rest parallel against one another, with said razor blade units being adapted to be removed from, and possibly reinserted in, said dispenser housing (1) via a separate handle (9) to form a razor (10), and with a head (8) of said handle (9), as well as said razor blade units (4), having latching mechanisms (29, 30) that cooperate with one another; said razor blade units (4) are disposed in said dispenser housing in such a way that they can be shifted in their entirety both perpendicular to their longitudinal dimensions as well as in a plane formed by them, with the moved-up razor blade unit (4) that at any given time is in a forwardmost position being located, for removal thereof by said handle (9) in a removal position that is common for all of said razor blade units (4),
characterised in that
a removal opening is disposed at an end of said dispenser housing (1), and that said dispenser housing (1) has, for said head (8) of said handle (9), a guide mechanism (7) that ends In the vicinity of said removal opening (3) whereby the latching mechanism (24) of said handle is guided along into a disengaged position, whereby said latching mechanism (24) reaches the removal position, said guide mechanism releases this latching mechanism so that the latter changes into the normally formed latching position, thereby latching with said razor blade unit (4) that is to be removed.

2. A dispenser system according to claim 1, characterised in that with the guide mechanism (7) is disposed on said upper side (6) of the dispenser housing (1) and parallel to the direction of shift of said razor blade units (4).

3. A dispenser system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a compression-type spring is disposed between the rearmost razor blade unit (4) and an end wall of said dispenser housing (1) disposed opposite said removal opening (3) thereof.

4. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the handle (9) is provided with a manually actuatable device for changing said latching mechanism (29) of said handle into a disengaged position for release of a razor blade unit.

5. A dispenser system according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that said dispenser housing has an end wall (1), opposite said removal opening (3), that has an inlet opening (2) for the reinsertion of used razor blade units (4), with said guide mechanism (7) beginning in the vicinity of said inlet opening (2); upon insertion of a used razor blade unit (4), and during guidance of said handle (9) along said guide mechanism (7) from said inlet opening (3) to said removal opening, said configuration of said guide mechanism (7) brings said latching mechanism (29) of said handle (9) into the disengaged position, thereby releasing the connection thereof to said reinserted razor blade unit (4).

6. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said latching mechanism (29) of said handle (9) comprises two arms (19), pivotable in opposite directions against the force of a spring (19), with each of said arms (18) having a front end that is provided with catch means (20) that is directed counter to the direction of pivot of its arm; in which said razor blade units (4) comprise receiving holes (27) on the upper side (6) of the dispenser housing (1) that cooperate with said catch means (20); and in which said guide mechanism (7), includes two spaced-apart, parallel C-shaped guide channels (11) for accommodating said catch means (20), with the distance between said guide channels (11) being such that the arms (18) are pivoted into the disengaged position, and with said guide channels (11), in the vicinity of said openings (23), being directed at an angle into the respective said engaged and disengaged positions respectively.

7. A dispenser system according to claim 6, characterised in that said arms (18) are pivotable inwardly toward one another, and said catch means (20) are directed outwardly away from one another.

8. A dispenser system according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that, in the vicinity of said opening(s) (2, 3), said dispenser housing is provided with guides (14) for said latching mechanism (29) of said handle (9), with said guides extending at an angle relative to the direction of shift of said razor blade units.

9. A dispenser system according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said dispenser housing is in the form of an essentially flat, hollow parallelepiped having oppositely disposed open end faces, one of which defines said removal opening for unused razor blade units, and the other of which defines an inlet opening for the reinsertion of used razor blade units; in which said upper side of said dispenser housing is provided with a through opening (32) from said inlet opening (2) to said removal opening (3), with said through opening having ends, in the vicinity of said inlet opening (2) and removal opening (3), that are widened in a trapezoidal shape, whereby said dispenser housing edges (33) that define said through opening (32) extending parallel to one another in a central region thereof to define rails; and that the latching mechanism (29) of said handle (9) comprises two arms, which are pivotable inwardly toward one another against the force of a spring, with each of said arms having a front end that is provided with catch means, directed outwardly away from one another; which cooperates with receiving holes (27); and in which said arms are each provided with an outer edge (38) having a recessed guide (39) that cooperates with the corresponding one of said rails of said dispenser housing (1).

10. A dispenser system according to claim 9, characterised in that in said central region of said through opening (32), relative to the insertion and removal planes of said razor blade units (4) into and out of said inlet opening (2) and removal opening (3) respectively, said upper side (6) of said dispenser housing (1), together with said first rails thereof, are offset upwardly, and/or a receiving channel (36) within said dispenser housing (1) for the razor blade units (4) is offset downwardly, in such a way that the catch means (20) of the arms (18) of the latching mechanism of the handle (9), after release of a reinserted used razor blade unit (4), are movable from this rear position to the forward removal position over the razor blade units (4) disposed between these positions.

11. A dispenser system according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that said dispenser housing (1) has side walls (34) that are provided with guide rails (35) for guiding said razor blade units within said dispenser housing.

12. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that said dispenser housing is comprised of two halves (1′, 1˝) and is divided along a central longitudinal axis.

13. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that said dispenser housing (1) is provided on the outside with transversely extending reinforcement ribs (37).

14. A dispenser system according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that springlike cams (16) being provided in said dispenser housing (1), in the vicinity of said inlet and removal openings (2, 3), for holding said razor blade units (4) within said dispenser housing (1), whereby, however, a razor blade unit (4) that is to be removed or reinserted can pass said cams after overcoming the holding force exerted thereby.

15. A dispenser system according to any one of 1 to 14 claims, characterised in that each of said razor blade units is provided with a central rib, and said end (8) of said handle (9) is provided with a projecting pronged member (21) that is spring-loaded in a direction toward said handle (8) of said handle (9) which cooperates with said central rib, and receives the same.

16. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that said guide mechanism (7) is provided with guide strips (12, 12′) that cooperate with said end (8) of said handle (9).

17. A dispenser system according to any one of claims 5 to 16, characterised in that a compression-type spring (31) is disposed in said dispenser housing (1) between the last unused razor blade unit and the first used razor blade unit.

18. A dispenser system according to claims 14 and 17, characterised in that said compression-type spring (31) has a configuration such that it is unable to pass said spring-like cams (16) in the vicinity of said removal opening (3).

Images