US2362504A - Magazine for safety razor blades - Google Patents

Description

9 1944. M. J. SHNlTZLER MAGAZINE FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Filed Nov. 19, 1942 Patented Nov. 14, 1944 MAGAZINE FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Meyer J. Shnitzler, Jamaica Plain, Mass assignor to Gillette Safety Razor Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of'Delaware Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 466,107

4 Claims.

and magazine combination wherein a visual indicator inthe razor co-operates with a visual indicator in the magazine to inform the user which end of the magazine and which end of the razor should be brought into operative relation.

The object of my invention will be more read fly appreciated from consideration of one specific illustration of its field of use. ,In the pending application of Nicholas Testi, Serial Number 461,702 filed October 12, 1942, is disclosed a double-ended magazine constructed and arranged to contain a stack of slotted open-end blades arranged with alternate blades opening in opposite directions. The magazine has a feeding device arranged to eject or deliver: blades alternately from the respective opposite ends of the magazine. In this particular instance each blade is delivered with itsv open end foremost because the construction of the razor requires it. The magazine shown in the application above'identified is designed particularly for use in connection with double-ended safety-razors arrangedto receive a slotted open-ended blade delivered at, either of its ends, but differing from the magazine in that used open-ended blades may only beejected from the razor only with their solid end foremost. In this safety razor and magazine combination, accordingly, both the magazine and razor must be reversed end-for-end between each operation of supplying a fresh blade. While it is possible by close examination of the magazine and razor to determine which end of each device is in condition for delivery and reception ofa blade, this cannot be ascertained quickly without close study. and considerable liability of error. Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to equip both the razor and the magazine with visual means, such as colored spots, and a movable mask for exposing the appropriate spots for indicating .at a glance which ends of the two de vices should be brought into proximity.

With this object in view an important feature of my invention consists in a double-endedv magazine provided with movable means, such as a mask, for obscuring the visual indicator first at one end and then at thelother end of the magazine. In using a magazine thus equippecL the user has only to note at which end appears the indicatingspot and. tobring that end of the magazine into operative relation to therazor. Preferably and .asherein shown the blade-feeding device of the magazine is constructed and arranged to. have theadditional function of masking, the indicating' fs'potsat the respective ends of the magazinedmaccordance with the position it occupies at the;end=-io,eachblade-ejecting stroke. I I v Another feature oi therinve'ntiori consistsin-a double-ended razor; ;p 1;ovided,.with..colored spots or other visual-indicators -at.its'.opposlte ends. arranged to be concealedtalternately by. the blade currently in use in the razor: Inthe specific embodiment herein illustrated-the. construction is such that the solid endof the blade overlies the visual indicator atone end of the razor leaving the visual indicator at the other end of the razor exposed to view. Accordingly, when. the visual indicators of the magazine and ofthe razor are brought into proximity the magazine is organized to deliver ablade from the end adjacent to the razor and the razor is organized to receive that fresh blade and to permit the used blade to be ejected from that end in which the visual indicator is concealed.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention above discussed has been selected for purposes of illustration and is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 11s a view in'perspective of-the razor and blade magazine assembled in operativerelation;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing the parts'oi therazor and blade;

Fig. 3 is a view'in longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 1; a;- I

Fig. 4 is a plan view or the blade-supporting or guard member of the razor showing a blade positioned thereon; V

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the empty magazine; and i i Fig. 6 is a view in cross-section on the line VI of Fig. 1.

The safety razor herein illustrated includes in .its structure a tubular handle I!) to the upper end of which is rigidly secured a blade-supportingmember or guard H which is generally rectangular in outline and provided with a shouldered convex blade-supporting face. Longitudinal slots are formed in the guard to provide marginal guard bars-l2 which together with the razor cap determine the edge exposure of the shaving edge of the blade.

The blade-supporting face of the guard is provided centrally with a longitudinal blade-locating rib l3 to the upper face of which is permanently secured by rivets or otherwise an elongated bladeretaining plate It. The rib i3 extends above the face of the guard H and is spaced therefrom by a distance somewhat more than the thickness of the thickest blade which is to be used in the razor. Its upper face and the blade-retaining plate M are both curved transversely approximately concentrically with the convex face of the guard so that any flexible blade inserted between the guard and the retaining plate I4 is itself transversely flexed.

The guard, rib and retaining plate are drilled to provide a circular aperture l5 through which extends a spindle carrying at its upper end a I blade-clamping cap IS. The inner or bladeclamping face of the cap I6 is concaved transversely on a curve corresponding substantially to the transverse curvature of the guard II. It is provided with an elongated recess 24 in which the retaining plate It may be received with clearance when the cap is drawn down to its blade-clamping position. The cap i8 is also provided with a pair of spaced downwardly projecting pins |8 for which holes l9 are provided in the guard and through the blade-retaining plate II. It will be understood that the pins l8 move freely in the holes l9 and thus maintain the cap and guard accurately in aligned relation. The retaining plate It is provided with concave end edges. All four of its corners are deflected upwardly or flared to a slight extent in order to facilitate the introduction of the blade ends beneath them.

As shown in Fig. 3 the lower end of the barrel of the handle I0 is closed by a hollow cylindrical nut 22 which is freely rotatable therein and internally threaded for engagement with the lower end of the spindle 11. The nut is held in place by a circular internal rib in the barrel i0 which fits into an annular groove in the shank of the nut. Thus by turning the nut 22 the spindle i1 and the cap l6 may be raised to disengage the blade or lowered to clamp it in shaving position upon the guard. The lower end of the spindle I1 is axially drilled and threaded to receive the threaded shank of a shouldered retaining screw 23, the head of which is of such dimensions as to pass freely into the end of the hollow nut 22 when the parts of the razor are assembled. The screw 23, of course, limits the movement of the nut 22 with respect to the spindle l1 and these two parts may be completely disengaged by first removing the screw 2! in case it should be desired to take apart the razor for cleaning or for re pairs. The upper end of the spindle I! is flattened on opposite sides beneath the cap ii to afford clearance for the sides of the slot 2! of the blade.

The razor herein shown is designed for use with a slotted open-end blade of the general character shown in Fig. 2, although not limited in this respect. That blade is generally rectangular in outline, sharpened in its opposite longitudinal edges, provided with corner notches definin elongated unsharpened portions at each end of the blade and provided with a longitudinal slot 2| opening through one end of the blade, that is to say, the blade has one solid end and one open end. The slot 2| is provided with a circular enlargement corresponding to the perforation l5 and forming a passage for the spindle I]. It is also provided with a square-sided enlargement 25 located between its central perforation and the open-end of the slot. The blade is of thin flexible steel of an order of .004"-.006" in thickness.

It will be understood that the blade 20 shown in Fig. 2 may be presented to the guard II by hand by slipping the open end of its slot 2| upon the rib l3 and pushing the blade inwardly beneath the blade-retaining plate It until its further movement is arrested by contacting the closed or solid end of the blade with the adjacent end of the rib l3. In this movement of presentation the blad is transversely flexed to a noticeable degree by the cooperation of the convex guard surface and concave under surface of the retaining plate H. The spacing of the retaining plate is such as to accommodate beneath it any blade of appropriate thickness for the razor and by flexing the blade to develop a retaining friction which is sufiicient to prevent its accidental displacement at all times, as in preparing the razor for shaving or in flushing it after the shaving operation. Similarly the used blade may be withdrawn by grasping the solid end of the blade where this is facilitated by the concave end edge of the retaining plate M.

It is contemplated, however, that the razor herein shown may be more conveniently used when fresh sharp blades are supplied to it by a magazine which will now be described. Referring first to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the magazine comprises an elongated base plate 3|! of rectangular outline provided centrally and symmetrically with a rectangular well 3| From the bottom of this well projects an elongated blade-locating'rib 33 and blade stops 3'4 and 35 which are arranged in alignment with the central rib 33. spaced equally from its ends and provided with triangular enlargements which are designed to fit the square-sided enlargements 25 in the slots of the blades.- The rib and stops 3'1 and 35 project substantially above the walls of the well 3| and are designed to locate and retain a stack of blades 20 located thereon in longitudinally staggered relation and with alternate blades reversed in the direction of their slot openings. The location of the blade in the stack is best shown in Fig. 3 in which it will be seen that the uppermost blade is located with its solid end be tween the stop 34 and the left end of the rib 33 with its slot opening toward the right, whereas, the second blade in the stack is located with its solid end between the stop 35 and the right end of the rib 33, and so on.

The blades are somewhat shorter than the overall length of the well 3| so that when the stack is located as above explained there is an opportunit for a forked lifting spring to be forcibly inserted beneath the assembled stack. The lifting spring 26 is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as being longitudinally curved and slotted so that it may be pushed into the well 3| from either end. clearing the blade-locating rib and stops and being finally retained in position by the end walls of the well. It will be understood that the blade stack may thus be assembled'on the base plate conveniently and without any tendency toward being displaced and then the spring 26 may be slipped into place after the loaded base plate is inserted in the magazine casing. The base plate is reduced in thickness at each end to provide transverse shoulders 28 and 29. The base plate is provided with a tapped hole in its lower sur face for a screw 32 holding the magazine casing in place in the assembled magazine.

AC KAG ES.

The casing or shell 36 of the magazine comprises a metal tube of rectangular cross-section, .as best shown in Fig. 6, and of such dimensions as to receive the base plate with a stack of blades 26 thereon and with the lifting spring 26 compressedto substantially horizontal position. The upper wall of the magazine casing is formed by a pair of inturned spaced flanges 3'! and 38 which overlie the side portions of the blades but leave exposed the central area of the blade which is uppermost in the. stack. The outer corners of the flanges 31 and 38 are flared and are bent downwardly to form blade-engaging projections as shown in Fig. 5, that is to say, projections which engage the used blade upon the uard ll of the razor and displace it initially when the magazine is telescoped into operative relation with the razor head as will be presently explained. After the casing has been assembled upon the base plate inturned flanges are formed in its side walls which furnish guides of the guard I I when the magazine and razor are brought together.

The magazine casing is provided with a sliding feed member 46 which embraces the sides of the casing 36 and is permanently connected to or formed integral with an internal flange portion 4|, the outer edges of which run beneath the flanges 31 and 38 of the magazine casing 36. The flanged portion 4! of the feed member directly engages the solid end of the blade 26 which is to be delivered from the magazine. Stops 42 are provided in the flanges 31 and 38 near opposite ends thereof to limit the travel of the feed member 40 so that at each extremit of its stroke it clears the solid end of the uppermost blade in the stack, permitting that blade to be elevated into its range of movement. The rib 33 and the stops 34 and 35 are of such height as to permit a single blade to pass above them and beneath the flanges 31 and 38 of the magazine.

The magazine has ablade outlet opening in each end and is provided adjacent to each end with visual indicators, herein shown as colored spots 43 and 44 placed on or in the surface of the flanges 31 and 38. In Figs. 1 and 5 the spots 44 are represented in dotted lines as being concealed by the masking portion of the feeding device while the spots 43 at the left end of the magazine are fully exposed to view.

Similarly the razor is provided adjacent to each end with visual indicators, herein shown as colored spots and 46. In Fig. 4 the spot 46 is represented in dotted lines as being conv cealed by the solid end of the blade 20 while the spot at the right end of the razor is fully exposed to view at the open end of the blade.

In using the magazine above described it will be assumed, in order toillustrate its operation, that it is desired to eject and replace the blade shown in Fig. 1 as retained upon the guard beneath the cap I 6. Accordingly. the cap I 6 is first released by turning the nut 22 and the razor head and magazine are then brought together endwise, as suggested in Figs. 1 and 3, that is to say, the right-hand end of the guard is telescoped into the left-hand end of the ma azine. The proper receiving end of the razor is indicated by the exposed spot 45 and the proper delivery end of the magazine is indicated by the exposed spots 43. In this preliminary movement of engagement of the guard and magazine the downwardly deflected corners of the flanges 31 and 38 engage the shoulders of the blade at its open end and displace the blade toward the left for bKUbb litltiiiiitbl:

a substantial distance. In Fig. 1 the blade 26 is represented as having been displaced by the forward and inner corners of the flanges and in this displaced position the end edges of the blade are sandwiched between the retaining plateand the blade-engaging face of the guard H. In this preliminary movement the internal flanges 39 of the magazine override and guide the marginal guard bars l2. Relative longitudinal movement is arrested by contact of the end of the guard with the shoulder 28 or 29 of the base plate 36.

The feeding device 40 is now at the right-hand end of the magazine, in a position beyond the solid end of the uppermost blade 26 of the stack and Where it slightly depresses the second blade in the stack and masks the spots 44. The feeder is now moved toward the left advancing the uppermost blade in the stack, which is lifted by the spring 26 above the rib 33 and the stop 34, with its open end foremost out of the delivery opening at the left end of the magazine and into the opening between the right-hand end of the retaining plate l4 and the guard ll beneath it. The entrance of the blade'is facilitated as already noted by the flaring corners of the retaining plate and it has-free passage beneath this plate without .any obstruction until it encounters the right-hand end of the blade 20 which has already been somewhat displaced as above explained and as illustrated in Fig. 1. The contact between the twov blades is made where the contacting ends of both blades are securely guided by the retaining plate and the guard and consequently the abutting blades have .no oppor-' tunity for relative vertical displacement which might result in one blade riding over the other and jamming. Movement of the feed slide 46 is continued until arrested by the stops 42 at the left-hand end of the magazine as suggested in Fig. 3. When this occurs the used blade has been fully ejected from the razor head and the new blade located in its place. The same movement of the feeder covers the spots 43 in the magazine and uncovers the spots 44. At the same time the spot.45 in the razor has been covered by the solid end of the newly presented blade while the spot 46 is now fully exposed at the open end of the new blade. In Fig, 3 the feeder is represented as having completed its delivery stroke toward the left and the magazine itself as having been separated from the razor head by the distance between the end of the guard H and the shoulder 28 in the base plate 30.

When the blade presented as above outlined is to be ejected and the magazine used again, both the razor and magazine must be reversed end-for-end. The reversal is necessary because the second blade in this stack, which hasnow become the uppermost blade in the stack, has its open end directed away from the razor head as" shown in Fig. 3 and because the feed slide has now been moved to the left end of the magazine and positioned for delivery by movement toward the ri ht end of the magazine. Reversal of the razor is necessary because the blade therein can be ejected only with its solid end foremost.

It will be understood. of course, that the spring 26 pushes the stack of blades upwardly at all times and hold whichever blade is uppermost in contact with the flanges 31 and 38 where it may be moved above the rib 33 and the stops, all of wh ch are slightly bevelled at their corners to facilitate this movement. The function of th triangular enlargement of the stops is to re- Search Boon 4- aaeasog tain positively the second blade in the stack from longitudinal movement while the uppermost blade is being discharged. Otherwise, the triotional engagement of the uppermost blade would tend to displace the second blade.

The user of the razor and the magazine may easily determine at any time which end of the magazine should be brought into engagement with the razor and to which end of the razor the new blade should be presented by noting at which end of the magazine or razor are located the exposed colored spots 43, 44, 45, and 46. In each operation of the feeder the proper spots or indicators are uncovered in the magazine and with the delivery of each blade to the razor the proper spot upon the guard is exposed at the open end of the particular blade positioned there- 111.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a magazine having a blade-outlet and a visual indicator at each end, with a double-ended safety razor having a visual indicator at each end, the magazine having a movable feed slide with one portion shaped to engage and advance blades alternately out through the respective blade-outlets of the magazine and another portion shaped to mask the visual indicator at the end from which a blade has been delivered, and the razor having means for locating each blade as delivered in position to obscure the visual indicator at that end of the razor.

2. The combination of a magazine having a blade-outlet and a visual indicator at each end, with a double-ended safety razor having a visual indicator at each end. the magazine having means for positioning a stack of open-ended blades alternately arranged therein and a feed slide movable in opposite directions to deliver blades with their open end in advance alternately from the opposite ends of the magazine and having a masking portion shaped to cover the visual indicator at that end of the magazine from which the slide has last delivered a blade, and the razor having means for locating each blade in position to obscure the visual indicator at that end of the razor.

3. A double-ended magazine containing a stack of unsymmetrical blades arranged alternately in similar but opposite positions, a movable device for feeding the blades selectively out from the respective opposite ends of the magazine, and visual indicating means at both ends of the magazine arranged to be alternately obscured by the said blade feeding means.

4. A double-ended magazine having an internal rib, a stack of open-ended blades arranged alternately with their solid ends at the respective opposite ends of said rib, a distinctive indicating spot adjacent each end or the magazine,

and a blade-feeding device movable longitudinally in the magazine and having a blade-engaging portion for advancing successive blades in opposite directions and a masking portion constructed and arranged to cover the indicating spot at the end of the magazine fromwhich the device has last ejected a blade.

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