US2674368A - Blade magazine - Google Patents

Description

V. R. BAILEY BLADE MAGAZINE April 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1948 v. R. BAILEY BLADE MAGAZINE April 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1948 INVENTOR.

V. R. BAILEY BLADE MAGAZINE April 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1948 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

Vincent .R. Bailey, to The Gillette" Delaware Chestnut Hill, Mass., assignor Company, .a corporation of Application June 4, 1948,.Serial No. 31,111

22 Claims. 1

This invention relate to a razor blade mags..- zine which is designedto receive a stackof unwrapped. .doubleeedged razorv blade and to provide'for a novel transfer'movement by means'of which successive blades maybe selectively removed from the. stack and carried forward in a uni-directional manner into a guided dispensing position such.:as.for example a position chosen with reference to: the blade holding portion of a razor for which the blades are intended.

It isin generalian object of the invention to improve methodsofl handling and dispensing unwrapped double-edged razor blades. Another objectistodevise a safe. and efficient'meansof transferring individual blades from a stacked position into a guided dispensing position which is especially adapted....to facilitate register or actual engagement of each blade with the blade holding portion of a razor-for which the blades are intended. It is a further object of the invention to. providera means for carrying out simplified,.rapid and positive transfer-of a blade from a dispensing magazine to a razorin one continuous interrelated operation.

More specifically the invention is: concerned with the problem of selectively dispensing. an appreciable number-of .thin double+edged razor blades,utilizing a compact magazine from. which the blades are to be extracted at oneend only, and having in mind further the requirement that there may be. desired in some instances a transfer of a blade from the magazine directly into a razor blade holding memberor into a mechanism for. locating .ablade above :a razor blade holding member.

The blademagazine of this invention furnishes a desirable answer to the problem noted bygcombining witha suitable :casing a "stack of. blades arranged one upon another inalternately and oppositely overlapped relation and further supported in a flexed position in which the entire stack of blades is caused .to assume-a bowed shape. An important feature of the invention is a blade holding magazine. in which an appreciable number ofrazor blades are arranged in staggered overlapping relation and detachably held is a bowed state by means of suitable presser and fulcrum elements. Under thestress thus exerted and maintained, each blade in thestack is resiliently urged against an immediately .overlying blade and the ends of the blades seek to fan out into separated relation. In the case of the uppermost blade, there occurs a freeend which i fiexed upwardly. away. from the. remaining blades. in the stack to a very appreciabl -extent,

thus providing a unique separability characteristic which aids. greatly in blade transferring op.- erations and which is present in successive blades as they reach an uppermost position in the stack.

Combined with the flexed blade assembly thus provided is a novel slide mechanism formed at its under side with a blade advancing element and arranged for reciprocating movement in the casing in a position such that the free end of the uppermost blade may extendinto the path of movement of the-slide and thus may be readily engaged by it. The engaged blade is transferred by theslide from a stacked position into a-guided position in which thebla'de is alined and loosely supported in parallel relation to the top of the case.

Another feature of the invention isthe provision of a cam and blade retracting element disposed at the under side of the slide in such relative position that the blade advancing element of the slide is positively maintained out of contact with the next underlyingblade until the uppermost blade has been ejected. At this point the underlying blade is allowed to spring upwardly into the path 'ofthe retracting element just before the slide completes its forward stroke with the result that the underlying blade is drawn forwardly. into position to start, a new blade dispensing cycle.

Still another desirable feature of theinvention is the provision of a guide post secured in the casing in a position to extend through median blade slots which are in register with one another in the overlapping blade arrangement noted above. The guide post thus functions to locate and detachably secure the blades in proper relation to the presser mechanism so that only one blade may be withdrawn'from the stack and passed up over the post during any one cycle of movement of the slide.

These and other objects and novel featureswill be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in' the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a blade magazine in a fully loaded position with the blade slide element being shown separated from the magazine casing;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section showing one position of a single front blade supported in the magazine;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position assumed by a second rear blade inserted in the magazine in overlapping relation with respect to the front blade indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a plan view of the magazine and blade assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 further illustrating the relative position assumed by another front blade installed in the magazine in overlapping relation with respect to the blades shown in Figs. 3 and i;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the casing and blade assembly illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the blade magazine with a blade ejecting slide member attached thereto and located in a starting position;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the slide member illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross section Iii-40 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan View partly in cross section illustrating blade presser mechanism at one end of the casing;

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational View of the magazine with no blades within and the feed slide omitted.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the magazine with blades removed and the feed slide omitted;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the slide moved into a position of engagement with the uppermost blade in the stack;

Fig. 15 is another cross-sectional view illustrating a further position assumed by the uppermost blade as its forward end out of engagement with the presser mechanism;

Fig. 15 is another cross-sectional view illustrating still a further position of a blade as it is being ejected;

Fig. 1'7 is another cross-sectional view illustrating a final alined position of the blade just prior to removal from the magazine;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the blade and magazine assembly shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one position of the slide during its return movement;

Fig. 20 is a plan view and partial cross section of the blade and magazine assembly shown in Fig. 19; and

taken on the line Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the magazine case with one side being broken away to reveal the presser mechanism for supporting blades in a bowed position.

The form of blade magazine shown in the drawings is designed primarily for use in merchandising an appreciable number of blades in a unit package and although not limited to any specific number, is especially suited to containing and dispensing a stack of at least ten blades of the double-edged type noted above. In general, it is intended that the magazine may be utilized as a dispensing unit by means of which a blade may be selectively detached from a stack of blades and moved out of the magazine into a position where the blade may be grasped by the fingers or directly hooked over the blade holding projections of a razor blade holder. It is further intended, however, that the magazine may be employed as a translating member to provide for a guided dispensing or blade ejecting action, in which the finally ejected blade is located in a partly suspended and alined position at the end of the magazine. From this position there may be carried out when desired a transfer of the moves forwardly blade from the magazine into various types of blade locating devices or directly on to a razor blade holding portion.

The principal parts of the blad dispensing magazine of the invention include a case, a presser mechanism for supporting blades in a bowed position in the case, and a slide member equipped with blade advancing and blade retracting elements and arranged to remove blades from the stack and eject them from an end opening in the casing. An essential provision in the general organization of these parts is means for protecting the blades and maintaining the double cutting edges of these elements in a shielded position at all times during their storage and movement out of the magazine when a dispensing cycle is carried out. This protection is achieved by employing a casing whose width is substantially greater than the width of any one of the blades so that the cutting edges at all times may lie in spaced relation to the two opposite inner surfaces of the casing. Further protection is furnished by the presser mechanism which alines the blades and maintains them under positive engagement from two opposite sides so that lateral displacement is avoided at all times up until a blade leaves the magazine.

Thus in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, numeral 2 denotes a magazine case of appreciably greater width than the width of the blades it is to contain, and which may be made of materials such as metals, plastics and the like. The cas is adapted to receive a stack of blades of the double-edged type in longitudinally staggered overlapping relation as suggested in Fig. 1 and as indicated therein the case is formed with an open front end to provide a blade delivery aperture 4.

At its upper side the case is constructed with transverse edges or flanges 6 and 8 which are spaced apart to provide a slideway in which a feed slide ill, shown removed from the case at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, may be moved back and forth. The uppermost blade 14 in the stack shown in Fig. 1 has a free end bearing against the under sides of the transverse edges as indicated. Stop members I2 and i l extend upwardly from the surface of the transverse edges in a position to limit forward movement of the feed slide.

As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. l, the slide extends across the top of the case and is provided with U-shaped retaining flanges which are adapted to slidably engage around the top, sides and bottom of the case and allow the slide to be moved forwardly and rearwardly as desired.

Secured to the under side of the slide is a cam 26 extending beyond either side of the slide and presenting at its lower side beveled surfaces 22 which meet and form a V edge at the lowermost part of the cam as is more clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The cam is further furnished with parallel side edges spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the slideway defined by the transverse edges 6 and 8 of the magazine with the result that the cam thus functions as a centering element which slides between the transverse edges and insures movement of the slide along a substantially straight line.

Extending forwardly and upwardly from the center of the cam surface 22 is a blade advancing element 24 whose extremity 25 lies in a plane slightly below an under edge 26 of cam 20 to thus define a blade entranceway. A transverse a ouses recessed edge 28-on the-cam surface alsoprovides support for the rearmost edge of a blade inserted 'inthe entranceway described:

At the opposite'sideofthe cam islocated a blade retracting element 30 havin a shank portion which extends rearwardly and upwardly from the V edge of the cam surface 22.- At the end of the retracting element is formeda hook 32 which terminates at a level just above the-Vedge-in the cam'surface 22; Thisarrangement enables the cam to move into contactwith a resiliently supported underlying blade and-to depress the blade to a point below the hook 32-. However, when the reduced end of the immediately underlying blade is moved in a horizontal direction out of contact with the V'edge of the cam surface 22, this reduced end can move upwardly and come to bear against'the relatively higher shank portion of the retracting element 3fl,-in which posi-' tion the hook 32' extends down into the median slot of the blade and engages against the solid end thereof.

The retracting element 31! is also centrally located with respect to the V edge of cam surface ZZ'and it is pointed out that the hooked extremity 32 as well as the extremity 25 of blade advancing element 24 is arranged to register with a median slot 3 1 of the uppermost blade Hi, as indicated in Fig. 1. It should also be observed that while the slide I0 is located-above the transverse edges 8 and 8, the tip 25 of the blade advancing element 24'lies slightly below the transverse edges so that the free end of the uppermost blade 14 held against these edges as shown in Fig. 1, may pass freely into the entranceway formed by the tip 25 and the cam 20.

The stack-of blades shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings' comprises a novelblade arrangement in which forwardly and rearwardly disposed blades are superimposed one upon another in alternately and oppositely overlapped relation to provide a series of projecting blade ends at either side of the stack. Those blades whose-projecting ends lie nearest to the blade ejecting aperture of the magazine are conveniently referred to as front blades while theremaining blades are referred to as rearblades.

The stack ofoverlappin blades is further secured in the casing by. a presser mechanism which resiliently supports the stack along its intermediate portions and which engages against the projecting blade ends forcing them into a bent over or flexed position, from which they seek to fan out and spring upwardly. The blades are prevented fromflexing upwardly beyond a limited distance by the two transverse edges 6 and 8 of the case.

The various positions assumed by the front and rear blades as they become stacked upon one another in the manner described have been illustrated in Figs. 2-6. These figures, together with Fig. 21, also illustrate in greater detail the presser mechanism which serves to-maintain the blades in a flexed position. Attention is directed to the latter figure in which numeral denotes a curved fulcrum spring member loosely mounted in the bottom of the case and slotted throughout a large part of its length to form two rearwardly extending spring sections. Fixed in the bottom of the casing between the two spring sections is a guide post 42 having an upper inclined top surface l4.

Ata point near the forward end of the case 2 is centrally disposed a front stationary presser or hold-down-comprising a stud 46 around which the curved spring 40 'islocated as shown: The

front presser' stud is'formed at it's'outerend with an overhanging or hooked b1adeengagin -portion 48 and along its upper-side presents a guide edge 5D whi'ch is of a thickness slightly less-than the width of a median slot of anyone of the blades such as for example'the slot shown in blade 74' in Fig.- 1.

At the opposite side'of the guide'post 42 are two stationary rear presser elements or hold-downs comprising studs52 and 54' lyingin spaced parallel relation to one another in close proximity to-the extremities of the spring sections above noted. These studs 52 and =54 also are'formed with =vertical recessed edges 53 and 56 aswell as inclined overhanging edges 58 and-60 which'extend upwardlytoward the post a distance slightly greater than the height of the post surface 44 measured at the lower edge of its inclined surface 44. Thisrelative arrangement provides--for a blade end bent upwardly against the edges-58 and 60 being drawn forwardly and over the post surface 44 thus disengaging the blade from thelatter member. Nevertheless-all underlying blade ends will occur ata level slightly below'thesurface 44' andthus will be held in a fixed position by the post; The upper surfacesof the presser elements 52 and engage against and *support the transverse edges-6 and'8: At either side of the front presser element 46 are located two blade holding elements Stand 64' (Fig. 13) sue-- pended-from the transverse edges 6 and 8 and formed with curvedunder surfaces which project downwardly below the guideedge 5Uof thepresser element 46.'

The elements.described are made useof to secure blades in -various*positions; one of which is illustrated by blade Hi shown in Fig; 2 of the drawings. It will be seen that this blade is pref= erably a front blade and has its slotted forward end-hooked over the presser element 46 and engaged against the recessed surface 48 with the upper guide edge '59 of the presser element projecting upwardly through the median slot of the blade. The curved spring 48 supports the blade at its under side and resiliently'urges its'inner free'end upwardly against theun'dersides of the transverse edges 6 and 8. When the front end of blade lll'is engaged againstthe recessed front edge 48, the diamond shaped portion of the blade slot lies above and in register with'the top of guide post 42.

The single blade 10 is illustrative of the position assumed by any front-blade which becomes uppermost in a stack of blades. However other blades may be disposedaboveblade 10' in'which case its position is further'c'hanged as indicated in Fig. 3. An immediately overlying blade '12 shownin-Fi'g. 3 will in accordance with the alternately and oppositely overlapped sequence of the invention consist of a'so-called rear blade and will take a rearwardly disposed position with itsinner reduced end 12c extending between the presser elements 52 and 54- and-with the relatively wider shouldered portions of-the' blade engaged against the recessededges 53 and 56 and being pressed down by the inclined edges 58 and 60; Intermediate portions of blade" rest against blad 10 whose free end-has now become de pressed down over the guide post'to a slight extent, while the circular shaped portion of the blade slot inblade-IZ lies in register with'this part. The combined action of thefulcrum spring and blade Hi therefore tends to 'urge'the blade 12' into an uppermostposition in whichits free end restsagainst the' under sideof-the transverse edgesG and 8 as beforealthough at different points.

In a similar manner, a third blade 14 will be a front blade and will take a position such as that illustrated in Figs. and 6 with the forward end of the blade again becoming engaged against the front presser element 46 and intermediate portions of the blade resting upon the free end of blade 12 and with the latter being bent over and engaged around the guide post as indicated 5 in Fig. 5.

For purposes of convenience, the blade translating cycl by which alternate blades are disengaged from the stack and transferred to a guided dispensing position will be described with only the three above noted blades in the stack, it being understood that a larger number of blades such as ten or more may be stored in the magazine with spring 40 becoming flattened out to furnish more space as required.

As indicated in Fig. '7 the slide Ill is normally located in a starting position at the right-hand side of the case 2, as viewed in that figure. In operation the slide member is gripped between the thumb and forefinger with the blade ejecting end of the magazine either supported by the other hand or engaged against a razor blade holder body. The slide is then moved to the left along the case and the tip of blade advancing element 24 passes under the reduced solid end of blade 14 which enters the blade opening between the element 24 and the beveled cam surface 22 beneath it.

After a very short interval the reduced end of the blade is engaged by the beveled cam surface 22 and starts to bend downwardly against the element 24 to a slight extent thus allowing the tip 25 to project upwardly through the median blade slot 34. The rear edge of the reduced blade end immediately comes to bear against the recessed cam edge 28 which together with the element 24 aids in holding the blade in a squarely alined position. It should also be observed that in thus starting a blade translating cycle with a front blade in an uppermost position, the free end of the blade is spaced a substantial distance away from the next underlying blade and thus offers convenient means to the blade advancing element 24 for effecting a separation.

With the blade 14 seated against the cam edge 28, further movement of the slide H) to the left causes the front end of the blade to pass out from under the presser element 46 (Fig. 15), and this front end in response to the action of spring 40 immediately springs upwardly a short distance into contact with the blade holding elements 52 and 64. As this occurs the guide edge 50 of the presser element 46 is passed partway through the median slot of blade i4 and thus maintains the front end of the blade in a properly centered position between the sides of the casing.

In this guided position the blade continues to move forwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 16. Also during the latter part of the blade travel the rear portion of the blade becomes gradually arched or bowed in a direction transversely of itself in response to the action of the blade holding elements 62 and 64. These elements bear lightly along the opposite outer end portions of the blade while the central body portion of the blade, included in its reduced end, is supported on the blade advancing element 24 at a level appreciably above the under surface of the blade holding elements 62 and 64. The guide edge 50 also supports element 24 from 8 below so that fulcruming action is produced. However the reduced end of the blade is held against the cam and it will be apparent therefore that as the cam approaches a position abreast of the holding elements 62 and 64, the cam surface 22 will seek to flatten out the crowned portion of the blade and in so doing will snap the blade up into a straight line position such as is illustrated in Fig. 17. In this position the blade lies in a plane which is parallel to the upper side of the case and passes below it.

At a point just before the slide comes into an extreme forward position against the stops l2, the reduced end of blade [4 passes out from under the holding elements 62 and 64 with the result that the blade is presented in an alined raised position and yet is only loosely held in the slide in readiness to be dropped out or fitted on over a razor blade holder. As soon as the trailing end of the blade 14 passes beyond the end of the blade 12, the latter snaps upwardly against the cam surface 22 of the feed slide and is thus separated from the next underlying blade.

During transfer of the blade 14 in the manner described provision is made for simultaneously displacing or drawing the next underlyin blade 52 into a position such that it will have a free end bent upwardly against the transverse edges 8 and 8 in spaced relation to the underlying blades. This is accomplished by means of the blade retracting element 38. In the several positions of the slide iii shown in Figs. 14-16 inelusive, the hool: portion 32 of the element 30 is inactive moves along first above blade 12 and then in the median slot of the blade. When the slide reaches a position near the end of its forward travel, however, the V edge of the cam surface 22 passes over the reduced end of blade '62 and this end slides up on the shank of element 3i? where the hook. 32 engages against the reduced end 86. This allows the slide to draw blade l2 forwardly toward the left a short distance sufficient to disengage the opposite end of this blade 12 from under the inclined edges 58 and The blade l2 also slides up over the beveled surface 44 at the top of post 42. The released end of blade i2 instantly springs up into contact with the transverse edges 6 and 8 as has been indicated in Fig. 17.

Thereafter the slide i0 is started back toward the right and cam surface 22 depresses blade 12 with the hook 32 passing freely above the slot edges of blade 72 as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Once the slide passes beyond the blade 12 it is ready to make a reverse movement and repeat the cycle already described. In making the second forward movement substantially the same operations occur as already described with the exception however that the blade advancing element 24 in its projected position with respect to the slot in blade '62 also functions to initiate separation of blade l2 from the next underlying blade 79 whose free end is resting against the under side of blade ?2. Further separation is carried out by the cam 2t as it comes into contact with blade Ell. During the latter part of the travel of blade there will be no retraction of blade 10 since this blade is a front blade and already has its free end in a desired starting position. It will also be seen that blade 72 has its forwardly disposed end engaged under the presser element 46 so that this forwardly disposed end is constantly maintained in spaced relation to the top blade l2 and therefore the retracting element 30 cannot engage with any part of blade 10.

In positioning the blades in the staggered overlapping relation described, it may be desired to furnish the blade magazine to the consumer with the uppermost blade being a rear blade. Such a provision imparts a Safety feature to; the package by which danger ofv cuttingfrom an accidental first forward movement of the slide is avoided. In this case the slide has to be moved forwardly to position the rear blade in a ready position and thereafter the above described blade cycle can be carried out. Installation of the blades in the magazine may be performed by consecutively stacking the blades upon one another directly in the case, or by separately stacking a group of blades on a base which is removable from the magazine and which includes the presser mechanism above described, or in various other ways.

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

1.,A blade magazine comprising a case presenting spaced-apart transverse edges, a guide post fixed in the casing, a stack of blades mounted on the guide post in alternately and oppositely overlapped sequence to provide alternate forwardly and rearwardly disposed blade ends, a slotted curved spring centrally located between the stack of blades and the casing bottom and straddling the guide post, forward and rearward presser elements engaging respective forwardly projectin blade ends and rearwardly projecting blade ends, the tip of said post being formed with an inclined surface, said rearward presser elements presenting inclined blade engaging surfaces cooperating with the post inclined surface to release an uppermost blade and provide for longitudinal movement of the blade in relation to the post, the uppermost blade when released having a free end supported a ainst the transverse edges of the casing in spaced relation to the remaining blades, a slide member movably supported above the casing in a positionto engage the free end of the uppermost blade and move it out of the casing.

2. A blade magazine comprising acase, a stack of slotted blades secured in the case in alternately and oppositely overlapped relation, presser devices for holding the stacked blades, in a flexed position with, the uppermost blade having a free end supported against the casing in spaced relation to the remaining blades of the stack, a reciprocating slide member located in the casing in a position to engage the free end of the uppermost blade and move the blade out of the case, r

the slide member being formed with a blade'retracting element shaped to enter the blade slot and to release from a presser'device thenext underlying blade in the stack by engaging one end of the slot, and a cam element formed atthe under side of the blade for depressing the released blade as the slide makes its return movement.

3. In a razor blade magazine, a case having a blade dispensing aperture at-oneend thereof, a stack of blades arranged in alternately overlapping relation in the container, means for maintaining the blades. in a flexed position, a slide for selectively removing the uppermost. blade in the stack and moving it through the said aperture, said slide having at its underside a centrally disposed cam presenting a V-shaped cam surface, a blade advancing element extending forwardly and upwardly from the cam and a blade supportin edge formed on the cam surface in a positionto V 10 support a reduced end of a blade when engaged by the blade advancing element.

4. A blade dispensing package comprising a case having a blade dispensing aperture at one end thereof, a stack of blades arranged in alternately overlapping relation, curved spring :means for supporting the blades in spaced relation to the bottom of the case, retaining means engaged at opposite ends of the blades and cooperating with the spring means to maintain the blades in a substantially bowed position, a reciprocating slidemember secured to the case, and means forming a part of the slide member for engaging the uppermost blade and moving it through the blade dispensing opening while simultaneously drawing the next consecutive blade .out of engagement with its respective retaining means.

5. In arazor blade magazine, a case having a blade dispensing opening at one end thereof, a stack of blades arrangedv in staggered overlapping relation, means for holdingthe blades in a flexed, position in which projecting blade ends are bent downwardly, a slide for selectively removingythe uppermost blade and moving it through the blade dispensing opening, said slide including at its under side a centrally disposed wedge-shaped cam, a blade advancing element extending forwardly and upwardly from the cam, and a retractor element. projecting rearwardly and downwardly throughout a part only of the thickness of the cam.

6. A blade magazine comprising. a case having a guide post therein, a stack of slotted blades located in longitudinally staggered relation about the guide post, stationary longitudinally spaced hold-down elements and an intermediate fulcrum spring located within the case and resiliently holding the stacked blades in a longitudinally bent over position of pronounced curvaturein which the blades are compressed downwardly around the guide post, means consisting of inturned spaced-apart edges in the upper side of the case supporting the uppermost blade spaced at one end. from the remaining blades in the stack, and a slide in the case having means for releasing alternate blades from their respective hold-down elements and means for engaging the uppermost blade when in released position and moving it out of the case.

7. A blade magazine comprising in combination a case having a blade-dispensing aperture, a stack of blades arranged in the case inalternately and oppositely overlapped relation thus presenting alternate rearwardly projecting blade ends and alternate forwardly projecting blade ends, means holding the stacked blades in longitudinally bent position, said means including stationary forward and rearward presser elements engaging respectivelythe forwardly projecting ends and rearwardly projecting .ends of the blade, a curved'fulcrum spring located between the presser elements and interposed between the stack of blades and the case and cooperating witbthe presser elements in resilientlyurging the central portion of the stack .of blades into a bowed condition, the uppermost blade having an end disengaged from the presser elements, a pair of spaced-apart inturned edges in the upper side of the case supporting the disengaged end' of the uppermost blade in spaced relation to the remaining blades, and a slide memberhaving means forreleasing the uppermost blade-from its presser element and being movably mounted between said edges of the case 11 in a position to engage the free end of the uppermost blade when so released and to eject it from the case.

8. A blade magazine comprising a case having an exit opening at its end, a guide post fixed in the bottom of the case, the top of said guide post presenting a beveled surface inclined upwardly toward the exit opening, a stack of double-edged blades mounted in longitudinally staggered overlapping relation upon the guide post, said blades having openings occurring in register with the guide post, means resiliently holding a stack of blades in a position pronounced longitudinal curvature about said guide post, said means including an intermediate spring member and stationary forward and rearward presser elements secured in the bottom of the case and having overhanging blade-engaging portions, the rearward presser element presenting an inclined blade-engaging surface sloping upwardly toward the guide post and thus permitting the uppermost blade in the stack to be drawn upwardly and forwardly over the post, a slide having means for engaging and releasing the uppermost blade from its presser element and having also means for engaging the uppermost blade when so released and ejecting it from the case, said slide including a retractor element for engaging and displacing the next underlying blade in the stack whereby it may spring up over the guide post.

9. A blade magazine comprising a case having a pair of inturned spaced-apart edges, blade holding elements formed at the under sides of the edges adjacent the forward extremity of the case, a stack of blades secured in the case in longitudinally staggered overlapping relation, means including longitudinally spaced holddown elements and an intermediate fulcrum spring for holding the blades in a flexed position while permitting longitudinal movement of the uppermost blade, the inturned edges supporting each blade as it assumes an uppermost position in the stack, a slide having means for engaging and releasing the uppermost blade from its holddown element and being movably supported between the inturned edges of the case in a position for engaging the free end of the uppermost blade when so released and moving the blade forwardly, said slide and blade holding elements cooperating to release the blade into an unfiexed position at the forward extremity of the case.

10. In a blade magazine, a case, a stack of blades having median slots formed therein, said blades being stacked in longitudinal alternately and oppositely overlapped sequence thus presenting alternate forwardly projecting blade ends and rearwardly projecting blade ends, means including a spring and longitudinally spaced stationary presser elements holding the stacked blades in longitudinally bowed position, blade holding elements, one of said presser elements having an upper guide edge cooperating with said blade holding elements for engaging in the blade slots and aligning the blades for longitudinal movement, a slide having means for releasing the blades alternately from the presser elements and means for moving the uppermost blade out of the case, and a V-shaped cam located at the underside of the slide for depressing underlying blades in the stack during movement of the slide.

11. A blade magazine comprising a case, a stack of blades arranged one upon another in alternate longitudinally overlapped sequence thus providing alternate forwardly projecting blade ends and rearwardly projecting blade ends, means including a spring and longitudinally spaced stationary studs holding the stacked blades in a longitudinally bowed position in the case, means for supporting the uppermost blade in a position in which a free end of the blade is spaced from the remaining blades of the stack, a blade transferring member having means for releasing the blades alternately from the studs, mounted for reciprocal movement in the case in a path in line with the free end of the uppermost blade for moving the same out of the case, and stop means on the case for limiting forward movement of the blade transferring member.

12. A blade package including a case, a reciprocating slide movable in the upper side of the case, a guide post mounted in the base of the case, a longitudinally curved slotted spring engaging over the guide post, a stack of blades located about the guide post and supported on the spring in longitudinal alternately overlapping relation and in a position of pronounced curvature, longitudinally spaced stationary retaining elements holding one end of each alternate blade, while the opposite end of each blade is held by an immediately overlapping blade, the uppermost blade in the series presenting a free end extending into the path of movement of the slide, said slide having means for releasing the blades alternately from said elements and means for moving the uppermost blade out of the case.

13. A dispenser for thin flexible safety razor blades comprising a rectangular case having upper and lower walls, an exit opening at its end, a feed slide movable along the top of the case, a stack of slotted blades arranged within the case in longitudinally staggered relation, a stud rising from the bottom of the case through the slots of alternate blades at one end of the stack and other studs having overhanging portions for holding the opposite ends of the blades at a predetermined height above the bottom of the case, a spring engaging the blades in a location between said studs, and means carried by the feed slide for first displacing longitudinally the uppermost blade of the stack and thus disengaging its end from the overhanging portion of a stud so that its end may fan away from the remaining blades, and thereafter moving said uppermost blade through said exit openmg.

14. A razor blade magazine comprising a hollow rectangular case, a slide movably mounted on one side of the case, longitudinally spaced stationary studs within the case and having overhanging blade-engaging portions, a spring located between the spaced studs and resiliently confining a stack of flexible blades in longitudinally staggered bowed. condition toward the path of movement of the slide, the slide having means for engaging the uppermost blade of the stack in its movement and releasing it from one of said studs, and moving it from the case.

15. A razor blade magazine comprising a hollow casing having a blade exit at one end, a top wall presenting a longitudinal open space, a reciprocating slide movable in said open space and having a blade-engaging portion within the casing, a stack of flexible blades arranged in longitudinally staggered relation within the easing, stationary overhanging elements located adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the blade stack, and a spring fulcrum member cooperating with said overhanging element to maintain blades of the stack in a condition of pronounced longitudinal curvature within the casing, said slide having means for releasing said blades alternately from said elements and for moving said uppermost blade through the blade exit.

16. A razor blade magazine comprising an elongated case having a blade exit at one end, a feed slide mounted in the case for longitudinal movement, longitudnially spaced stationary elements in the case having overhanging blade-engaging portions, and a spring located between said stationary elements and exerting upward pressure on a stack of longitudinally staggered blades held at their ends by said stationary elements to bow the blades upwardly in the case and deflect certain blades into the path of the feed slide, said slide having means for releasing said blades alternately from said elements and for moving said uppermost blade through said blade exit.

17. A razor blade magazine comprising an elongated casing having a blade exit at one end, a stack of longitudinally staggered slotted flexible blades within the casing, a stud near one end of the casing having a stationary overhanging blade-engaging portion directed toward the exit, a pair of stationary studs near the other end of the casing having overhanging portions also directed toward the exit, the flexible blades of the stack being engaged at opposite ends by said studs, and an intermediate fulcrum spring bowing these blades upwardly between the studs, and means for releasing the blades alternately from the studs and for moving the uppermost blade through the exit.

18. A blade dispensing magazine comprising an elongated case having a blade exit opening at one end, a stack of flexible blades enclosed in longitudinally staggered relation within the case, longitudinally spaced stationary hold-down elements fixed in the bottom of the case and an intermediate fulcrum member cooperating with said elements in holding the blades of the stack in a bent-over position while permitting the uppermost blade to fan at one end away from the remainder of the stack, and means for releasing the blades alternately from said elements and for moving the uppermost blade through said exit opening.

19. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a case having a top with a feed slide movable therein and an exit opening at one end, a stack of flexible longitudinally staggered blades enclosed within the case, longitudinally spaced stationary hold-down elements spaced apart in the case and an intermediate fulcrum spring cooperating in holding the blades of the blade stack in longitudinally bowed condition with the uppermost blade free to move longitudinally and with one end freed from the hold-down elements and lying in the path of the feed slide and in spaced relation to the remainder of the stack, said slide having means for releasing the blades alternately from the hold-down elements and for moving the uppermost blade through the exit opening.

20. A blade magazine comprising an elongated case having a top with a feed slide movable therein and an exit opening at its end, a stack of slotted flexible blades arranged in longitudinally staggered relation within the case, the case containing longitudinally spaced stationary hooked studs and an intermediate fulcrum spring cooperating for resiliently holding the blades of the stack in longitudinally bowed condition, the uppermost blade of the stack being disengaged at one end from the hooked studs and being held with its disengaged end in the path of the feed slide, said slide having means for releasing the blades alternately from the studs and for moving the uppermost blade through the exit opening.

21. A blade magazine comprising an elongated case having an exit opening in its end and an overhead feed slide, the case enclosing a stack of slotted flexible blades arranged in longitudinally staggered relation, a hooked stud located in the case and engaged in the blade slots at one end of the stack, and a hooked stud located in the case and engaged with the solid blade ends at the other end of the stack, the studs being spaced apart so that the studs engage only alternate blades of the stack, and an intermediate fulcrum spring bowing blades of the stack upwardly between said hooked studs toward the path of the feed slide, said slide having means for releasing the blades alternately from the studs and for moving the uppermost blade through the exit opening.

22. A dispensing magazine for razor blades comprising an elongated casing having an exit opening at its end, a stack of slotted flexible blades arranged within the casing in alternate longitudinally staggered relation, a stud located in the case and passing through the slots of all blades at one end of the stack and having an overhanging blade-engaging portion, a stud located in the case having an overhanging portion engaging the solid ends of all the blades at the other end of the stack, an intermediate fulcrum spring bowing all the blades upwardly between the said studs, and a feed slide movable in the casing to release the uppermost blade in the stack from one stud after the other, and for moving the uppermost blade through the exit opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,796,262 Gaisman Mar. 10, 1931 1,911,627 Lashar May 30, 1933 2,330,252 Testi Sept. 28, 1943 2,359,807 Testi Oct. 10, 1944 2,405,621 Testi Aug. 13, 1946 2,542,510 Gray Feb. 20, 1951

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