US2726787A - Razor blade dispensers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1955 E. A. NELSON RAZOR BLADE DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 INVENTOR. EDGAR A. NELSON 2&9!

Arrow H Dec. 13, 1955 NELSON 2,726,787

RAZOR BLADE DISPENSERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8.

JNVENTOR. ED GAR A. NELSON United States Patent O RAZOR BLADE DISPENSERS Edgar A. Nelson, New York, N. Y., assignor to American Safety Razor Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Application October 29, 1948, Serial No. 57,313

7 Claims. (Cl. 221-229) My present invention relates generally to receptacles, and has particular reference to an improved package for a stack of identical razor blades.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a device which not only accommodates the stack of blades in a compact and neat fashion, in the form of a complete unit merchandisable as such, but which functions also in an unusually simple manner to dispense the blades one at a time.

The present improved construction is intended primarily for the accommodation and dispensing of double edged wafer type blades now in common use, wherein the blades are provided centrally longitudinally thereof with a slot which varies in width along its length.

One of the objects of the invention is a new and improved arrangement for supporting such blades in stacked relation in a manner which guards their cutting edges against inadvertent contact with any part of the container walls.

A further object of my invention is an improved arrangement whereby the topmost blade can be separated from the stack and advanced part Way through a slot provided in one end wall of the container to expose one end of the blade so that this end can be engaged by the fingers and the removal of the blade from the magazine completed manually for placement in a razor.

Blades of the Wafer type, for the dispensing of which this construction has been devised, present problems incident to their thinness which is of the order of .004" to .006". The resulting problems arise from variations incident to manufacturing and to wear which become serious for a blade of such thinness. An adequate arrangement for advancing the topmost blade from ofi the stack must therefore provide for the following: that only the topmostblade be engaged for advancement; that the blade immediately therebelow be prevented from adhering to and moving therewith; and that the shaving edges be held out of contact with the receptacle as the blade is moved first to its partly ejected position, and then to its completely ejected relation.

A further object of my invention is an improved arrangement for elevating the topmost blade from ofi the stack and guiding it in such elevation.

A further general object of my invention is an improved arrangement which engages and advances only the topmost blade of a stack.

A further object of my invention is an improved arrangement wherein a second blade is prevented from advancing with the topmost blade.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved arrangement whereby a wafer type blade of the thickness referred to can be advanced part way out of the container without interference or engagement of either shaving edge with the container.

I have illustrated in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of my invention a container which is comprised of a body part and a cover. The body includes a floor, side walls, and end walls (one of which is slotted); the

cover is slidably mounted on the side walls for a longitudinal reciprocation between a closed position and a retracted position.

A spring in the container tends constantly to urge the stack upwardly toward the cover. When the cover is in its closed position, however, a protuberance on the underside of the cover engages the surface of the uppermost blade and holds the stack depressed so that the topmost blade is spaced from the cover. When the cover is shifted to its retracted position, the stack is allowed to move upwardly to engage the topmost blade against the cover, and in this position it comes into engagement with guiding and expelling means carried by the cover.

During the expulsion of the uppermost blade, after its engagement by the cover in retracted position, the other blades of the stack are retained against movement by means of a post which is mounted on the floor of the container and extends upwardly through the stack. The post terminates at its top sufiiciently below the under-surface of the cover to provide a space into which the topmost blade can rise and through which the topmost blade can be moved. The spacing of the top surface of the post from the under surface of the cover is substantially the same as the spacing of the topmost blade from this under-surface when the stack is depressed.

The cover is preferably provided with two protuberances on its under surface. One of these protuberances has the contour of one of the wider parts of the blade aperture, and it is so positioned on the cover that it comes into registry with said wider part of the blade aperture only when the cover is in its retracted position. The post has a cross-section which closely engages a portion of said Wider part of the blade aperture. In this way, the protuberance on the cover comes into registry with the post when the cover is in its retracted position.

The other protuberance on the cover is so positioned that it rides oft the end of the uppermost blade just as the cover reaches its retracted position. Thus, it engages the end edge of the uppermost blade, and propels the blade out of the container as the cover is restored to its closed position.

Before proceeding to describe the specific embodiment, it will be pointed out that it illustrates merely one application of my invention devised to stack and dispense a well-known blade now in commercial use and which is longitudinally slotted in a specific manner and to which the details of construction of the illustrative embodiment are made to conform. In its broader aspects, my invention comprises the following provisions among others: for preliminarily guiding the blades into stacked relation; for holding the blades in this relation; for guiding the blades vertically as they are elevated by spring pressure; for engaging the topmost blade upon elevation of the stack with an ejector; for guiding the blade as it is moved 1engthwise thereof part way out of the container; and for guiding the partly ejected topmost blade as its removal from the container is completed manually. Many of these provisions have been devised to meet the problems that arise because of the thinness of the blades and others because of the specific type blade illustrated in the drawings.

It will be pointed out generally of these provisions, that the blades are always under control from the moment that they are entered into the container to form the stack until they are fully discharged therefrom.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of cover that may be used in a package of the present kind;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spring that may be used;

essential. 'floor 24, side walls 25, and end walls 26. The nearertainer body, and with the uppermost blade: of a stack,

(not shown in Fig. 3.) in its expelled position;v

Fig. is a. fragmentary plan viewof a". blade of the kind to which the present invention relates;

Fig.6 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig.1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 77 of. Fig. 4,, but with. the, ex-

pelled= blade fully withdrawn;

Fig. 8 is a planview, from. underneath, of the cover.-

avzarsr and the uppermost blade ofthe: stack, in'the relationship they assume when thecover is. in normal. closed position;

Fig. 9 isa VlW' similar to'Fig 8 showing the relationship. of blade and cover when-thezcover isin retracted.-

position; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line lit-40v of Fig ..9=1

The blade. for which the. present package is designed is. of the kind havingopposite. longitudinal parallel cutting edges and an oddly-shaped longitudinal slot 21 between these edges. This slot. varies in. width along;

' its length and I- draw particular attention to one end This thereof (which is duplicated at the other end). end portion, as most clearly shown in. Figs. 5, 8 and 9, is comprised of. the two spaced apart relatively narrow slot portions 22, the widened slot portion. 23' therebe-- tween, and defined at its-inner end by shoulder 23, the outer. terminal end of thisslotzportion being widened. at 23 It will be observed thatthe relatively'narrow slot portions 22 and part of. the slot portion. 23 are defined by parallel edges, and that the rest of. the enlarged slot portion 23 is defined by edges presented at an angle to each other to give tothis slot portion a still further increased width.

V The container body shown in Fig. 3 may be composed of plastic or other equivalent.materialv and is preferably molded in one integral piece, but this is not' absolutely It is substantially rectangular, and includes. a-

endwall 26, as viewedin'Fig. 3,,isshorter in-height. than the other walls. Accordingly, in thefinishedpackage, aslot 27 is formed, as shown mostclearlyin Figs. .4 and17.

Along the upper edges of theside walls- 25, there are.

" outwardly projecting ribs' 28. Extending part way along these upper edges are limit guide: grooves 29;

Extending upwardly from. the; floor, 24- is. a post 30 whose contour issuch that it snugly-matchesthat portion ofthe wider part 23 of. the blade: aperture. 21 which: is. defined by parallel walls.

Projecting'inwardly from the endwalls 26. aretongues 31, which help to hold in proper position a. spring of thecharacter shown in Fig. 2-. This spring is: designated. by the reference numeral 32, and preferably consists of an H-shaped'body having onepair of arms- 33 arching in one direction, another pair 34 arching in the opposite direction, and a central cross-bar, 35. Extending upwardly from the cross-bar-35,.in opposite directions, are the spring fingers 36 and 37.. a a

When the. spring is laid upon the floor 2.4, of the container body, the. arms 34-fit-. between.- the tongues. 31 at the, near end (as. viewed. in; Figs; 21 and 3.), while. they arms 33 fit between the-tonguesr3l at the; remoteend;

Resting upon the. spring 32,, after the; parts have: all been assembled, isastack of razor blades indicated gens erally'by the reference numeral. 3.8:in Figs. 6 and-'7. This stack is composed'of' a series of identical blades. ofthe. character shown in Fig. 5. The post 30extends in fitting relation-through the-stack, theparalleF side walls of the post engaging; with the-corresponding parallel side edges of each of the wider aperture parts 23. This. helps tohold the stack in a centered position, with the cutting,

edges of the blades spacedappreciably from the side walls 25, as shown in Fig. 6. The stack is also helped to remain in this centered position by the engagement with the respective pairs of tongues 31 of the end portions 39 of each blade. V

v The cover .of the package is designated generally by the referencenumeral 4.0; and; is composed. offflat springy material, preferably metaL, Its centerpart is shown. in Figs; 1, 4, 6 and 7' as. ridged or knurledto increase the rigidity of this central part. In Figs. 8,, 9 and. lll,;in order to clarify the depiction of themode of operation of the parts, the. knurling. or. ridging' of the: cover 40': has been omitted.

' Along its side edges, the cover is bent downwardly and inwardly, as indicated most clearly at 41 in Fig. 6, to form opposed grooves which fit around the ribs 25 of the. body of the container.v Bybeveling'the; outer edges of the ribs 28, as. shown mostclearly; in Figs. 3: and 6;.

the cover may be snapped into position by pressingdowne wardly upon: it, thus, causing, a. momentary defiectionof the cover; to. spread. the side edges. 41.. After the; cover is in engagement. withv the.body,,as:shown1in Fig; 6;. it. cannot. be inadvertently withdrawn.

On-the-nnder-side of the-cover are projections; 42 which fit into the grooves 29 and limit the longitudinal reciprocating movements of the cover.

over the container body, asshown in Figs.v 4, 7 and. 8 This is the. closedpositiom In. the; other end position.

into which the cover may be: shifted,.ic assumes? the relative' position shown in Fig; 9-, so far as". the blade stack is concerned. This. is the retracted position. Before. describing the operationswhichtalte place when the-cover isthus. shifted from one end position to the other, at: tention is directed to Figs. 8 and 9. In each ,ofthese.

figures, the uppermost blade of the: stack. is shownand I is designated bythe reference numeral 50..

On the under-sideof. thecover there is a protuberance" 43whose contour is such thatit". fits snugly within and:

'duced. width to. enter the outer narrowed. blade slot por.--

tion 22. Thisend islbeveled orr its-under surface as shown.

at. 6.0:. The: inclinededgeportions 62 of theprot-uberanee:

are: also; beveled as shown-at;64..

The: cover is: provided. with asecond. protuberance--44 which. maybe transversely elongated; as shown. The

central part of this protuberance is preferably beveled as shown at 45 (see Fig. 10). The purpose ofi thisfan'di ofbevels- 45, 69' and 64-will presently become apparent.

When the cover is inits normal closed position; itsrelationship to the uppermost blade of the stack is shownin Fig. 8. The protuberance 44* underlies and extends crosswise of the longitudinal blade aperture, andLthe-protuberance 43 is in non-matchingrelationship to this'bl'ade V aperture... Accnrdingly,, although. the spring. 32 is, COD:

stantly urging the stack inarr upward. direction,, the rib.

43 will holdthe. topmosthladezspaced. below the..undersurface of the cover, for approximately. the. blade. thick- 7 ness.. The. top surface of post; 30 terminates. atalevel.

below the. under-surface of. the cover to provide. space.

sufrlcient to receive thetopmost bladet whenfree. to rise. The: space. so: provided: is also slightly-'inexcess of blade thickness, preferably by the: height ofi rib: 43" when.- said; 7

protuberancerestszwons theaposti. As a result; the; topmost;

blade wl'ren received in space will. not; freeze; to

I'n-oneof the. end 'positions to which the covermay be shifted, it. lies. directly! top of the post as the cover is advanced as might be the case if the space did not exceed blade thickness. 7

When the cover is slid into its retracted position (Fig.. 9), the protuberance 43 comes into registry with the post 30 and with the blade aperture part 23, and the protuberance 44 rides olf the end of the topmost blade 50 which is thus allowed to be elevated fla'twise against the cover, by means of the upward urgence of the spring beneath the blade stack to thus bring the topmost blade in front of the projection 44. In this position of the parts, the projection 43 on the cover will in effect be a continuation of the post 30 so that the topmost blade in rising moves from otf the post 30 onto the projection 43 to thus guide the blade in its elevation.

Upon return movement of the cover towards its closed position, the projection 44 which is now immediately in back of and in abutting relation to the end of the topmost blade will advance it with the cover out of the magazine through slot 27. It is important in this operation that the projection 44 engage and advance only the topmost blade. Beveling the central portion 45 of projection 44 as shown in Figs. 9 and permits the projection to ride over post 39 in movement of the cover from retracted to normal position, in the event that the post ofiers obstruction for any unintended or unexpected reason, such as the use of distorting pressure on the cover.

Upon reference to Fig. 9 it will be observed that the inner end of the projection 43 is spaced from and does not engage the shoulder 23' of the slot when the protuberance 44 is engaged with the end of the blade as shown in Fig. 9.

The spacing of blade shoulder 23' at the inner end of the enlarged slot portion 23, from the end of the blade engaged by protuberance 44 is such that this inner end is spaced slightly from projection 43 and is therefore out of engagement therewith. The outer parts of the protuberance 44 therefore do the propelling and the side walls of the protuberance 43 help to maintain the blade in properly aligned position during its ejection.

It will be understood that the blade is not fully expelled by the action described. When the cover is in its closed position, the blade has been expelled only to the extent shown in Fig. 4. It is contemplated that the user thereupon grasps the blade between his fingers, and completes its withdrawal from the package.

The bevels 60 and 64 on the projection at the extreme outer end and along the inclined edges 62 will permit the blade edges which engage therewith in its advancement to be flexed over the adjacent parts of the projection so as to clear the blade parts over the projection 43.

During the expulsive movement of the blade, it will be understood from the description given that the remaining blades of the stack are held against any movement by virtue of the passage through the stack of the post 30. Also, during the ejection of the top blade, the protuberance 44 travels across the surface of the blade beneath, and to facilitate the passage of the protuberance 44 over the post 30, the central part is beveled or rounded as at 45.

Openings .9 and 49" are provided in the floor 24 of the container to facilitate stacking of the blades. These openings are shown as conforming in dimensions and contours to the terminal transverse enlargement 49' and to a smaller portion of the blade slots 21 at the opposite end, so that the slot of each blade can be successively registered preliminarily over guide members (not shown) entered upwardly through openings 49 and 49", to engage the side lobes or extensions 39 of the blades with inwardly directed abutments 31 to effect a further step in the assembly and guide the blade slot enlargements into accurate and final registration with post 30.

It will be understood that many of the details herein described and illustrated may obviously be changed and modified by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as,

expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A razor blade dispenser, comprising a casing, a stack of longitudinally slotted double edged blades located within said casing, said blade slot having wider and narrower portions, a post extending upwardly from the casing bottom through the stack and enterable only into the widened portions of the blade slots for vertical guidance of the blades, a blade ejector at the top of the casing mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement between a normal and a retracted position, means within the casing for urging the stack toward said blade ejector, a slot in one wall of said casing for permitting the emission of the uppermost blade, said blade ejector having a downward projection approximately the thickness of a blade enterable only into the widened portions of the blade slots and depressing the stack when in normal position, said projection being positioned to register with said post and guide the elevation of the uppermost blade above the post to a position flush with the undersurface of the blade ejector when the blade ejector is moved to retracted position, a projecting rib extending downwardly from said projection a distance less than the thickness of a single blade and adapted to ride in the narrowest portion of said blade slot whereby the uppermost blade is maintained clear of the upper surface of said post while the next succeeding blade is maintained at least partially thereon when the blade ejector is in retracted position.

2. A device of the character in claim 1, having a second projection depending from the ejector and spaced to the rear of the first mentioned projection to engage the rear edge of the topmost blade when the ejector is in retracted position.

3. A razor blade dispenser comprising a casing, a stack of longitudinally slotted double edged blades located within said casing, each of said blade slots having a wider and a narrower portion, a post extending upwardly from the casing bottom and entered into the widened portions of a blade slot for vertical guidance of the blade, a blade ejector slidably mounted at the top of said casing for movement between a normal and a retracted position,

means within the casing for urging the stack toward said blade ejector, a slot in one wall of said casing for permitting the emission of a blade, said blade ejector having a rigid projection extending downwardly for no more than blade thickness to normally depress the uppermost blade and maintain it engaged with said post when the ejector is in normal position, said projection being positioued to register with the post and free the uppermost blade for elevation above the post to a position flush with the under-surface of the blade ejector when said ejector is moved to retracted position, a projecting rib extending downwardly from the under-surface of said projection for less than blade thickness, said rib being adapted to ride in the narrowest portion of said blade slot and to rest upon said post in such retracted position, whereby the uppermost blade is maintained clear of the upper surface of said post while the neXt succeeding blade is maintained partially thereon when the ejector is in retracted position, a second projection formed on said ejector and adapted to engage the end portion of the uppermost blade of said stack when said ejector is in retracted position.

4. A razor blade dispenser for the reception and dispensation in single succession of a stack of blades, each of said blades having a longitudinal slot with narrow and widened portions therein, said dispenser comprising a casing, a stack of such blades located within said casing, 21 post extending upwardly from the casing bottom and conforming substantially with a widened portion of a blade slot for vertical guidance thereof, a cover reciprocal between a normal and a retracted position slideably engaging the top of the casing for positioning the top of evasive? the thickness. of, a blade stacked; therein, means within the casing for urging the stock toward said cover asl'ot; in'one wall of said casing for permitting the emission of? a blade, said cover having a rigid downward. projection approximately the-thickness of a,blade, .of'a configuration. wider than the narrow portion of 'the Blade slot. and. substantially conforming to. said casihg post and adapted. to normally press on the uppermost blade of the stack adia: cent its slot soas to maintain it depressed and engaged by the post, said projection being positioned to form a continuation of the post and guide the elevation of thetopmost blade above the postto av osition flush with the under-surface of the cover and in line withjthe. casing sl'ot'. when the cover is moved to a retracted position, said cover including means'for engaging an end edge of. the top blade. when carried to 'saidlast. named position where. by said top blade may be ejected through the casing slot upon the movement. of the cover toward said slbt; the,

remaining hladesrbeing prevented'from movement. by the post; said? rigid downward projection on cover being, provided with a dbwnwardl extension ofl'ess thanthe; thickness of. a blade, sai'd extension bei'ngof such width ast'o at all times permi't'ridingwithi'n the narrowest. por.-.

tion ofthe longitudinal slots of said stacked'blades and V ontthecasing from, a. closed; to an open position, apost. extendingupwardlyv from the casing bottom to guide the elevation of the topmost blade, said post conformingtol' having'an under-surface for engaging the top surfaceof sai'd post when the cover is in said retracted position, whereby the top blade-may be moved from the stack by 1 movement ofthe cover. toward said emission slot and will. clear the top surface of the post by an amount" equal to the thickness of said extension.

51 A container for. the dispensing of' d'onble edged blades having central sl'ot's with ,side' enlargements, said container incliiding a blade enclosing member having, a. cover slidably connected therewith, said cover having downwardly and inwardly turned marginal portions embracing portions of the sides of the. blade-enclbsingmelnberandthe latter havingtst'op surfaces in abutting relation to forwardly and rearwardl'y. faced portions of said cover and'limiting the path of sliding movementthereof, said blade enclosing member including a base portion having an integral upstanding blade locating ribtransversely centeredtherein and adapted to extend through the blade slots to hold the blades invertically aligned stack formation, said rib terminating at least blade thickness. below saidcover; said rib inclndingblade-retardingside portions adapted to project into side enlargements. of the blade slotstherebyt'o holdthe blades engaged therewith against.- longitudinal movement;. and a bowed spring member. in the blade-enclosingv member forpressing the blade stack upwardlytowa'rds the slidable cover; the cover having a depressed'ibladercontacting region extending downwardly on' opposite" sides ofithebl'adei center; lihe 'sufliciently to. maintain the uppermost blade .of' the stackat a level belowthe top of said blade-retarding side. portions so that saidiblad'e WilL be engaged with. side; portions when the. cover' is closed. therebyto prevent longitudinal 'blad'e movement when the cover is in thatlposition, said depressed" region being contoured to be receivable in the side enlargements" of the blade slots; andisaid' depressed fiee said Blade. for: Iifti'nglhy said spri'ngir'om on the rib onto: the depressed region. at. a level higher. than the top of the blade-retarding side portionsofthe blade locating rib-thereby to permit subsequent longitudinal. movement.

of saidbladeg and projections on said cover engageahle witha transverse edge ofsaid blade fbr. driving the blade longitudinally as'the' cover is, returned from its retracted 7 position to its container closing, position.

'6'. A container. comprising a casing having a discharge. mouth, a stack of blades havingcentralv slots; said blade.

slot's including a longitddinally widened portion. having laterally extending side enlargements, a spring underlying saidblades, to. elevate said" bladesto. the level of the discharge mouth, a cover at the top of. the casihg sl'idabl and: in registry with. the widenedportionofjthe bladeslbt, a depressing, projection extending downwardly fromsaidcoverandmovabletherewitd said'projection include. 7

ing laterally extending, side enlargements conformingto the enlargements. of the'blade slot,,said'projecti'on being 7 so locatedthat' in thecoverclbsed'position the projection will: engage the topmost blade of said stack forwardly of the postand' depress the stack. and in the-cover open position. the longitudinally widened portionfof the projectionwill'register:'witli the post and the widenedportion of the blade slot, andthe laterally extendingside enlarge.

ments of the projection will register with the laterally extending side enlargements of. the blade slot to free the topmost blade. of" the stack forspring elevation fi'om oh" the staclii andTont'o the. projection, the depth of? the stack depressingprojection being, no greater than bladethickness.

71 Acontai'ner as set forth in claim 6} wherein. an ejecting projection is on the cover spaced rearwardly of said. depressing projection. for such. a distance that it will engage an end edge, of the topmost blade when-thecover is retracted and advance the topmost blade throughsaid exit mouth of the casing upon. advance of the cover to closed position.

References Cited in the file of, thispatent UNITED STATES- PATENTS 11,092,051 Marx Mar; 31, 1914' 1 ,911-,627 Lashar' May'3'0; 1933' 2,131,358; Rothschild Sept; 27 l938 V 2339, 480; Hbllis Jan. 18,1944

2;144',9.61i Benjamin Mar. 28, 1944-. 2;405;6211 Testi l-.- Aug. 1 3 1946 24131 669: Roberts; Nov; 2 6, 1946- 2;,43263025 Steinbach Feb.- 1'7; 1948' FOREIGN- PATENTS 457. 854 GreaLBritain .Dec. 4, 1936 533,880 Germany Sept. 19, 1931 747,713. France. Apr. 4,1933 7

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