US3369295A - Injector type razor having improved biasing means for positioning the razor blade inshaving position - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 G. H. RUSSELL 3,369,295

INJECTOR TYPE RAZOR HAVING IMPROVED BIASING MEANSFOR POSITIONING THE RAZOR BLADE IN AAVING POSITION Filed Feb. 21, 1

United States Patent 3,369,295 INJECTOR TYPE RAZOR HAVING IMPROVED BIASING MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE RAZOR BLADE IN SHAVING POSITION George H. Russell, 4 Langside Park, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 495,064,

Oct. 12, 1965. This application Feb. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 617,641 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 3, 1965, 23,732/ 65 2 Claims. (CI. 3062) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An injector type safety razor in which the razor blade is supported on the blade platform of a bridge member nested in the head of the razor frame, the blade platform having blade stops thereon which engage the front edge of the razor blade. The razor blade is maintained in shaving position by applying a biasing force to the bridge member with a spring connected with the razor frame and disposed in front of the bridge member. The spring is provided with a flat vertically directed center body portion secured to the razor frame, and a pair of flat elastic spring fingers extending laterally at opposite sides of the center body portion. The spring fingers are inclined forwardly and upwardly of the center body portion in such manner that only the terminal ends thereof engage the bridge member and apply the biasing force thereto co-equally in upward and rearward direction. The biasing force applied to the bridge member urges the rear edge of the razor blade into firm contact with an abutment formed in the razor head thus maintaining the razor blade in a shaving position.

Cross reference to related applications This is a continuation-in-part of my presently pending application Ser. No. 495,064 filed Oct. 12, 1965 now abandoned.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a safety razor of the type referred to as an injector razor, the shaving head of which has one shaving side and into which new blades are fed from a separate blade magazine. The blade magazine is provided with a key which is inserted in the razor head during blade changing to free the used blade for ejection from the razor head and also to align the magazine properly with the blade platform to facilitate entry of the new blade into the blade platform.

Injector type safety razors are old in the art. Generally they include a frame which has a handle section and a head section with the latter having a forwardly directed clamping plate. The head section provides a structure in which is nested a bridge member, the latter including a blade platform extending spacedly beneath the clamping plate and a back wall extending downwardly at an angle from the blade platform. The blade platform is provided with a pair of stops which engage the front edge of the razor blade at the ends thereof so that movement of the bridge member rearwardly in the razor head forces the rear edge of the razor blade up tight against an abutment formed across-the head section on the inner surface of the rear wall thereof adjacent the clamping plate. In this manner the razor blade is maintained in a shaving position. The rearward movement of the bridge member is usually provided by a spring member fixed to the razor handle and engageable with the bridge member. In the prior art construction the spring member is most gener- "ice ally designed to apply biasing force to the bridge member only in a rearward direction increasing the likelihood that after prolonged usage of the razor, the razor blade in shaving position therein is not forced into firm contact with the blade clamping plate on the razor head section although same is forced into tight contact against the rear wall abutment. This condition accrues because the spring member does not apply a co-equal upwardly directed biasing force to the bridge member.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides an improved spring member for use in an injector type safety razor. The injector type safety razor is commonly constructed to include a frame which has a handle section and a head section, the latter including a vertical rear wall anda generally fiat clamping plate extending frontally therefrom the rear wall having an abutment formed at the inner side thereof adjacent the juncture of the rear wall and the clamping plate. A bridge member is provided which is nestable within the razor head section and includes a flat blade platform extending spacedly beneath the clamping plate and providing a structure for receiving the razor blade, and a back wall extending downwardly at an angle from the blade platform. The blade platform includes a guard at the front side thereof on which is carried a pair of stops adapted to engage the front edge of the razor blade for urging the blade into shaving position wherein the rear edge of the blade is in firm contact with the abutment of the head section rear wall when the bridge member is moved rearwardly in the razor head section. The improved spring member which applies a biasing force to the bridge member to maintain the razor blade in shaving position is comprised of a relatively flat center body portion which is connected with the handle section and is disposed in front of the back wall of the bridge member, and a pair of fiat elastic spring fingers which extend laterally at opposite sides of the center body portion. The spring fingers are formed to extend inclined forwardly of the center body portion and also to incline upwardly therefrom so that the terminal end portions of the spring fingers will engage the bridge member to apply the biasing force thereto. The profile of the spring member is roughly that of a T with the center body portion corresponding to the stem of the T and the elastic fingers corresponding to the crosspiece. The elastic fingers are provided with parallel front and rear edges which at the terminal end portions of the fingers engage, respectively, with the blade platform and back wall of the bridge member and apply biasing force thereto co-equally in upward and rearward directions the points of application of the biasing force being at spaced apart locations symmetrically of the center body of the spring member. Thus, the razor blade is forced into firm contact with the clamping plate of the head section as well as the abutment on the rear wall thereof thereby being maintained in proper shaving position.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Brief description of the drawings For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

7 FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the razor;

FIGURE 2 is a side central sectional View on enlarged scale of the upper part of the razor shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the razor illustrating in detail the construction of the spring member;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the spring member; and

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the head of the razor illustrating the manner in which the key of a blade magazine is inserted therein when changing blades.

Throughout the description, like reference numerals are used to denote like parts in the drawing.

Description the preferred embodiment The present invention relates to the improvement in the construction of an injector type safety razor. The embodiment of razor 10 depicted in the drawings is generally of known construction. Thus, it includes a frame Which has a lower handle section 12 at the top of which is connected a head section 14. It is particularly advantageous from the standpoint of manufacturing costs and assembling procedures to mold the handle and head sections as a unitary structure from a plastic material. As used herein, the head section is intended to denote that portion of the razor frame wherein the after described bridge member is nested. The head section 14 includes a vertical rear wall 16 and a clamping plate 18 extending frontally from the rear wall 16, the head section being provided with an internal abutment shoulder 20 at the inner surface thereof and extending across the full width of the head section at the juncture of the clamping plate and rear wall elements.

The razor also includes a bridge member 22 which includes a substantially straight vertical back Wall 24- and blade platform 26 depending frontally therefrom in the manner best shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, the blade platform being adapted to receive the razor blade and being spaced beneath the clamping plate 18. The head section 14 of the frame member is molded with a slotted segment as at 28 so as to. provide that the bridge member 22 be nestable therein. The bridge member also includes the customary guard element 30 at the front of the blade platform 26, with the guard having a pair of stops 32 and 34 at the ends thereof which engage corresponding ends of the front (cutting) edge of the razor blade 36. The back wall 24 of the bridge member is provided with an outstanding camming surface 40 against which engages the key 42 of a blade magazine 44 for freeing the used blade when the key is inserted in the razor head during changing of blades in the razor in the conventional manner (FIG.

As those skilled in the art will readily understand the razor blade 36 is maintained in shaving position in the razor head by a spring member 50 which applies a biasing force against the bridge member 22 normally urging same in the direction of the head section 14 so as to force the rear edge of the blade against the abutment shoulder 20. The spring member 50 constituting the subject of the present invention is shown in detail in FIGURES 3 and 4 and serves to apply this biasing force co-equally in upward and rearward directions on the bridge member 22 to provide that the blade is forced not only into tight contact with the abutment 20 but also with the clamping plate 18 of the head section.

Turning now to the construction of the spring member 50, it comprises as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, a vertical center body portion 52 which is connected to the razor frame handle section 12 and is disposed in front of the back wall of the bridge member. In furtherance of that end, the handle section 12 is provided with a vertical slot 54 which receives the center body portion. The handle section is also provided with a threaded opening at 56 which receives a screw fastener 58 with which the spring is secured to the handle section. The spring member 50 also includes a pair of flat elastic spring fingers 6t}, 62 which extend laterally therefrom at opposite sides of the center body portion as shown. The spring fingers 60, 62

may be formed as an integral structure with the center body portion 52 or be formed separately and connected therewith by welding. The spring fingers 60, 62 also can include a common center segment 64 adjacent the center body portion which segment is preferably substantially straight but inclined forwardly of the main plane of the center body portion, with the respective spring fingers extending outwardly and inclined upwardly from the center segment as shown. The spring fingers 60, 62 are each provided with front and parallel rear edges as at 70 and 72, the purpose of the latter being to insure that the terminal end portions only of the spring fingers engage the bridge member in a manner to apply biasing force thereto coequally in an upward direction against the blade platform 26 and rearwardly against the back wall 24. The advantage of providing that the spring fingers incline upwardly in a direction away from the center body portion of the spring member is that only the terminal end portions thereof engage the bridge member and apply the biasing force at symmetrically opposed locations on each side of the spring member center body.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, a cover is provided for covering over the center body portion of spring member 50, the shape of the cover 80 conforming with that of the vertical slot 54 so as to give the frame handle section a smooth outer contour.

In use, the spring member 50 acts to maintain the razor blade 36 in proper shaving position within the razor head. When it is required that a blade change be made, the key 42 of blade magazine 44 is inserted in the razor head behind the back wall 24 of the bridge member, and in the conventional manner forces the bridge member and the spring member 50 forwardly of the rear wall 16 of the razor frame thereby overcoming the biasing force of the spring member and freeing the blade then in the razor head. The new blade is then slid into the razor head in the usual manner, and the injector key withdrawn from the razor head. As soon as the injector keyis removed from the razor head, the spring member 50 retracts rearwardly and since the biasing force thereof is applied coequally in an upward and a rearward direction the new blade is forced into abutment against the abutment shoulder 20 in which condition the blade is maintained in proper shaving position.

While there is disclosed but one embodiment of the improved injector safety razor of the present invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed, and accordingly it should be understood that all matter contained in the above description and in the accompanying drawing should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an injector blade safety razor which comprises a frame having a handle section and a head section, said head section including a vertical rear wall and a clamping plate extending fr-ontally from the top of said rear wall, said rear wall having a frontally pfojecting abutment thereon adjacent said clamping p ate,

a bridge member nestable within said head section and having a blade platform extending beneaththe clamping head of said upper head section and spaced therefrom for receiving a razor blade and a back wall extending downwardly at an angle from said blade platform in front of the rear wall of said head section, said bridge member further including a guard at the front of said blade platform, said bridge member having blade stop means thereon adjacent said guard for engaging the front edge of said razor blade, and

a spring member normally applying a biasing force to said bridge member for maintaining said blade in a shaving position in which the rear edge thereof is urged into firm contact with the abutment of said head section rear wall,

the improvement wherein said spring member is comprised of a relatively fiat center body portion connected with said handle section and disposed in front of the back wall of said bridge member, and

a pair of flat elastic spring fingers extending laterally at opposite sides of said center bodyportion and inclined forwardly from the top thereof, said spring fingers also inclining upwardly in a direction away from said center body portion whereby the terminal ends only of said spring fingers engage the blade platform and rear wall of said bridge member and apply said biasing force to said bridge member coequally in upward and rearward directions.

2. The injectorsbiade safety razor of claim 1 wherein said spring fingers have parallel front and rear edges, the front edges engaging the blade platform and the rear edges the back wall respectively of said bridge member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,604 7/1930 Dalkowitz 3061 2,069,920 2/1937 Keighley 30-61 10 3,140,542 7/1964 Craig 30-62 3,178,814 4/1965 Craig 30-62 3,203,091 8/1965 Craig 30-62 15 MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

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