US3456342A - Safety razor with ribbon-type blade - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1969 J. DAWIDOWICZ Em 3,45 ,3

SAFETY RAZOR WITH RIBBON-TYPE BLADE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JAN DAWIDOWICZ LEOPOLD K. KUHNL THOMAS F. BOMBERO FRANKA. FERRARO y 1969 J. DAWIDOWICZ ETAL 3,456,342

SAFETY RAZOR WITH RIBBON-TYPE BLADE Original Filed Oct; 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 I0 v is 30 ..4. v. 37 ff 28 INVEN TORS JAN DAWIDOWICZ LEOPOLD K. KU NL THOMAS E 80M ERO FRANK A. FERRARO July 22, 1969 J. DAWIDOWICZ ETAL 3,456,342

SAFETY RAZOR WITH RIBBON-TYPE BLADE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VE N TORS JAN DA W/DOWICZ LEOPOLDK. KUHNL THOMAS E BOMBERO FRANK A. FERRARO July 22, 1969 J. DAWlDOWlCZ ET AL 3,456,342

SAFETY RAZOR WITH RIBBON-TYPE BLADE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VE N TORS JA N DA WIDO WI CZ M- LEOPOLD K. KUHNL 7 .2 g 15 THOMAS E BOMBERO FRANKA. FERRARO y 9.6 J. DAWIDOWICZ ETAL 3,456,342

SAFETY RAZOR Wm: RIBBON-TYPE BLADE Original Filed Oct. 22, .1965

5 Sheets-Sheet :11

INVENTORS JAN DAWIDOWICZ LEOPOLD K. KUHNL THOMAS E BOMBERO FRANK A. FERRARO United States Patent Int. Cl. B261) 21/26, 21/54 US. Cl. 30-401 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety razor of the type having a holder and magazine. The magazine includes a supply reel and take-up reel joined by a thin ribbon-type blade, which blade extends from one reel to the other across a shaving bridge. Asymetrically arranged guide lugs on the bridge co-operate with uniformly spaced apertures in the blade for blade tracking and positioning. The bridge is shaped so as to assume a wedge or conical configuration with the apex thereof rearwardly of the frame and sharpened edge. A blade clamping spring co-operates with the lugs to improve guiding and clamp the blade in shaving position. A magazine holder engages the blade near the sharpened edge for good blade clamping and has locking means holding the magazine on the holder and against transverse movement.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 501,477, filed Oct. 22, 1965.

This invention relates to safety razors in general and, more specifically, is directed to a magazine holder and magazine which mounts a ribbon-type razor blade in a novel manner to permit accurate positioning and clamping of successive lengths of the blade for shaving.

Safety razors employing a ribbon-type blade are not new in the safety razor art. In fact, safety razors employing ribbon-type blades have been previously developed and sold commercially but, for various reasons, have not been completely successful. Certain features, however, make safety razors employing a ribbon-type blade theoretically attractive. Among these features are the convenience and speed with which the cutting blade may be changed, the amount of material required for the blade, and the manufacturing ease and control which may be exercised over the ribbon-type blade. Notwithstanding the attractiveness of safety razors of this type, various practical difliculties and problems have prevented wide commercialization. One prominent problem is the complete lack of an economically feasible means for precisely and accurately positioning the blade which, as is Well known, is essential to obtain the degree of shaving comfort experienced with commercially acceptable designs. The amount of blade exposure available for shaving as well as storage of the unused portion of the blade without subsequent dulling have also been a problem. In some prior art designs, the magazine of necessity had to be bulky in order to store and position the blade and, as a consequence, shaving in the critical areas such as around the nostrils, ears, clefts, mouth, etc. was difficult to accomplish at best. In addition, the cost of the magazine and magazine holder in prior art designs was not completely competitive and, in certain instances, the magazine could not be easily assembled to or removed from the magazine holder. Also, certain other prior art designs failed to provide the necessary resistance to impacts experienced during normal use of the razor and, oftentimes, after a razor was accidentally dropped it was rendered useless.

The present invention is directed to improvements in 3,456,342 Patented July 22, 1969 safety razors of the type above noted wherein a holder of simplified construction receives and clamps a disposabletype of razor blade'magazine. The magazine is provided with a ribbon-type razor blade which is selectively moved from a coiled storage area to the coiled take-up area, passing over an intermediate bridge section which exposes, positions and clamps the blade for shaving. Suitable means is provided to tension the blade adjacent the cutting edge with additional means provided to guide and clamp the ribbon-type blade accurately to a blade support to insure maximum shaving comfort. A novel ratchet arrangement is also provided whereby the take-up reel is operable in only one direction to maintain the blade under tension. An advance lever is attached through a ratchet to the take-up reel, being operable in a reverse direction to permit positioning and exposure of an unused section of the ribbon-type razor blade for shaving. The unused section of the razor blade is accurately positioned and securely held to provide a straight and fairly rigid sharp cutting edge. The novel manner in which the ribbon-type blade is guided and clamped on the bridge section provides maximum exposure of the section of the blade being used with the attendant comfort and ease experienced in the shaving operation. When the ribbontype blade in the magazine has been expended, the magazine may be easily removed from the magazine holder and a new magazine accurately positioned by merely pressing it in place. Because of its unique design, the safety razor of the present invention may be economically manufactured without a sacrifice in the accuracy of blade positioning and quality of the overall construction, making it commercially competitive with accepted razor designs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety razor having a ribbon-type blade which obviates the undesirable attributes of prior art designs.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and improved safety razor of the type employing a ribbon-type blade in which the blade is easily moved and accurately positioned for maximum shaving comfort.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved magazine for safety razors in which a novel guiding means is provided to accurately position a ribbon-type blade in exposed shaving relation on a blade supporting bridge section.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a disposable magazine for ribbon-type safety razors having a novel guiding and clamping arrangement for the ribbon-type blade.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved magazine for mounting a ribbon-type safety razor which may be economically manufactured and easily assembled without a sacrifice in quality or accuracy of blade positioning.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved disposable ribbon-type safety razor magazine having a take-up reel arrangement to advance and store the ribbon-tye blade after the exposed section is no longer usable.

Other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the safety razor of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the razor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the razor of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the razor shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the magazine body;

3 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the magazine body;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the magazine of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG- URE FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of the magazine with the cover removed and the ribbon-type blade installed;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the magazine as shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the magazine cover;

FIGURE 12 is a rear elevational view of the magazine cover with the take-up reel installed to show the novel ratchet;

FIGURE 13 is a rear elevational view of the assembled magazine;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the assembled magazine shown in FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an end elevational view of the magazine of FIGURES 13 and 14;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged front elevational view taken along the line 1616 of FIGURE 14 to show the details of the advance lever and ratchet;

FIGURE 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1919 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 20 is an enlarged plan view of a corner of the razor magazine shown in FIGURE 10 with the magazine cover removed;

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 2121 of FIGURE 20; and

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 22 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the details of the locking lever and the handle.

Referring now to the exploded view of FIGURE 1, a safety razor 10 includes a magazine holder indicated generally at 11 and a disposable razor magazine indicated generally at 12. The holder 11 consists of a frame 13 supported by a handle 14 which also pivotally sup ports a locking lever 15 for locking the magazine 12 to the holder 11.

The basic elements of the razor magazine 12 include a magazine body 16 which mounts a supply reel 17 and a take-up reel 18 on which is spirally wound the opposite ends of a ribbon-type razor blade 20. A clamping spring 21 is also provided for attachment to the magazine body to clamp the ribbon-type razor blade 20 into shaving relation on the magazine body 16. A magazine cover 22, advancing lever 23 and fastening button 24 complete the basic elements forming the razor magazine 12.

The relationship of the magazine 12 to the magazine holder 11 is best seen in FIGURES 2-4 which illustrate the magazine 12 operatively assembled into the magazine holder 11. The magazine holder 11 includes a bandle 14 and frame 13 provided with a handle attaching portion 25 and backing portion 26 of generally T-shaped configuration. A laterally projecting flange 27 having an angularly bent lip portion 28 adapted for engagement with the razor blade 20 is formed at the top of the T-shaped backing portion. The magazine 12 is pressed into position against the back 26 causing the locking lever 15 to move into locking position, which will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the description of FIG- URE 22. In the installed position, as shown in FIGURE 4, the magazine is firmly retained in the holder by the locking lever 15 so as to urge the lip-like portion 28 against the ribbon-like blade 20, providing a compact safety razor which may be easily manipulated during the shaving operation.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the razor blade 20 is of thin ribbon-like form having a sharpened front edge 30 and a blunt rear edge 31. A plurality of apertures 32 are formed in the blade at uniformly spaced intervals and serve to guide and hold the blade in position. Indicia 29 in the form of numbers may also be provided at uniformly spaced intervals to divide the ribbon-type blade into identifiable sections of uniform length.

The magazine body 16 is also of generally T-shaped configuration having an upstanding thin base 33 formed integral with a transversely extending bridge section 34 which projects laterally of the base 33 to form a blade supporting surface 35. A raised rear guide 36, adapted for engagement with the blunt edge 31 of the ribbon-type blade 20, is formed at the rear of the blade supporting surface 35 while a guard 37 is disposed at the forward end of the blade supporting surface 35. While the raised guide 36 is illustrated as being disposed at right angles to the blade supporting surface 35, it is contemplated that it may be concave and/or discontinuous if desired, a long as it functions to position the blunt edge 31 of the ribbon-type razor 20.

The thin flat base 33 of the magazine body 16 is provided with a cylindrical mounting barrel 38 having a central opening 40 for rotatably mounting the supply reel 17. An opening 41 in the wall of the barrel 38 provides an outlet for the ribbon-type blade 20 carried on the supply reel 17. At the lower portion of the base 33, an opening 42 is provided which serves as a guide bearing for rotatably mounting the take-up reel 18. A wide flange 43 is formed at the extreme lower end of the base 33 for interfitting with a similarly dimensioned opening in the magazine cover 22.

Referring now to FIGURES 5-8, the detailed constructional features of the magazine body 16 will be described. A pair of mounting lugs 45 and 46 are formed on the rearward part of the bridge section 34 and are inclined upwardly toward the blade supporting surface 35 to permit the clamping spring 21 (FIG. 1) to be pushed over and locked into place by positioning openings formed in the spring 21 over the vertically disposed portion of the mounting lugs.

The blade supporting surface 35 is generally flat being interrupted by a plurality of longitudinally aligned inclined guide lugs 47. As is apparent in FIGURES 5-7, the guide lugs 47 are arranged in staggered or non-symmetrical fashion and are inclined from right to left in the direction of travel of the ribbon-like blade 20. The guide lugs 47 are spaced from the guide surface 36 a sufficient distance so as to be disposed in the path of the slots 32 formed in the ribbon-like blade 20. Accordingly, each of the slots 32 will therefore be successively brought into register with the guide lugs 47 as the ribbon-like blade 20 is drawn across the blade supporting surface 35 on the bridge section 34.

The entrance end 50 and exit end 51 of the bridge section 34 are of generally arcuate configuration, being formed on a relatively small radius in order to minimize the total width of the razor and maximize the exposure of the blade 20 within this width. The bridge section 34 is relieved on the entrance end 50 of the blade supporting surface as at 52 as well as being relieved on the arcuate portion 53, thereby forming a raised land 54 having a straight top portion co-extensive with the blade supporting surface 35, while the arcuate portion of the land 54 projects slightly outwardly of the relieved surface 53. The exit or opposite end 51 of the bridge 34 is similarly relieved at 55 merging with the arcuate end 56 to form a raised land 57. At each of the ends 50 and 51 on the bridge section 34, guide shoulders 60 and 61 are formed which are co-extensive with the ends of the guide surface 36. A longitudinally extending shallow undercut 62 is formed in the blade supporting surface 35 adjacent the guide surface 36 and opens into the relieved surfaces 52 and 55 at the entrance and exit ends 50 and 51, respectively. This provides complete freedom for the rear or blunt edge 31 of the blade to co-operate with the guide 36.

The raised lands 54 and 57 terminate on the front side by a longitudinal continuous vertically disposed shoulder 63 which extends between the blade supporting surface and the guard 37. Suitable openings 64 and 65 are pr vided in the guard 37 to permit the shaving product to pass through the guard, while shallow serrations 66 are formed in the forward or skin engaging arcuate surface of the guard 37 and function in a known manner. It is to be appreciated that the guard 37 in the present design is formed integral with the magazine body 16 and, accordingly, will be replaced with each new magazine 12.

Immediately beneath the guard 37 is provided dowel pin openings 67 and 68 which serve as alignment means when the cover 22 is snap fitted to the magazine body 16. At opposite ends of the rearward part of the bridge section 34 are formed notches or shoulders 70 and 71 which also serve to join the magazine cover 22 to the upper part of the magazine body 16 with notches 72 and 73 formed on opposite sides of the base 33 having a similar function.

Referring to FIGURES l and 11-15, the magazine cover 22 is of generally T-shaped configuration having a cover body 75 integral with outwardly projecting arm portions 76 and 77. Formed intermediate the arm portions 76 and 77 is a trough 78 adapted for positioning beneath the openings 64 and 65 in the guard 37 to receive the shaving product where it may be easily washed away under a faucet or the like. At the lower end of the cover body, an opening 80 is formed which is adapted to permit a part of the take-up reel 18 to protrude to receive the advance lever. The opening 80 is formed concentrically with a raised boss 81 which on the rearward side has a notched periphery 83 forming ratchet teeth. The main body of the cover 75 has an upstanding flange 84 defining its outer margin and extending from the ends of the arms 76 downwardly around the main body to form a continuous shroud. A window 85 is formed in the flange 84 along one side to permit observance of the indicia imprinted on the blade 20 and apprise the user of the number of sections expended.

The upper part of the magazine cover 22 receives the bridge section 34 which fills the space between the ends of the flange 84 on the arms to form an enclosure for the supply and take-up reels 17 and 18. Alignment dowels 86 and 87 are formed on the rear surface of the cover 22 on the opposite side of the trough 78 and are adapted for reception into the dowel openings 67 and 68 formed in the magazine body 16. Inwardly projecting lugs 90 and 91 are formed at opposite ends of the flange 84 and cooperate with the notches 70 and 71 on the rearward part of the bridge to hold the magazine cover 22 to the magazine body 16. Inwardly projecting lugs 92 and 93 are also formed on the flange 84 to co-operate With the notches or shoulders 72 and 73 formed in the base 33 of the magazine body 16. The flange 84 possesses sufficient flexibility to permit the lugs to be expanded during the operation in which the magazine cover 22 is assembled to the magazine body 16.

A wide groove 94, of sufiicient width to receive the wide flange 43 on the base 33 of the magazine body, is formed in the flange 84 at the base of the magazine cover 22. Raised runners 95 and 96 are formed integral with and at right angles to the flange 84 on opposite sides of the groove 94. The runners 95 and 96 are positioned on 0pposite sides of the locking lever 15 and serve to prevent lateral shifting of the magazine 16 relative to the holder 11. The runners 95 and 96 may also serve as a stop to limit the rotation of the advance lever 73 in both directions and keep it positioned where it will not interfere with insertion of the magazine 12 into the holder 11.

The arcuate surfaces 97 and 98 in the flange 84, located at the intersection of the respective arms 76 and 77 with the cover body '75, are formed oi: a cylindrical configuration on an axis at right angles to the cover body 75. These surfaces serve to guide the ribbon blade 20 in its travel from the supply reel 17 to the take-up reel 18 6 as may be seen in the rear elevational View of FIG- URE 13.

The details of the take-up reel 18 will now be described with specific reference to FIGURES 1, 9-13, 16 and 17. The take-up reel 18 includes a drum-like body portion 101 having an axially projecting annular flange 102 which is received with a bearing fit in the opening 42 formed in the base 33 of the magazine body. The drum portion 101 of the take-up reel 18 is provided with a cross slot 103 which is formed slightly off the center axis. Disposed in the cross slot 103 is a raised lug 104 for co-operation with a clip 105 of U-shaped configuration which clampingly grips the free or lead end of the ribbonlike blade 20 as is seen in FIGURE 12. The blade 20 extends around a smooth arcuate surface 106 which smoothly merges with the outer circumference of the drum 101. Inasmuch as the clip 105 is clamped to the razor blade 20 at its free end, pulling force on the blade 20 is transmitted directly from the raised lugs 104 to the clip 105 and then to the ribbon-type blade 20 so that the longitudinal pulling forces are transmitted cenerally of the razor blade 20.

A radially extending flange 107 (FIG. 16) is formed at the "base of the drum 101 and provides a guide surface for the sharp edge of the blade 20. The radial flange 107 has a thickness corresponding approximately to the depth of the ratchet teeth 83 and is provided with cut away sections '110 and 111 to form pawls 112 and 113 which engage the ratchet teeth 83 to limit the rotation of the drum to one direction only. The end portions of the pawls 112 and 113 are of greater diameter than the remainder of the flange 107, permitting them to rise and fall as the take-up reel 18 is rotated to wind the 'blade 20 on the drum 101.

On the opposite side of the flange 107 is a co-axially disposed axially projecting boss 114 having a series of ratchet teeth 115 uniformly disposed about the periphery. The boss 114 has a stepped bore 116 which extends completely through the take-up reel 18. The advance lever 23 is provided with a lever portion 117 which is formed integrally with a split ring 118. The split ring 118 is pro vided with an annular inner circumferential surface 120 which is interrupted by an inclined portion or pawl 121 disposed adjacent split 122 so that the ring may enlarge as the pawl 121 moves up the ratchet teeth 115 during reverse rotation. As seen in FIGURE 16, when the lever portion 117 is advanced in a counterclockwise direction, the pawl 121 engages the ratchet teeth 115 to cause rotation of the take-up reel 18 to wind the blade 20 on the drum 101.

As seen in FIGURE 17, the fastening button 24 is provided with an enlarged head 123 and shank 124, having radially directed protuberances 125 and 126 which permit the fastener 24 to join the lever 23 to the take-up reel 18 by being press fitted into the stepped bore 116. When installed, the head 123 overlies a shoulder 127 formed in the advance lever 23 thereby holding the parts in assembled relation.

When the advance lever 23 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front of the assembled magazine 12, the ratchet teeth 112 and 113 on the flange 107 ride in a reverse direction over the ratchet teeth 83 on the inside of the magazine cover 22. When the advance lever 23 engages the runners 95 and 96 or a sufficient length of unused blade has been exposed, the lever 23 may then be reversely rotated during which time the pawls 112 and 113 engage the ratchet teeth 83 to prevent counter rotation of the take-up reel 18. In this manner, the tension on the leading end of the blade 20 is maintained to assist in positioning.

The supply reel 17 is similar in overall construction to the take-up reel in that it includes a generally cylindrical drum portion 130 having a cross slot 131 formed with an enlarged end for co-operating with a clip 132 on the trailing end of the ribbon-like blade 20. An integral radial flange at the rearward portion of the drum 130 provides a guide for the blunt or rear edge of the blade 20, and on the opposite side is provided with axially projecting coaxially arranged arcuate lugs 134, 135' and 136'. These lugs are adapted for a very snug fit with the bearing opening 40 formed in the base 33 in order to keep the blade under tension as it is unwound from the drum 130. The frictional engagement of the flange 133 against the base 33 on the magazine body 16 provides lateral stability os well as providing some additional resistance to rotation.

As best seen in the assembled view of FIGURE 9, when the supply reel 17 is mounted in the cylindrical barrel 38, the space between the outer circumference of the drum 130 and the inner circumference of the barrel portion 38 is substantially occupied by the razor blade 20. Obviously, the clearance between the two will be increased as the blade is used and moved to the take-up reel 18.

The spring clamp 21 shown in FIGURE 1 is provided with an inclined portion 142 which is angularly bent from the main-body 137 of the spring and terminates in a scalloped edge 136. Mounting openings 138 and 139 are formed in the main body 137 of the spring 21 and are adapted to be received over the inclined mounting lugs 45 and 46 on the bridge section 34 of the magazine body '16. A pair of resilient tabs 140 and 141 are provided at opposite ends of the spring clamp 21 and are adapted for reception in openings formed in the rearward portion of the bridge 34 to assist in positioning the spring.

As seen in FIGURES 13, 14, 19 and 20, when the clamping spring 21 is assembled to the magazine body 16, the inclined portion 142 of the main body 137 extends beyond the guide portion 36 (FIGURES l4, l9 and 20) to position the scalloped front edge 136 in clamping engagement with the razor blade 20. The mounting openings 138 and 139 are locked on the inclined lugs 45 and 46 and the resilient tabs 140 and 141 (FIGURE 1) are received in recessed portions of the magazine body. Downwardly projecting tabs 144 and 145 engage the rear wall of the magazine body to provide additional strength and stability to the spring clamp 21.

As best seen in FIGURE 14, the scalloped edge 136 of the spring clamp 21 has the tips of the scalloped end portions disposed between the inclined guide lugs 47. The shallow or valley portions of the scalloped edge 136 are positioned over the non-symmetrically arranged inclined lugs 47, and co-operate to clamp the razor blade when an opening is not interfitted with the associated lug 47 on the blade supporting surface 35. Since the scalloped edge is formed on the inclined portion 142 of the main body 137 of the spring 21, the elevation between the tips of the scallops will be such that the scallops and the intermediate areas co-operate with the blade to hold it to the blade supporting surface and the inclined lug portions 47. This detail is best seen in the enlarged cross-sectional view 21.

Referring now to FIGURES 9, 10, 20 and 21, the steps of assembling the razor will be described. The thin ribbonlike blade 20 is coiled on the supply reel which, in turn, is mounted in the cylindrical mounting barrel 38. The leading end of the blade 20 is pulled over the blade supporting surface and attached to the supply reel 17 mounted in the opening 42. The blunt edge 31 of the blade 20 is disposed in engagement with the raised guide surface 36, thereby aligning the openings 32 with the inclined guide lugs 47. Immediately beneath the bridge section 34, the razor blade 20 takes the configuration in FIGURE 9, whereby the entering or unused blade will ride over the cylindrical surface 97 and the exiting or used blade will ride over the cylindrical surface 98 on the magazine cover 22, as shown in FIGURE 13, thereby drawing the blade 20 tightly to the blade supporting surface 35.

The clamping spring 21 is then pushed over the rearward part of the bridge section 34 so that the mounting openings 138 and 139 are engaged by the forward end of the inclined lugs 45 and 46. At this time, the spring is tensioned so that the ends of the scalloped portions engage the blade 20 and the intermediate or valley portions press the blade to the top of the inclined lugs 47 when the apertures 32 are not aligned.

The magazine cover 22 may then be snapped into place so that the mounting lugs and 91 are received in the shoulders or notches 70 and 71 and the wide lugs 92 and 93 are received in the rabbeted grooves or shoulders 72 and 73 on the base 33 of the magazine body. The wide flange 43 at the base of the magazine body aids in locating the parts, being positioned in the wide groove 94 formed in the flange 84 disposed around the margin of the magazine cover 22. Also, during assembly of the magazine cover 22 to the magazine cover 16, the dowel pins 86 and 87 on the magazine cover aid in locating the cover, being interfitted with the dowel openings 67 and 68 in the magazine body 16.

As seen in the top plan views of FIGURES l0 and 20, when the ribbon-like blade 20 is positioned on the blade supporting surface 35 of the bridge section 34, it assumes a wedge configuration at the opposite ends of the bridge section 34 and tapering toward a point rearwardly of the magazine body 16. Such configuration is attributable to the raised lands 54 and 57 which are disposed immediately adjacent the cutting edge 30 of the blade 20 and the blade being held under tension between the supply and take-up reels. Stated in another way, the path of travel of the ribbon-like blade 20 around the arcuate ends and across the bridge is of greater dimension at the forward end of the bridge as compared to the path of travel of the razor blade taken adjacent the guide shoulder at the rearward part of the bridge. This cause the ribbon-like blade to assume a wedge configuration tensioning the cutting edge in a straight line for optimum cutting action. Thus, the importance of the snug fit of lugs 134', 135' and 136 in the opening 40 becomes apparent. The wedging action provrded by this configuration serves to hold the rearward or blunt edge 31 of the blade 20 against the guide surface 36, thereby continuously maintaining the apertures 32 in the blade in longitudinal alignment with the inclined guide lugs 37. Holding the rearward edge 31 in a straight line results in positioning the forward or sharpened edge 30 in a straight line also, as long as proper clamping action is applied to the blade over the flat blade supporting surface 35. Such clamping action is not only provided by the clamping spring 21 centrally of the blade 20 but is clamped closely adjacent the sharp edge 30 by the downwardly bent lip 28 on the flange 27 at the top of the frame 26 on the holder 11. This may be best observed in FIGURE 19 which illustrates the downwardly bent lip 28 having the terminal end portion engaging the blade 20 very close to the sharpened edge 30. The downwardly bent lip 28 on the flange 27 of the holder is disposed at such an angle that it establishes a slight clearance (not shown) with the downwardly bent lip 142 on the clamping spring 21. In the subsequent description of FIGURE 22, it will become apparent that the locking lever 15 assists in maintaining the lip 28 engaged with the blade 20.

In the top plan view of FIGURE 10, it can be seen that not all of the inclined lugs 47 are aligned with an aperture 32 in the ribbon-type blade 20. Inasmuch as the apertures 32 are uniformly arranged and the inclined guide lugs 47 are staggered or non-symmetrical by design, at least one lug will always be engaged with at least one aperture regardless of the longitudinal position of the blade 26 relative to the blade supporting surface 35. The wedging action provided by the relieved ends of the bridge 34 insures that the blade will remain against the guide surface 36 and serves to hold the sharpened edge 3!) of the blade 20 away from the magazine cover 22 as it is unreeled from the supply reel 17.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 22, the handle 14 is formed with an elongated slot 151 of sutficient width to loosely receive the locking lever of inverted h-shaped configuration. A pair of shoulders 153 and 154, formed at the ends of the slot 151 on opposite sides are joined to a transverse Web 155 (FIGURES 1 and 22) of reduced thickness which forms a fulcrum on which the locking lever 15 pivots, as will be seen. The center of the web 155 is provided with a vertical notch 156 which receives a transverse Web 157 connecting the legs of the inverted h which form a U-shaped opening 158 in the locking lever 15. The transverse web 157 is dimensioned so as to slideably fit within the slot and permit the arcuate bottom surface 160 forming the base of the opening 158 to engage the arcuate fulcrum 161 of the web 155 on opposite sides of the notch 156. As noted, the locking lever 15 is of inverted h shape, having short and long leg portions 162 and 163, respectively, positioned on opposite sides of the web 155. On the top margin of the short leg 162 is formed a shoulder 164 which engages the lower end of the magazine 12 along the top edge of the flange 84 between the runners 95 and 96. The top of the leg 162 engages the side of the flange 84 to urge the magazine 12 in an upward direction.

The longer leg 163 on the locking lever 15 is sloped outwardly and is provided with outwardly projecting arms 166 and 167 engaging the face of the magazine cover 22 at its lower extremity intermediate the runners 95 and 96 to preclude lateral movement. An operating handle 168 is provided by the longer leg 163 and is adapted to be depressed by the users thumb when effecting a change in magazines.

A coil spring 170 is received around a spring guide 171 on the locking lever 15, while the opposite end is positioned around a spring guide 172 formed in the handle 14 at the lower end of the slot 151. The coil spring urges the locking lever upwardly to urge the arcuate bottom surfaces 160 into bearing engagement with the transverse web 155 on opposite sides of the notch 156. Simultaneously, this urges the leg portions 162 and 163 into engagement with the magazine thereby urging it tightly to the lip 28 on the frame 26 for good blade clamping. Since the lever is semi-floating, that is, held to the fulcrum formed by web 155 only by the coil spring 170, it may readily compensat for slight changes in overall dimension of the magazine 12. The coil spring 170 acts directly through the locking lever 15 to maintain the magazine 12 properly positioned with the magazine body in abutting engagement with the frame 26.

When it is desired to change the magazine 12, such as would be the case after the ribbon blade is no longer usable, the handle 168 on the locking lever 15 is depressed causing the shoulder 164 to urge the base of the magazine outwardly. Simultaneously, the leg 163 is lowered permitting the magazine to freely extend whereby it may be gripped between the users thumb and forefinger and withdrawn from the holder 11. A fresh magazine may be inserted by merely pressing it into place, at which time the locking lever will assume the position shown in FIGURE 22 with the magazine securely locked to the holder 11. The mounting lugs 45 and 46 may be shaped to co-operate with the flange 27 on the frame 13, thereby preventing movement away from the back 26. In this manner, the lip 28 will always be properly positioned over the blade 20.

Among the advantages of the present design which are readily apparent from the foregoing description is the novel manner of holding the thin ribbon-type blade 20 to assure that the exposed section of the blade which is used for shaving will always be properly located relative to the shaving guard to prevent irritation and accidental cutting. The novel construction of the parts forming the basic razor and magazine assembly permits it to be fabricated from molded plastic or the like by injection molding or the equivalent technique. Assembly of the parts is also easily accomplished without sacrificing the high degree of accuracy necessary for proper blade positioning. These and other obvious features permit the razor of the present invention to be commercially competitive with currently accepted designs of safety razors.

We claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a magazine holder and a magazine, said magazine having a ribbon-type razor blade mounted therein with a portion of said ribbon-type razor blade exposed on a bridge section formed on said magazine, spring means clamping said exposed portion of said ribbon-type blade to said bridge section, said magazine holder including a frame portion and a handle portion, said frame portion including a generally flat back portion joined to one end of said handle portion and provided at the opposite end with a laterally projecting flange, said flange including a terminal lip portion adapted for engagement with the exposed portion of said ribbontype razor blade, said terminal lip portion on said flange clamping said ribbon-type blade to said bridge section closely adjacent a sharpened edge of said razor blade.

2. The safety razor of claim 1 wherein said magazine is provided with runners disposed adjacent said handle, and locking means is provided on said handle for positioning between said runners to prevent lateral shifting of said magazine relative to said holder.

3. A safety razor comprising a magazine holder and a magazine, said magazine having a ribbon-type razor blade mounted therein with a forward sharpened portion of said ribbon-type razor blade exposed on a bridge section formed on said magazine, a rearward portion of said ribbon-type razor blade being movable in a path which is shorter than said forward portion thereby urging said blade toward a rearward part of said bridge, said magazine holder including a frame portion and a handle portion, said frame portion including a generally flat back portion joined to one end of said handle portion and provided at the opposite end with a laterally projecting flange, said flange including a terminal lip portion in engagement with the exposed forward sharpened portion of said ribbon-type razor blade, said terminal lip portion on said flange clamping said ribbon-type blade to said bridge section closely adjacent said sharpened edge of said razor blade, said magazine having runners disposed adjacent said handle portion, and said handle portion having locking means for positioning between said runners to prevent lateral shifting of said magazine relative to said holder portion, said locking means acting to urge said magazine against said flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,492,292 12/1949 Jones et a1. 3040.1 3,254,971 6/1966 Forsberg 30-40.1 X 3,262,198 7/1966 Nissen 30346.5

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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