US3540575A - Razor blade dispenser - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor Barth AQl-iolohan Mountainside, New Jersey Appl. No. 728,515 Filed May 13, 1968 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 640,579, May 23, 1967, abandoned Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Assignee Eversharp lnc.

Milford, Connecticut a corporation of Delaware RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER 16 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 206/16, 221/250 Int. Cl B65d 83/10 Field of Search 206/ 1 6B,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,243 4/1948 Dalkowitz 221/41 3,373,862 3/1968 Minchin 206/16(B)UX FOREIGN PATENTS 164,443 8/1955 Australia 206/16(B) Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Greist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey ABSTRACT: A razor blade dispenser comprises two telescopically associated sections, one section being a casing which is generally tubular and rectangular in cross section and the other section being an insert received in the casing and having yieldable ramp means coacting with the casing for controlling the sliding of blades singly through an exit slot, the two sections preferably being molded of synthetic plastic material and providing between them a compartment for used blades as well as new blades.

PafE'fi'teH Nbv. 17,1970 1 3540575 Sheet 1 of2 swifz ma ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,575

' INVHNTOR. .Barlfi A. Hafioban AT T ORNE RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. Pat. application filed May 23, I967, Ser. No. 640,579, now abandoned.

The present invention is directed toward improvement of known razor blade receptacles of the type shown, for example, in US. Pat. Nos. 1,909,919; 2,439,243; 3,082,862 and 3,l26,09l, which comprise multiple sections associated to control the manual sliding of blades singly from discharge openings.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved razor blade dispenser having a casing with wall means defining an exit slot communicating with a new blade compartment containing a stack of blades, the dispenser also having yieldably mounted ramp means between ends of the blades and the exit slot for controlling one-at-atime exit of the blades through the exit slot.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a dispenser according to the foregoing object and including a uniquely formed, normally closed exit slot.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved razor blade dispenser of the type described wherein the ramp means act as a cam to lift at least lowermost blades in the stack to place them in one-at-a-time registry with the exit slot.

Another object of the present invention is the provision ofa new and improved razor blade dispenser constituted by an open-ended casing member and an insert member therefor, wherein unique means are provided for securing these two sections together to define, among other things, a dispenser with new and used blade compartments therein.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a razor blade dispenser consisting of simplified two-piece construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification disclosing preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY The invention provides a simple two-piece dispenser wherein such pieces are connected together in a novel and improved manner to provide an exit slot through which only one blade at a time may be slid. The dispenser includes ramp means normally holding the blades against movement through the exit slot, the ramp means being yieldably mounted to permit the blades to be manually slid through the exit slot in a controlled manner.

The invention also contemplates novel and improved construction and the combination of a tubular section and another section telescopically slidable into and out of the firstmentioned section providing for new and used blade compartments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a razor blade dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan on a slightly enlarged scale of the dispenser as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal vertical section FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary. longitudinal, central section taken through the modified dispenser;

FIG. 11 is a slightly reduced end view of the dispenser taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a slightly reduced section taken along the line 12-12 ofFIG. I0; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of the inner surface of the top wall.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the embodiment of the dispenser shown in FIGS. l8, the same will be seen to comprise two sections A and B preferably formed of a synthetic plastic material. One section A is defined by an open-ended casing which is generally tubular with a rectangular cross section. The other section B, which is in the nature of an insert, is telescopically slidable into and out of section A. Side walls I of the section A have longitudinal grooves 2 (FIG. 6) in which are slidably mounted the edges of the approximately flat body portion or platform 3 of the section B.

The platform 3 has enlarged end portions 4 and 5. The end portion 4 extends throughout the width and beyond the side edges of the portion 3 so as to abut the side walls 1, top wall 6 and bottom wall'7 of the section A. In like manner, the end portion 5 substantially closes the end of the section A opposite the end portion 4. However, the top edge of the end portion 5 has spaced apart lugs 7'a defining therebetween a blade exit portion which cooperates with a blade exit end portion of the top wall 6 to define an exit slot 8 the dimensions of which are such that only one razor blade C may slide through the slot at one time.

The platform 3 of the insert section B has a pair of longitudinal slots 9 and another pair of longitudinal slots 10 which provide two resilient tongues 11 and 12. The tongue II has two arms Ila between which is disposed the tongue I2. The tongue 12 has an upstanding guide rib 13 on its upper surface arranged to enter the slots D in the razor blades, one end of this rib being abutted by the end walls of the slots D (FIG. 4) so as normally to hold a stack of blades by engagement of the latter with said end of the rib and with positioning lugs 14 on the upper face of the platform 3 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The underside of the top wall 6 of the section A has a central longitudinal groove 15 in which the rib I3 is received thereby to prevent the blades from sliding backwardly over the rib. The other end of the rib is beveled at 16. The top wall 6 of the section A has an opening I7 through which the thumb of the user may be pressed against the top blade to slide the same over the rib and through the exit slot 8, deflection of the tongue 12 allowing the necessary downward movement of the rib 13 to permit passage of a blade.

The exit slot 8 is normally blocked by a combined blade guide and spring latch which is shown as comprising a crossbar l8 connecting the arms 11a of the tongue II. The side of the crossbar 18 facing the rib I3 is beveled at 19 thereby to act as a ramp so that the leading end of the uppermost blade, when pushed by the user's thumb, rides upwardly on said surface 19 into contact with the top wall 6 of section A and thereupon deflects the crossbar l8 downwardly away from the exit slot 8 so that the blade can be slid between the upper edge of the crossbar and the top wall 6 of the section A and thence through the exit slot.

The crossbar I8, which constitutes the blocking means, normally blocks the exit slot 8 to prevent passage of blades through the latter. The crossbar, upon being engaged by the leading end of a blade, readily deflects by reason of the construction of the arms 11a to permit passage of a blade.

The blocking means, which is disposed between the exit slot and common ends of the blades in the stack, serves as a unique but simple means to control one-at-a-time exit of the blades from the top of the stack. The blocking means is separate from the wall means defining the exit slot 8 and accordingly does not complicate construction of the latter. The crossbar I8 which serves to define the blocking means can be readily formed as part of the platform 3 of dispenser section B.

The rib l3 and lugs 14 hold the stack of blades in position in the new blade compartment primarily defined by the top wall 6 and the platform 3. The ramp surface 19 acts as camming means for elevating or lifting at least the lowermost blades in the stack for placing them in registry with the exit slot 8. The uppermost blade in the stack is guided and frictionally engaged by the crossbar 18 as such blade passes through the exit slot. The crossbar yieldably engages the underside of the blade thereby to prevent the latter from accidentally falling from the exit slot during dispensing.

For securing the insert section B in the section A, the lower wall 7 of the latter has a wide spring tongue 20 the end of which seats in or engages a catch formation or rabbet 21 in the end portion of the section B. The tongue snaps into the rabbet 21 by its own inherent resiliency as the section B is inserted into the section A. A notch 22 (FIG. 8) may be provided in the end portion 5 to permit the insertion of a pin or other instrument beneath the end of the tongue for momentarily holding the tongue out of the rabbet to permit removal of the section B from the section A for reloading the dispenser with new blades and for discarding used blades. However, in most instances this will not be done as a dispenser according to the present invention is of low-cost construction permitting economical disposal after dispensing the last new blade.

The opposite end of the bottom wall 7 of the section A is cut away to provide an opening 23 for the insertion of used blades into the compartment between the platform 3 of the section B and the bottom wall 7 of the section A. To contain the used blades in a manner to prevent substantial rattling, the bottom face of the platform 3 has ribs 24 which engage the inner surface of the bottom wall 7 when the dispenser sections are assembled.

The modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9-13 will now be described. The modification differs primarily in the construction of the exit slot as the same is of normally closed construction according to the modification. The parts of the modification which correspond to the parts of the FIGS. 1-8 embodiment are designated by the prime form of letter and numeral.

The top wall 6 of the casing section A has a blade exit end portion the underside of which contains a boss formation 25. This boss formation preferably includes a transversely extending lip 25a as best noted in FIG. 10. The end wall 5' of the easing section B has a central formation 26 with an upper ledge surface 26a which is substantially coplanar with the upper faces of the lugs 7a. When the dispenser section B is received within the section A, the ledge surface 26a is in substantial coextensive contact with the lip 25a on the boss formation 25; this can best be seen by reference to FIG. 11.

The ramp or crossbar 18' has an upper surface 27 with a pair of projections 28 at respective opposite ends thereof. These projections normally straddle the boss formation 25 (FIG. 12) and engage the underside of the top wall 6' thereby locating the upper surface 27 in substantial coplanar relation with the ledge surface 26a. At this time it should be mentioned that the boss formation 25 has a central cutout portion 25b for receiving the upper surface of the guide rib 13'.

Referring to FIG. 11, the boss formation 25 and the up standing formation 26, which define the normally closed exit slot, also define a pair of open spaces 29 and 30. During dispensing, these open spaces freely receive the cutting edges of the blade thereby to prevent any rubbing against such blade edges during dispensing ofa blade.

As a blade is being dispensed, initial movement thereof brings the leading end of the elongated central portion of the blade into engagement with the ramp surface 19' thereby deflecting and lowering the crossbar 18'. This leading end of the blade will pass through the rectangular space defined by the underside of the boss formation 25, the surface 27 and the projections 28. Continued movement of the blade will bring the leading end thereof into the space between the undersurface of the boss formation 25 and the ledge surface 26a whereupon the leading end will come into contact with the lip 25a. As the blade continues to move forwardly, it will spread the surfaces 25a, 26a to open the exit slot and permit passage of the blade therethrough. This opening movement of the exit slot being permitted by the yieldable nature or construction of the end wall 5' of the casing section B.

Since the crossbar 18 has been deflected, the upper surface 27 thereof will now be disposed beneath the ledge surface 26a. Accordingly, if the adjacent blade in the stack is slid along with the blade to be dispensed, the leading end of the centrally disposed elongated portion of the adjacent blade will pass through the space defined by the surface 27. and the projections 28 and be brought into abutting engagement with the inner surface of the end wall 5. This action prevents the adjacent blades from being dispensed at this time. As the blade being dispensed continues to pass outwardly through the exit slot. the cutting edge portions thereof will come into contact with the projections 28 further lowering the crossbar I8 and guiding the leading end of the adjacent blade into abutting engagement with the end wall 5' at a level considerably beneath the ledge surface 26a thereby positively preventing escape of the adjacent blade in the stack. Actually, the aforedescribed operation and function of the crossbar 18' in preventing escape of the adjacent blade in the stack is also present in the embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1-8.

The modified form of the invention has the advantage residing in the fact that the exit slot is normally closed thereby minimizing the possibility of a blade being inadvertently dispensed from the dispenser. Within certain limitations, the modified form of the invention can be adapted to accommodate blades of varying thicknesses. The modified dispenser can be adapted to accommodate blades of almost any desired thickness by varying the dimensions of the boss formation 25 and the upstanding formation 26 on the crossbar I8.

Iclaim:

l. A dispenser for longitudinally slotted razor blades, comprising two telescopically associated sections one of which is tubular and oblong rectangular in cross section with top, bottom and side walls open at both ends and having an opening in the top wall, the other section having a flat body portion to support a stack of slotted blades between itself and said top wall and also having two end portions one of which is formed to coact with the top wall of the tubular section at one end thereof to'provide an exit slot whose dimensions will permit the ejection of said blades singly therethrough, said body portion having formations thereon normally holding the stack of blades in position beneath said top wall opening but providing for slidable ejection of the uppermost blade from the stack to the exit slot by manual pressure exerted on the blade through said top wall opening, said body portion also having a spring latch normally yieldingly held in blocking relation to said exit slot but being movable away from the slot by pressure exerted on the latch by the blade being ejected.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim I wherein the other end portion of the inner section abuts the adjacent end of the tubular section to limit sliding of the inner section into said tubular section, and said tubular section and the first-mentioned end portion of the inner section have coacting separable parts releasably holding said inner section against sliding out of said tubular section.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2 wherein coacting separable parts constitute a spring tongue on the bottom wall of the tubular section yieldingly seated in a catch formation in the second-mentioned end portion of the inner section.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim I wherein said body portion is formed of resilient material and is longitudinally slotted providing two resilient tongues one of which carries said latch and the other of which carries an upstanding rib defining one of said formations, said rib projecting into the slots in said stack of blades and having a beveled end over which the blade being ejected is slid to depress the rib out of the slot for free passage of the. unslotted rear portion of the blade past said rib.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4 wherein the first-mentioned tongue includes two arms connected by a crossbar that serves as the latch to block said exit slot, and the second-mentioned tongue is disposed between said arms.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a compartment for used blades between said body portion of the inner section and said bottom wall of the tubular section and said bottom wall has an opening for the insertion of blades into said compartment.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring latch includes a resilient tongue having a crossbar thereon that normally abuts said top wall of the tubular section, blocks said exit slot and has a beveled surface engageable by the end of the blade being ejected to guide the blade between the crossbar and said top wall and move the crossbar away from the exit slot.

8. ln a razor blade dispenser which includes a casing having wall means at one end of said casing defining a blade exit slot having a fixedly positioned top surface, said slot communicating with a compartment adapted to contain a stack of blades, the improvement comprising blocking means in the casing separate from said wall means and disposed between said exit slot and common ends of the blades in the stack, said blocking means having a top edge portion and being normally positioned with the top edge thereof in blocking relation with said slot to restrain exit of a blade therefrom, said blocking means being yieldably mounted such that the same deflects downwardly upon being engaged on said top edge thereof by the leading end of a blade thereby to lower said top edge and permit passage of such blade through said exit slot.

9. The dispenser according to claim 8 wherein said blocking means is constituted by ramp means inclined upwardly toward said exit slot.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 8 which includes a platform forming a part of said compartment and being adapted to support said stack of blades thereon, said blocking means forming apart of and being resiliently mounted with respect to said platform.

11. A dispener as defined in claim 8 in which said fixedly positioned top surface including a generally centrally disposed boss portion adapted to engage only the longitudinally central portion of said blade, the remaining portions of said top surface being spaced apart from a blade passing through said slot.

12. 'A dispenser as defined in claim 8 in which said exit slot is defined in part by a lower surface portion having a generally centrally disposed boss portion for engaging only the longitudinally central portion of a blade passing through said slot, the remaining portions of said slot being spaced downwardly from a blade passing therethrough.

13. A dispenser as defined in claim 8 in which said blocking means is in the form of a ramp, in which said ramp extends laterally a substantial distance in relation to the width of said cross slot, and in which said ramp is closely spaced apart from said slot in the direction in which blades are to be dispensed.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13 in which said ramp includes two raised end portions on either end thereof.

15. A dispenser as defined in claim 10 in which said platform includes means on a lower surface thereof defining, at least in part, a used blade compartment lying at an end of said platform opposite the end of which said blocking means is disposed.

16. In a razor blade dispenser including an elongated, hollow casing which is rectangular to transverse cross section and which is open at opposite ends thereof, said casing having a top wall with a thumb opening therein and a blade exit end portion, the improvement comprising, an insert member inserted into said casing and substantially contained therein, which insert member has means including a platform defining with said top wall a new blade compartment, said insert member having an end wall with an upwardly disposed blade exit portion which is adjacent said blade exit end portion and which cooperates with the latter to define a blade exit slot communicating with said compartment, said end wall having a downwardly disposed catch formation, and said casing having a bottom wall with the end thereof adjacent said blade exit end portion being defined by a flexible tongue substantially coplanar with the bottom wall and engaged with said catch formation to prevent removal of said insert member from said casing.

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