US3783493A

US3783493A - Method for dispensing razor blade cartridges

Info

Publication number: US3783493A
Application number: US00270138A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Dawidowicz; F Ferraro
Original assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Current assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Priority date: 1971-10-22
Filing date: 1972-07-10
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

The specific embodiments provide a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges comprising at least one dispenser having a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers. Means are provided in each one of the chambers for releasably maintaining a razor blade cartridge therein with engageable surfaces of the cartridge positioned for engagement by supporting surfaces on a holder. Guide means are formed in a side wall of the dispenser unit to one side of each of the chambers for guiding the supporting surfaces of the holder into or out of engagement with the engageable surfaces of the cartridge. One of the cartridge chambers is empty, and the next successive chambers have unused cartridges therein. When an initial cartridge on the holder is no longer suitable for use, it is placed in the empty chamber, and the unused cartridge in the next successive chamber is used. Thereafter, each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, is replaced in the chamber from which the cartridge was removed and the cartridge from the next successive chamber is removed for use until all the cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser unit.

Description

United States Patent I 91 Dawidowicz et al. I

[ Jan. 8, 1974 Inventors: Jan Dawidowicz, Fairfield; Frank A.

Ferraro, Trumbull, both of Conn.

Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company, Morris Plaines, NJ.

Filed: July 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 270,138

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. Nos. 191,665, Oct. 22, 1971, and Ser. No. 236,723, March 21, 1972, and Ser. No. 258,682, June 1, 1972.

US. Cl. 29/400, 29/211 R, 30/40, 30/85 Int. Cl 823p 17/00, B23q 7/10 Field of Search 29/400, 429, 208 D, 29/428, 430, 211 R; 30/40, 85

Wilkinson Bonded Shaving System Printed Instructions (Exhibit B) Commercially Available Prior to Oct. 22, I971.

.QQQQ...

Gilette Trac II Twin Blade Cartridge Shaving System (Exhibit C) Available Prior to Oct. 22, 1971.

Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney-James F. Powers, Jr. and Albert H.

[5 7] ABSTRACT The specific embodiments provide a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges comprising at least one dispenser having a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers. Means are provided in each one of the chambers for releasably maintaining a razor blade cartridge therein with engageable surfaces of the cartridge positioned for engagement by supporting surfaces on a holder. Guide means are formed in a side wall of the dispenser unit to one side of each of the chambers for guiding the supporting surfaces of the holder into or out of engagement with the engageable surfaces of the cartridge. One of the cartridge chambers is empty, and the next successive chambers have unused cartridges therein. When an initial cartridge on the holder is no longer suitable for use, it is placed in the empty chamber, and the unused cartridge in the next successive chamber is used. Thereafter, each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, is replaced in the chamber from. which the cartridge was removed and the cartridge from the next successive chamber is removed for use until all the cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser unit.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures f 1 i ll" l 60 2 Hi l- ,t I M I [06 u" 0 ,3: m2 1 6 Hi l "l, /02 62 .llli I F0 PATENIEUJM 8 m4 3,783,493 sum 10F 4 VlIIIlIIlIII/I lZO /24 )22 METHOD FOR DISPENSING RAZOR BLADE CARTRIDGES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 191,665, filed Oct. 22, 1971, for Razor Having Tandemly Mounted Blades Bonded In A Disposable Cartridge, and of U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 236,723, filed Mar. 21, 1972, for Dispenser And Dispensing System For Bonded Razor Blade Cartridges, and of U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 258,682, filed June 1, 1972, for Bonded Blade Cartridges And A Cartridge Dispensing System.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety razors of a type having at least one blade permanently bonded in a disposable cartridge. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a method for dispensing razor blade cartridges.

It is known to permanently bond a blade having a single edge in a disposable cartridge. For example, U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,654,148 and 3,388,831 each disclose a razor blade pennanently bonded in a disposable cartridge. Typically, a safety razor has a guard surface situated downwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge of a blade and parallel to the cutting edge. The guard surface may be of the comb variety, such as in U. S. Pat. No. 2,654,148, or formed by the outer surface of an elongated guard bar, such as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,388,831. An advantage of providing a blade pennanently bonded in a cartridge is that it is possible to optimize the shaving angle defined by the relationship between the cutting edge and the guard surface to minimize the possibility of nicks and .cuts and to maximize shaving efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges each having slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely thereof. The system comprises a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the cartridge slidably engageable surfaces. The system also comprises at least one dispenser unit having a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers, means in each one of the chambers for releasably maintaining a cartridge therein with the cartridge slidably engageable surfaces positionedfor engagement by the holder supporting surfaces, and guide means formed in a side wall of the unit for guiding the holder supporting surfaces into and out of engagement with the cartridge slidably engageable surfaces. Initially, an end one of the chambers is empty, and the next successive chambers have unused cartridges therein. When an initial cartridge on the holder is no longer suitable for use, it is positioned in the empty chamber by means of the holder and brought into engagement by the maintaining means in the empty chamber. The supporting surfaces of the holder are then slid out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of the initial cartridge and out through the guide means to one side of the empty chamber. Then, at least a portion of the holder supporting surfaces is positioned in the guide means to one side of the first successive chamber following the empty chamber, andthe supporting surfaces are moved through the first successive chamber guide means into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of the cartridge inthe first successive chamber. By means of the holder, the maintaining means in the first successive chamber is overcome, and the cartridge from the first successive chamber is removed. Thereafter, each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, is replaced in the chamber from which it was removed, and the cartridge from the next successive chamber is removedfor use until all the cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser unit for use.

Thus, the method of the present invention provides for dispensement of unused cartridges and for storage of used cartridges without requiring that the cartridges be touched by hand. Further, the dispenser of the present invention can be constructed of relatively inexpensive material, and without moving parts. Still further, the method of the present invention provides a ready identification of the unused and used cartridges in the dispenser, and also a convenient indicationof the next unused cartridge that should be removed for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded view of a cartridge and a cartridge holder suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cartridge dispense embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the dispenser of FIG. 2 with a portion of a side wall broken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser taken along Lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a crosssectional view of the dispenser taken along Lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another dispenser embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along Lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another dispenser embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another dispenser embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 taken along Lines 10-40.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a blade cartridge 10 and a cartridge holder 12. The blade cartridge 10 has a pair of double edge blades 38, 40 bonded permanently between a cap 34 and a blade seat member 36. The blades 38, 40 are maintained. in a separated state by a spacer having a plurality of comb-like teeth 42 protruding a slight distance from beneath the cutting edge of the upper blade 38. A guard bar 44 is spaced outwardly from each of opposite longitudinal sides of the blade seat member 36 to provide a plurality of downwardly extending shaving residue channels 46 beneath the cutting edge of the lower blade 40. Shaving residue channels are also provided between the cutting edges of the blades 38, 40 which are defined by the spaces between adjacent spacer teeth 42, perforations 48 (FIG. 2) in the lower blade 40, and apertures 50 (FIG. 2) in the underside of the blade seat member 36.

The holder 12 includes a handle 14 to which a frame member 16 is secured. A generally U-shaped flanged channel member 18 and a stop and spring member 20 are secured to the upper portion of the frame member 16. The cartridge 10 is removably secured to the holder 12 by sliding the flanged U-shaped member 18 into a T-shaped channel 32 formed transversely along the underside of the blade seat 36. When the flanged U- shaped member 18 is centrally located in the T-shaped channel 32, a biased detent 19 is in abutting engagement with one of two

notches

51, 52 formed in the T- shaped channel 32.

The cap 34, the spacer 42 and the blade seat 36 can all be composed of moldable plastic material, and the spacer 42 can alternatively be composed of metal, such as aluminum. The cap 34 can be permanently bonded to the blade seat 36 by deforming the lower ends of a plurality of posts (not shown) extending downwardly from the underside of the cap 34. The post deformations can be carried out within the bores 55 formed along the underside of the blade seat 36 by application of mechanical, heat or ultrasonic energy. Further, the cap 34 can be permanently bonded to the blade seat 36 by providing abutting surfaces in the cap 34 and in the blade seat 36 and applying ultrasonic energy to either the top of the cap 34 or the bottom of the blade seat 36 to bond the abutting surfaces together.

With reference to FIGS. 2 5, the dispenser includes an upper multi-chamber cartridge container 60 and a lower multi-chamber container 62. The

containers

60, 62 can be suitably formed of moldable plastic. Further, the

containers

60, 62 can have identical structure, and the dispenser may have more than two containers.

Each one of the

containers

60, 62 has opposing

end walls

64, 66 and a pair of

transverse partitions

68, 70 to define three cartridge chambers. Each one of the chambers has a pair of spaced cartridge rests 72 (FIG. 2), 74 (FIG. at opposite transverse sides thereof. The cartridges are positioned within the chambers in an inverted position with the upper outer side ends of the cap 34 and the blade seat 36 in abutting engagement with the rests 72, 74 to prevent the cutting edges of the blades 38, 40 from engaging or contacting the surfaces of the

containers

60, 62. As shown in FIG. 5, stop

members

76, 78 are formed on the inner surfaces of the

end walls

64, 66 and on opposite sides of the

partitions

68, 70. The

stop members

76, 78 are provided for snap-lock engagement with the underside portions of the guard bars 44 of the cartridges 10 to maintain the cartridges 10 in the chambers in an abutting engagement with the rests 72, 74.

Each one of the

containers

60, 62 has a side wall 80 having three guide channels 82 transversely formed in the top surface thereof. Each one of the guide channels 82 has a horizontal guide surface 84 formed between opposing

vertical surfaces

86, 88. The guide surface 84 is provided to guide the upper surfaces of the U-shaped flanged channel member 18 into or out of sliding engagement with the cartridge.

Each one of the

containers

60, 62 has a horizontal stepped surface 90 defined by a vertical surface 96 spaced inwardly from the outermost vertical surfaces of the container. The stepped surface 90 extends around three sides of the container, and stepped

surfaces

92, 94, 98, 100 are provided in the plane of the surface 90 on each side of the guide channels 82 formed in the side wall 80.

The underside of each one of the

containers

60, 62 has a downwardly extending skirt 102 defined by a horizontal surface 104 and a vertical surface 106 (FIG. 4). The skirt 102 is dimensioned for a close fit with the stepped surfaces 90, 92, 94, 98, and the vertical surface 96. The upper vertical surface 96 has a pair of outwardly opened

recesses

108, 110 formed in the

opposite end walls

64, 66. As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, the

recesses

108, 110 at each end of the lower container 62 receive protrusions 112 formed in the inner side of the skirt 102 of the upper container 60 to provide a snap-lock connection between the two

containers

60, 62.

As shown in FIG. 2, the chambers of the upper container 60 are opened at the bottom sides thereof. The lower container 62 may have a clear and/or decorative bottom wall in snap-lock engagement with the skirt 102 of the lower container 62. As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 80 of each of the

containers

60, 62 has a cavity 122 along the underside thereof. A decorative and- /or descriptive strip of metal or other material 124 can be positioned along the lower end of the cavity 122 for view through the lower wall 120.

With reference to FIG. 2, the dispenser is manufactured and assembled with the top chamber of the upper container 60 vacant, and with the remaining two chambers of the upper container 60 and the three chambers of the lower container 62 having cartridges 10 therein. The chambers having cartridges therein are consecutively numbered from 1 through 5 in the chan' nel guide surfaces 84. A new holder 12 may have a dummy cartridge (not shown) having the same general outer configuration as that of the cartridge 10. The dummy cartridge (not shown) or a used cartridge from a prior dispenser is inserted in the top chamber 130 by initially inserting a guard bar portion in the chamber 130 and rotating the holder 12 in a counter-clockwise manner as viewed in FIG. 5 in dashed lines until the lower surfaces of the two guard bars are snap-lock fitted beneath the

stop members

76, 78. The holder 12 is then slid to the right with the holder flanged channel member 18 passing outwardly along the guide surface of the chamber 130.

A new cartridge is then removed by positioning the upper surfaces of the left portion of the flanged channel member 18 on the guide surface denoted with the numeral 1. The holder 12 is then moved to the left for sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel 32 in the lower part of the cartridge 10. The new cartridge is removed from the chamber by rotating the holder 12 clockwise as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5, and the holder can then be lifted upwardly for use.

When the cartridge removed from chamber 1 is no longer suitable for use, it is returned to chamber 1 in the same manner as described hereinabove for positioning the dummy cartridge (not shown) or a used cartridge in the top chamber 130. The cartridge from chamber 2 is then removed and used. After the cartridge removed from chamber 2 is no longer suitable for use, it is returned to chamber 2. The upper container 60 is then disconnected from the lower container 62 and discarded. The holder 12 is then positioned on the guide surface denoted by numeral 3 and moved to the left to remove a new cartridge from the upper chamber of the lower container 62. The process of returning used cartridges to the chambers from which they were removed and using the cartridge in the next consecutive chamber is continued until the cartridge in chamber 5 is removed. At this time, the lower container 62 may be discarded and a new dispenser corresponding to that described with reference to FIG. 2 is obtained. Thereafter, the foregoing steps are repeated with the cartridge removed from chamber 5 of the discarded lower portion 62 being initially positioned in the top chamber 130 of the new dispenser. Alternatively, the cartridge removed from chamber 5 may be returned to chamber 5 prior to discarding the lower container 62.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another dispenser embodiment wherein two dispenser units or

containers

150, 151 are releasably connected together, for example, bya suitable adhesive or by ultrasonic spot-welding. Each one of the

dispenser units

150, 151 has a longitudinal row of three transverse cartridge chambers defined by the end walls thereof and two pairs of

rigid webs

158, 159; 160, 161. As shown in FIG. 7, each chamber has a stop member 155 157 extending inwardly thereof for releasably engaging the underside of a cartridge guard bar to releasably maintain a cartridge therein. Cartridges are fitted in the upper chambers of each of the

dispenser units

150, 151 by positioning the lower undersurface of the cartridge against the underside of the sloping

webs

158, 159 and resting the top upper surface of the cartridge on the upper walls of the

dispenser units

150, 151 with the stop 155 positioned above the underside of the upper guard bar as shown in FIG. 6. Cartridges are positioned in the middle chambers of each of the

dispenser units

150, 151 by positioning the lower undersurface of the cartridge against the underside of the sloping pair of

webs

160, 161 with the top upper surface of the cartridge resting on the upper sides of the

sloping web members

158, 159 and the stop 156 engaging the underside of the top guard bar. Similarly, a cartridge is positioned in the lower chambers of each of the

dispenser units

150, 151 with the upper surface of the cartridge resting on the upper sides of the

web members

160, 161 and with the underside of the bottom guard bar in abutting engagement with a stop member 162 protruding from the bottom wall of the dispenser. Further, the stop 157 engages the underside of the upper end of the cartridge to releasably maintain the cartridge in the lower chambers of the

dispenser units

150, 151.

Each chamber of the

dispenser units

150, 151 has guide means formed in one side wall thereof consisting of upwardly extending

surfaces

170, 172 interconnected by a sloping surface 171. The surfaces 170 172 are provided to guide the U-shaped flanged member 18 of the holder 12 into and out of engagement with the T-shaped channel 153 formed transversely along the underside of the cartridge.

The dispenser of FIG. 6 is typically provided with the three chambers of the left dispenser unit 150 having cartridges therein. The right dispenser unit 151 can be provided with cartridges in the upper two chambers and with the bottom chamber being empty. An initial cartridge on theholder 12 can either be a dummy cartridge or a used cartridge from a prior dispenser. The initial cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, is positioned in the empty chamber of the right dispenser unit 151 by rotating the holder in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 until the stop 157 is in engagement with the underside of the cartridge. The holder 12 is then slid to the right through the guide surfaces of the empty chamber. The holder is then positioned in the guide surfaces of the middle chamber of the dispenser unit 151 and moved. into sliding engagement with the T shaped channel of the cartridge therein. The holder is then rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 to overcome the stop 156 for removal of the cartridge from the middle chamber. When the cartridge from the middle chamber is no longer suitable for use, it is returned to the middle chamber and the cartridge in the upper chamber of the dispenser unit 151 is then removed for use in the same manner as described with the center chamber. When no longer suitable for use, the cartridge from the upper chamber is returned thereto, and the dispenser unit 151 is disconnected from the dispenser unit by overcoming the connecting means which, as noted above, may consist of an adhesive oran ultrasonic weld. The dispenser unit 151 can then be discarded, and the cartridges in the dispenser unit 150 can be successively removed foruse and returned to their respective chambers as described hereinabove with reference to the dispenser unit 151.

Another dispenser embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. With reference to FIG. 8,-a dispenser 260 has a pair of opposing

side walls

280, 282, and a pair of opposing end.

walls

276, 278. Cartridge chambers are formed within the dispenser 260 by transverse partitions 284. Stop members 272,274 are formed on the top portion of each of the end wall 276 end of the partitions 284 for engaging an underside portion of the guard bar of the cartridge 10 to maintain the cartridge 10 in each chamber in abutting engagement with rests formed at the lower part of each chamber along the side walls thereof. Each of the channels 262 has an upwardly extending transverse guide stop 267 formed between guide surfaces 266, 268. The upper guide surface 266 is narrower than the lower guide surface 268 such that a plurality of stop tabs 39 (FIG. 1) on the transverse surface of the holder 12 can pass over the lower guide surface 268 without hitting or abutting the guide stop 267. However, the stop tabs 39 cannot pass over the upper guide surface 266 without abutting the guide stop 267. Thus, the combination of the guide stops 267 and of the holder stop tabs 39 prevents inserting a cartridge in an inverted position on the holder 12, particularly when the cartridge 10 has cutting. edges on one side thereof and when the holder is curved, such as shown in FIG. 10.

' The dispenser 260 initially has a cartridge in each one of the lower five chambers, and the guide channels 262 for each one of the lower five chambers can be numbered from 1 to 5. A holder having an initial cartridge which may consist of a dummy cartridge having the same general outer configuration as that of the cartridge 10, or a cartridge from a prior dispenser, is used to insert the initial cartridge in the top empty chamber by inserting one guard bar portion in the chamber and rotating the holder 12 in a counter-clockwise manner as viewed in FIG. 8. The holder 12 can then be slid to the right with the holder channel member 18 (FIG. 1) passing outwardly through the guide channel of the upper chamber.

A new cartridge is then removed by positioning a portion of the U-shaped channel member 18 in the guide channel of the chamber adjacent to the upper chamber with the tabs 39 of the holder 12 orientated to pass over the lower guide surface as described hereinabove. The holder is then moved to the left for sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel 32 in the lower part of the cartridge 10. The new cartridge is then removed from the chamber by rotating the holder 12 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 8. Thereafter, each used cartridge is placed in the chamber from which it was removed, and a new cartridge from the next adjacent chamber is removed for use until all of the cartridges are removed from the dispenser 260 for use.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show still another dispenser embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the dispenser has a pair of opposing

end walls

253, 352, and a pair of opposing

side walls

254, 255. Cartridge chambers are formed within the dispenser 250 by transverse partitions 266. Each one of the chambers has a pair of wedge-shaped rest members 292 formed along the inner surfaces of the

side walls

254, 255 and extending from the upper wall or

partition

352, 266 in a downward extending fashion in the direction of the bottom of the dispenser. The wedge-shaped members along the inner surface of the side wall 255 cannot be seen. A stop 356 is formed on the top portion of each one of the end wall 356 and partitions 266. The side wall 254 has a plurality of channels formed transversely in the top surface thereof. Each one of the channels has an upwardly extending transverse guide stop 386 formed between guide surfaces 380, 381. The upper guide surface 380 is narrower than the lower guide surface 381 such that the stop tabs 39 (FIG. 1) of the holder 12 can pass over the lower guide surface 381 without hitting or abutting the guide stop 386. However, the stop tabs 39 cannot pass over the upper guide surface 380 without abutting the guide stop 386. Thus, the guide channels prevent inserting a cartridge in an inverted position on the holder, particularly when the cartridge has cutting edges formed at only one side thereof.

As described with reference to FIG. 8, the dispenser of FIGS. 9 and 10 can initially have a cartridge in each one of the chambers identified by one of numerals l shown in the guide channels. The top or upper chamber is initially empty. The holder 12 having an initial cartridge which may be a dummy or a used cartridge from a prior dispenser is used to insert the initial cartridge in the upper empty chamber by inserting the guard bar portion 322 in the chamber and rotating the holder in a counter-clockwise manner as viewed in FIG. until a boss 330 snaps under the stop 356. In this position, a cap member 310 and the guard bar rest on the pair of wedge-shaped support members 292. The holder can then be slid to the right with the U- shaped channel member 18 passing outwardly through the channel in the side wall. As described with reference to FIG. 8, the unused cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser for use in the order indicated by the numerals in the channels. After each cartridge is no longer suitable for use, it is returned to the chamber from which it was removed, and an unused cartridge is removed from the next adjacent chamber.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system, wherein each of the cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along the underside thereof, and wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges, said holder having the slidably engageable surfaces of an initial cartridge engaged by said supporting surfaces, and

wherein said dispensing system further comprises at least one dispenser unit including a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers, means in each of the chambers for releasably maintaining a cartridge therein with the slidably engageable surfaces positioned for engagement by said supporting surfaces of said holder, and guide means formed in a wall of said one dispenser unit to one side of each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces of said holder into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces, one end chamber of said one dispenser unit being empty and the successive chambers following said empty chamber each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, the steps comprising a. by means of said holder placing said initial cartridge when unsuitable for use in said empty chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said empty chamber,

b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said initial cartridge and through the guide means to one side of said empty chamber,

c. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means to one side of the first successive chamber following said empty chamber,

d. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the first successive chamber guide means into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of the cartridge in the first successive chamber,

e. by means of said holder overcoming the maintain-' ing means in the first successive chamber and re moving said first cartridge from the first successive chamber, and

f. in accordance with steps (a) through (e) replacing each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber from which the cartridge was removed and removing the cartridge from the next successive chamber until all the cartridges are successively removed from said one dispenser unit for use.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said dispensing system further comprises another dispenser unit corresponding to said one dispenser unit, a plurality of successive chambers of said another dispenser unit each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, said another dispenser unit being releasably connected to said one dispenser unit to render the guide means of said another dispenser inaccessible to said supporting surfaces of said holder, further comprising the steps of g. replacing the last successively removed cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber of said one dispenser unit from which the last cartridge was removed,

h. disconnecting said one dispenser unit from said another dispenser unit,

i. successively removing and replacing each cartridge of said another dispenser unit, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber from which the cartridge was removed in accordance with steps (c) through (f) until all the cartridges are successively removed from said another dispenser unit for use.

3. In a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system, wherein each of the cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along the underside thereof, and

wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges, said holder having the slidably engageable surfaces of an initial cartridge engaged by said supporting surfaces, and wherein said dispensing system further comprises a dispenser including a pair of opposing side walls, a plurality of transverse parallel walls interconnecting said side walls to provide a plurality of cartridge chambers, means in each of the chambers for releasably maintaining a cartridge therein with the slidably engageable surfaces positioned for engagement, and guide means formed transversely in one of said side walls in alignment with each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces, one of said chambers being empty and the next successive chambers each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, the steps comprising a. by means of said holder placing said initial cartridge when unsuitable for use in said'empty chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said empty chamber,

b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said initial cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with said empty chamber,

c. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with the first successive chamber adjacent said empty chamber,

d. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of step (c) into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a first cartridge in the first successive chamber,

e. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in the first successive chamber and removing said first cartridge from the first successive chamber for use,

f. by means of said holder replacing said first car- -tridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the first successive chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in the first successive chamber,

g. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said first cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with the first successive chamber,

h. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with the second successive chamber adjacent the first successive chamber,

. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of step (h) into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a second cartridge in the second successive chamvber,

j. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in the second successive chamber and removing said second cartridge from the second successive chamber for use, and

k. in accordance with steps (f) through (j) replacing each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in

the successive chamber from which the cartridge was removed and removing the cartridge from the next successive chamber until all the cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser for use.

4. In a method of dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system; wherein each of said cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along an underside thereof; and wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder, said holder including a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges; and wherein said dispensing system further comprises a dispenser, said dispenser including a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers, means in each of said chambers for releasably maintaining one of said cartridges therein with the slidably engageable surfaces of each of said cartridges positioned for engagement by said supporting surfaces of said holder, and guide means formed in a side wall of said dispenser to one side of each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces of said holder into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces; and wherein said cartridges are releasably maintained in a plurality of successive chambers, the steps comprising:

a. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide: means in alignment with an end chamber of said plurality of successive chambers,

b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of said end chamber into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a first cartridge in said end chamber,

c. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in said end chamber and removing said first cartridge from said end chamber for use,

d. by means of said holder returning said first cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, to said end chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said end chamber,

e. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said first cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with said end chamber,

f. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with a first successive chamber adjacent to said end chamber,

g. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of said first successive chamber into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a second cartridge in said first successive chamber,

h. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in said first successive chamber and removing said second cartridge from said first successive chamber for use, and

. repeating steps ((1) through (h) to return said second cartridge to said first successive chamber, and to sequentially remove the cartridges from and return the cartridges t0 the next successive chambers until the last cartridge is removed from said dispenser for use.

Claims

1. In a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system, wherein each of the cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along the underside thereof, and wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges, said holder having the slidably engageable surfaces of an initial cartridge engaged by said supporting surfaces, and wherein said dispensing system further comprises at least one dispenser unit including a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers, means in each of the chambers for releasably maintaining a cartridge therein with the slidably engageable surfaces positioned for engagement by said supporting surfaces of said holder, and guide means formed in a wall of said one dispenser unit to one side of each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces of said holder into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces, one end chamber of said one dispenser unit being empty and the successive chambers following said empty chamber each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, the steps comprising a. by means of said holder placing said initial cartridge when unsuitable for use in said empty chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said empty chamber, b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said initial cartridge and through the guide means to one side of said empty chamber, c. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means to one side of the first successive chamber following said empty chamber, d. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the first successive chamber guide means into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of the cartridge in the first successive chamber, e. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in the first successive chamber and removing said first cartridge from the first successive chamber, and f. in accordance with steps (a) through (e) replacing each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber from which the cartridge was removed and removing the cartridge from the next successive chamber until all the cartridges are successively removed from said one dispenser unit for use.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said dispensing system further comprises another dispenser unit corresponding to said one dispenser unit, a plurality of successive chambers of said another dispenser unit each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, said another dispenser unit being releasably connected to said one dispenser unit to render the guide means of said another dispenser inaccessible to said supporting surfaces of said holder, further comprising the steps of g. replacing the last successively removed cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber of said one dispenser unit from which the last cartridge was removed, h. disconnecting said one dispenser unit from said another dispenser unit, i. successively removing and replacing each cartridge of said another dispenser unit, when no longer suitable for use, in the chamber from which the cartridge was removed in accordance with steps (c) through (f) until all the cartridges are successively removed from said another dispenser unit for use.

3. In a method for dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system, wherein each of the cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along the underside thereof, and wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges, said holder having the slidably engageable surfaces of an initial cartridge engaged by said supporting surfaces, and wherein said dispensing system further comprises a dispenser including a pair of opposing side walls, a plurality of transverse parallel walls interconnecting said side walls to provide a plurality of cartridge chambers, means in each of the chambers for releasably maintaining a cartridge therein with the slidably engageable surfaces positioned for engagement, and guide means formed transversely in one of said side walls in alignment with each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces, one of said chambers being empty and the next successive chambers each having one of the cartridges releasably maintained therein, the steps comprising a. by means of said holder placing said initial cartridge when unsuitable for use in said empty chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said empty chamber, b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said initial cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with said empty chamber, c. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with the first successive chamber adjacent said empty chamber, d. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of step (c) into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a first cartridge in the first successive chamber, e. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in the first successive chamber and removing said first cartridge from the first successive chamber for use, f. by means of said holder replacing said first cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the first successive chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in the first successive chamber, g. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said first cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with the first successive chamber, h. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with the second successive chamber adjacent the first successive chamber, i. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of step (h) into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a second cartridge in the second successive chamber, J. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in the second successive chamber and removing said second cartridge from the second successive chamber for use, and k. in accordance with steps (f) through (j) replacing each cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, in the successive chamber from which the cartridge was removed and removing the cartridge from the next successive chamber until all the cartridges are successively removed from the dispenser for use.

4. In a method of dispensing a plurality of razor blade cartridges with a dispensing system; wherein each of said cartridges has slidably engageable surfaces formed transversely along an underside thereof; and wherein said dispensing system comprises a holder, said holder including a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said cartridges; and wherein said dispensing system further comprises a dispenser, said dispenser including a longitudinal row of transverse cartridge chambers, means in each of said chambers for releasably maintaining one of said cartridges therein with the slidably engageable surfaces of each of said cartridges positioned for engagement by said supporting surfaces of said holder, and guide means formed in a side wall of said dispenser to one side of each of said chambers for guiding said supporting surfaces of said holder into or out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces; and wherein said cartridges are releasably maintained in a plurality of successive chambers, the steps comprising: a. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with an end chamber of said plurality of successive chambers, b. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of said end chamber into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a first cartridge in said end chamber, c. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in said end chamber and removing said first cartridge from said end chamber for use, d. by means of said holder returning said first cartridge, when no longer suitable for use, to said end chamber and in engagement by the maintaining means in said end chamber, e. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder out of engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of said first cartridge and through the guide means in alignment with said end chamber, f. positioning at least a portion of said supporting surfaces of said holder in the guide means in alignment with a first successive chamber adjacent to said end chamber, g. sliding said supporting surfaces of said holder through the guide means of said first successive chamber into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces of a second cartridge in said first successive chamber, h. by means of said holder overcoming the maintaining means in said first successive chamber and removing said second cartridge from said first successive chamber for use, and i. repeating steps (d) through (h) to return said second cartridge to said first successive chamber, and to sequentially remove the cartridges from and return the cartridges to the next successive chambers until the last cartridge is removed from said dispenser for use.