US3854251A

US3854251A - Sharpening device for cutting implements such as razor blades

Info

Publication number: US3854251A
Application number: US00297006A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Paule
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-10-12
Filing date: 1972-10-12
Publication date: 1974-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-17

Abstract

A device for sharpening cutting implements such as razor blades used in safety razors. The present device employs a vibrating unit constructed, as by use of a follower, to reciprocate a blade to be sharpened back-and-forth between a series of honing elements. The honing elements themselves are spring-biased, removable, and rotationally displaceable, this so that different honing surfaces or surface portions can be applied directly to the blade edges.

Description

United States Patent [191 Paule Dec. 17, 1974 SHARPENING DEVICE FOR CUTTING IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAZOR BLADES [76] Inventor: Michael L. Paule, 8823 South 1275 East, Sandy, Utah 84070 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,006

[52] US. Cl. 51/158, 76/D1G. 9 [51] Int. Cl B24b 3/48 [58] Field of Search 51/157, 158, 159, 59 R, 51/84 BS, 211 H; 30/38, 138; 76/DIG. 8, DIG. 9, 89.2, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,364 5/l93l Stephens 5l/l58 2,787,92l 4/1957 Blankenship 5l/l58 X 2,922,260 l/l960 Swanson 5l/l58 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 117,266 7/1943 Australia 51/158 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant ExaminerNicholas P. Godici 5 7 ABSTRACT A device for sharpening cutting implements such as razor blades used in safety razors. The present device employs a vibrating unit constructed, as by use of a follower, to reciprocate a blade to be sharpened backand-forth between a series of honing elements. The honing elements themselves are spring-biased, removable, and rotationally displaceable, this so that different honing surfaces or surface portions can be applied directly to the blade edges.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHARPENING DEVICE FOR CUTTING IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAZOR BLADES The present invention relates to blade sharpening devices and, more particularly, to a new and improved device wherein a follower, by way of example, is reciprocated back-and-forth and carries in corresponding manner a blade to be sharpened between sets of honing elements such as Arkansas stones.

In the past, razor blades of the double-edge type and usable in standard safety razors have been found to dull very rapidly upon use. It is customary that only from three to five comfortable shaves can be had per blade. The consumer naturally desires to have these blades last considerably longer and, accordingly, various approaches have been taken in the past to provide a suitable device for re-sharpening these blades for further use.

One such type of prior device has been the provision of apair of balls such as marbles set in a case and providing a tapered edge proximate ball contact for blade sharpening. There likewise are extremely complex mechanical devices for sharpening blades, most of which have proved unduly expensive and unsatisfactory to the inventors knowledge.

The present invention provides a device convenient for use wherein a series of honing elements such as cylindrical stones are provided for honing the opposite edges of a double-edge safety razor blade, for example. These honing elements are set in spring retainers that are easily dropped in place in the device. Further, the honing stones are so mounted that they can be easily removed or simply rotationally displaced so that new honing surfaces are presented the edges of successive blades to be sharpened. The powering unit of the invention preferably takes the form of a vibrator such as that kind of a unit found in electric hair clippers. The vibrating portion of the unit is connected to a follower that vibrates back-and-forth and which is introduced into the central slit of the razor blade to be sharpened. Thus, the follower carries the blade back-and-forth between the honing surfaces of the stones used. The vibrating device itself may be encased in suitable structure provided with a convenient cover, and is electrically operated by battery or otherwise.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful device for sharpening devices such as razor blades.

A further object is to provide a device for sharpening the used blades of safety razors, and this automatically.

A further object is to provide a safety razor sharpening device incorporating sets of honing elements that can be re-positioned so that successive honing surfaces can be supplied the blades to be sharpened.

A further object is to provide in a razor blade sharpening device a series of honing elements that are both spring-biased and rotatable within their mountings.

The features of the present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a honing element mounted in a spring clip and releasably seated within the device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are end and side elevations, respectively, of the top member or cover of the device, illustrating the protuberances used in snapping the top member in position.

In the drawings, vibrator unit 10 is conventional, is battery or electric cord operated, and may take the form of that currently manufactured by the Andis Clipper Company of Racine, Wisconsin. There are many types of electric motors or vibrators which are operative to reciprocate operating member 10' back-andforth in a direction shown by the arrows. The particular form of the vibrator unit 10 itself constitutes no part of the present invention. In any event, the particular type of vibrator unit chosen will determine somewhat the physical configurement of the casing which is used therewith. In the drawings the present casing 11 is provided with bosses l2 and 13 having splined nut inserts l4 and 15. These latter are threaded and dimensioned to receive

respective bolts

16 and 17 which pass through corresponding apertures of the vibrator unit. Bolt 16 may itself be drilled and tapped at 18 to receive attachment bolt 19 for securing the side cover 20 to member 11. Correspondingly, a bolt 21 is used with the remaining aperture A to pass therethrough and to be threaded into threaded aperture 22 of the vibrator unit.

Side member 11 includes a cradle 23 having

recessed seats

24 and 25. These latter receive, as drop-in units, sharpening

stones

26 and 27 as mounted within

respective spring retainers

28 and 29. The spring retainers themselves include clip portions 30 and 31 which are joined together by a leaf-spring portion 32. The retainers themselves are secured at spring portions 32 by

medial protuberances

33 and 34 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Accordingly, the spring retainer may be positioned upon a stone and then the latter urged downwardly and slipped between the

protuberances

33 and 34 in the manner indicated. Of course, if desired, the spring retainer can be preliminarily inserted beneath

protuberances

33 and 34 and then the stone installed.

Enlarge, base-slotted recessed seat or table 35, having follower support surface 55 provided with slot 56, accommodates the inserted positionment'of a blade mount follower member 36 and also the blade 37 to be sharpened. Follower 36 is provided with first and second opposite sides S1 and S2, and includes a slide base 38 and, upstanding therefrom, a blade engagement rib 39.

Disposed beneath the blade engagement rib is a slot 40' for receiving the

upstanding fingers

41 and 42 of the vibrator unit. Thus, a lateral reciprocation of the

fingers

41 and 42 of the vibrator portion 11 will rapidly reciprocate the follower 36 back-and-forth and the blade disposed thereon. The elongate dimension of follower 36 will of course correspond roughly to the elongate dimension of the slot found in conventional double-edge razor blades.

Top member 40 is provided with a pair of declining

ends

41 and 42 and also a medial slot 43 receiving the upper portion of rib 39. Disposed on opposite sides of the top member 40 are

protuberances

44 and 45 which engage corresponding indentations 46, one being shown in the lower part of FIG. 1. These indentations and protrusions are for the purpose of snap-fitting the top member to the remainder of the casing. Indentations 46' are designed for the purpose of receiving the protuberance 47 disposed on the opposite side of the top member 40.

Additionally, there are retaining

protuberances

48 and 48 for receiving

upper spring retainers

50 and 51. These latter may be identical and include respective and

clip portions

52 and 53 and adjoining leaf-spring portion 54. The respective leaf-spring portions 54, are slightly arcuate as shown and are retained in place by the

protrusions

48 and 48, respectively. Accordingly, the spring retainers may be preliminarily inserted, in angular fashion, past the protrusions 48, successively, so that these springs are retained at their approximate centers. Subsequently, the stones may be inserted as illustrated at the upper portion of FIG. 1.

In operation, and once the unit of FIG. 1, shown in exploded view, is assembled, the powering of the vibrating unit 10, either by external means or by selfcontained battery will vibrate the unit back-andforth. The same, being engaged with slot 40 of follower 36, will correspondingly rapidly reciprocate the same back-and-forth in a similar manner. Since the latter will contain a blade to be sharpened, the blade of course is translated in corresponding fashion back-andforth. The casing and stones in their mountings are dimensioned 'such that the stones will engage as honing elements the edge portions of the enclosed blade 37 as supplied by the spring retainers of the successive stones. The stones themselves may be of any material but a suitable-oil-impregnated stone is found on the market known as an Arkansas stone which has ideal honing properties.

It is to be noted that the top member is easily installed in place by its

protrusions

44 and 45, which are staggered relative to protrusions 47 on the opposite side of the case. The indentations of the cover are likewise staggered, see 46 and 46 in the lower part of FIG. 1, to accommodate the snap fitting of the top member to the rest of the casing. When the stones are to be either removed and substitutions made, or where the stones are simply to be rotated, the top member can be easily intermittently removed and the stones acted upon. It is noted that the stones are so constructed that they may be easily rotated in their mountings, to present new honing surfaces, or removed from the clip portions of the spring retainers proper.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art the various changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides for removably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at at least one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearly reciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said second side; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mounting means for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasably receiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cutting edge, and wherein said plural clip means comprise spring clips, said spring clips comprising mutually spaced clip portions and outwardly convex elongate spring portions integral with and connecting said clip portions.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said clip portions are arcuately formed and open ended, whereby to permit the lateral withdrawal and selective rotation of said honing elements relative to said clip portions, said combination including casing means provided with recessed reaction surfaces engaging said spring portions of said clip means.

3. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides for removably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at at least one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearly reciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said second side; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mounting means for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasably receiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cutting edge, and wherein said combination includes a casing comprising a mounting member mounted to said reciprocating means and a cover releasably secured to said mountingmember over said reciprocating means, said mounting member including a slotted base, provided with a reciprocating means access slot, and constituting a slide table for said removably mounting means and including recessed seats for removably receiving selected ones of said honing means as engaged by said clip means.

4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said combination also includes a top member constructed for removable securement to said casing and including recessed seats for removably receiving selected ones of said honing elements as engaged by said clip means.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said casing and said top member include protuberance means disposed in said recessed seats for releasably retaining said spring clips.

Claims

3. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides for removably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at at least one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearly reciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said second side; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mounting means for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasably receiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cutting edge, and wherein said combination includes a casing comprising a mounting member mounted to said reciprocaTing means and a cover releasably secured to said mounting member over said reciprocating means, said mounting member including a slotted base, provided with a reciprocating means access slot, and constituting a slide table for said removably mounting means and including recessed seats for removably receiving selected ones of said honing means as engaged by said clip means.