US3460712A - Blade dispenser with used blade compartment - Google Patents

Description

s- 1969 A. B. LOWRY Efiflflfi BLADE DISPENSER WITH USED BLADE COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 15. 1968 3 SIGNS-Sheet 1 INVENTOAE A A l 461 LOLUKX 8- 12, 1969 A. B. LOWRY 3,460,712

BLADE DISPENSER WITH USED BLADE COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 15, 1968 v 5 Sheets-$heet 2 /vv N-fole ALAN B. LowRy Aug. 12, 1969 A. B. LOWRY 3,460,712

BLADE DISPENSER WITH USED BLADE COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 15. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 j/vvEN-raQ Us. or. 221-402 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is concerned with injector blade dispensers and more particularly with injector blade dispensers having novel used blade compartments which can be readily joined to the dispensers.

U.S. Patent No. 2,661,533 discloses razors which in cooperation with a blade dispenser permit changing of the blades without requiring handling of the new blade. Generally the razor comprises (1) a handle portion and (2) a head portion in which a single edged blade is forcibly held between resiliently separable cap and seat means. The blade is replaced by separating the cap and seat by inserting a key from the blade dispenser and ejecting the old blade under the force of the new blade as it is pushed from the dispenser. Generally the disepnser comprises the key member, a storage compartment for a stack of new blades, means for forcing the topmost blade against the top of the compartment and into endwise contact with a reciprocating blade pusher, and an exit slot for the topmost blade which is aligned so that the blade as it is pushed from the dispenser will enter the space between the separated cap and seat of the razor and engage the end of the used blade. Although such razors and dispensers have eliminated the need for handling the new blade, disposal of the used blade is still a problem. Various used blade compartments have been proposed for such dispensers.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel blade dispensers having used blade compartments therein which can be readily and economically manufactured and assembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dispensers as set forth above which are constructed so as to prevent used blades from escaping through the entrance slot of the used blade compartment. A further object is to provide a novel used blade compartment for an injector dispenser which compartment may be readily molded from inexpensive plastic material and simply snapped on to the dispenser.

Other objects will be obvious from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the near side of a blade dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the near side of a blade dispenser in combination with a used blade compartment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear portion and end plug of a dispenser in exploded relation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a used blade compartment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner rear portion of a used blade compartment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser and used blade compartment along the lines 66 of FIG. 2 with the blade pusher moved to a forward position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the far side of a blade dispenser in combination with a used blade compartment;

United States Patent 0 ice FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional view of the dispenser and used blade compartment along the lines 66 of FIG. 2 with the blade pusher moved to a forward position and showing a used blade partially inserted into the used blade compartment; and

FIG. 9 is still another cross-sectional View of the dispenser and used blade compartment along the line 66 of FIG. 2 with the blade pusher moved to a forward position and showing a second used blade partially inserted in the used blade compartment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9 of the drawings there is shown an elongated blade dispenser 10 and a molded plastic used blade compartment 12 in accordance with the present invention. Generally the dispenser 10 comprises a new blade compartment or magazine 14 which is defined by a bottom wall 16, a top wall 18, a near side wall 20, a far side wall 22 and a front end wall 24. The back open end of the new blade compartment 14 is closed off by a molded plastic end plug 26 which will hereinafter be described. Within the new blade compartment 14 there is positioned a stack of new blades 21 which is biased towards the top wall 18 by a spring 23 (FIG. 6) which is inserted between the bottom-most blade 21 and the bottom wall 16. The number of blades 21 remaining in the dispenser can be determined through a small viewing orifice 19 (FIG. 7) which is provided in the upper portion of the far side wall 22. The blades 21 are held against the far. side wall 22 by an angularly disposed portion 27 of front end wall 24 which engages the beveled corners (not shown) of the sharp edges of the blades 21. Below the angularly disposed portion 27 of the front end wall 24 there is provided on the beveled corner of the bottom wall 16 an outwardly projected lip 29 whose function will hereafter be described. A slot 25 is provided between the top of the front end wall 24 and the top wall 18 through which the topmost blade may be ejected.

Along the full length of the top wall 18, there is provided a longitudinal opening 28 in which there is positioned a blade pusher 30. The blade pusher 30 which is reciprocally movable in the opening 28 comprises a blade-engaging member 32, connecting members 34 and finger engaging members 36. The blade-engaging member 32 is in the form of a rectangular plate and is positioned within the compartment 14. The width of the blade engaging member 32 is somewhat larger than that of the opening 28 so as to lock it within the new blade compartment 14 and its thickness is such that it will only engage the topmost blade 21.

As an extension to the front end of the far side wall 22 there is provided a key member 38 which is adapted to be inserted into the head of an injector razor (not shown) such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,661; 553. The key member 38 has cams 40 to 42 thereon which serve to spread the cap and seat of the razor apart; thereby releasing the pressure on the used blade and providing an opening into which the new blade 21 may be inserted from slot 25.

As mentioned previously the back end of the dispenser 10 is closed off by a molded plastic end plug 26. The end plug 26 is held in place by frictional engagement with inwardly directed dimples 44 and 46 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in the bottom and near side walls 16 and 20. On the side of the plug 26 which is adjacent the near side wall 20 there is provided an arm 48 having an angularly disposed edge 49 thereon which engages the beveled corners of the blades 21 and holds them against the far side wall 22. On the back face of the plug 26 there is provided a latch window 50 which is adapted to receive a latch 52 (FIG. 5) from. the used blade compartment 12 which will hereinafter be described. A channel 51 is provided on the upper surface of the plug 26 to accommodate the blade engaging member 32 when it is moved rearwardly. On its rear loweredge the plug merges into' a-downwa'rdly and inwardly directed flange or extension 54 which has a used blade entrance slot 56 therein. Within the slot 56 there is positioned a pitched entrance ramp 57. The flange 54 is supported by a strut 58 which extends downwardly from the bottom of the plug 26. When the plug 26 is in place, the strut 58 is accommodated by a slotted opening 60 in the bottom wall 16 of the dispenser 10.

The used blade compartment 12 is an upwardly open, asymmetric trough-like structure bounded by near and far side walls 62 and 64 whose heights increase as they extend rearwardly, a bottom wall 66 and a front end wall 68. The front end wall 68 merges upwardly into a 1,-

narrow upper front end wall portion 69 which meets with the near side wall 62 at the corner. The rear edges of the near and far side walls 62 and 64 rise for a considerable distance at an obtuse angle from the bottom wall 66 and then extend upwardly parallel to the front end wall 68, thereby conforming to the-back contour of the flange 54 and plug 26. An upwardly directed back panel 70 which covers the plug 26 is positioned between the upwardly directed rear edges of the near and far side walls 62 and 64. On the inner surface of the back panel 70 there is provided a latch 52 which extends into and bindingly engages the lower edge of the latch window 50 of the plug 26. Between the lower edge of the panel 70 and the bottom wall 66 there is provided an opening 72 which registers with flange 54 and the entrance slot 56 therein.

The bottom wall 16 of blade dispenser 10 is abutted by an elongated inwardly directed shoulder 74 (FIG. which is provided at an elevated position in far side wall 64. The front edge of the bottom wall 16 of the dispenser also abutsthe top edge of front end wall 68. To lock the front end of the dispenser and the used blade chamber 12, an inwardly directed shelf 78 is provided at the corner where the upper front end wall portion 69 merges with the near side wall 62 (FIG. 4). The shelf 78 is positioned at an elevation such that the lip 29 on the beveled corner of the bottom wall 16 of the dispenser 10 will lie immediately under it when the used blade compartment 12 is attached to the dispenser 10. In joining the dispenser 10 with the used blade compartment 12, the lip 29 is first inserted under the shelf 78 and the front edge of the bottom wall 16 of the dispenser is rested on the upper edge of the front wall 68. The back end of the used blade compartment 12 is then pivoted upwardly until the latch 52 is engaged in the latch window 50. When the latch 52 is engaged the used blade compartment 12 is securely attached to the dispenser.

In order to restrict the forward and rearward movement of the blade pusher 30, an elongated recess 80 is provided on the upper edge of the far side wall 64 of the used blade compartment 12. The recess 80 provides clearance for downwardly extending finger 82 (FIG. 7) which is connected to the blade pusher 30. During use, the forward movement of the blade pusher 30 is stopped by the finger 82 engaging the forward end wall 84 of the recess 80 and the rearward movement is stopped by the finger engaging the back end wall 86.

In inserting the used blades intothe used blade compartment 12, the blades are pushed through the entrance slot 56 onto the blade ramp 57. A small stop 90 is provided on the bottom wall 62 of the used blade compartment 12, just forward of the ramp 57 to prevent any excessive force which may be used in inserting the blade vfrom snapping off the fiange 54. The ramp 57 is of such height and pitch that the forward edge of the blade on being inserted will engage the bottom wall 16 of the dispenser 10 at an acute angle and the trailing portion of the blade will contact the inwardly directed shoulders 88 of the entrance slot 56; thereby causing the blade to bind and/or flex slightly as it enters (see FIG. 8). This binding and/or flexing of the blade upon entrance insures against accidental removal of the used blades in that a similar binding or flexing would occur on blade removal avail'ablewithinthe compartment 123"" and the force to overcome such flexing or binding is not As further insurance against accidental removal of the blades, the movement of the blades within the compartment 12 is restricted. The forward and rearward movement of theblades is limited by providing ablade stop 92 which extends upwardly into a small opening 94 positioned in the bottom wall of the dispenser 10. The upward and, downward movement 'of the forward portion of the blades is restricted by limiting the height of the chamber 12 at the point occupied by. this portion of the blade and by providing cradling means upon which the blades may rest. The cradling means comprises near and far side longitudinally extending ribs 96 and a laterally extending rib 98, When a used blade rests ' on'the ribs 96 and 98, the rear portion of the blade will li e on top of entrance ramp 57 with its end above slot 56 so th'a't'the blade cannot he accidentally removed. When the next used blade is inserted, it will be positioned underneath the previously inserted blade. (See FIGQ9.)

Having thus described myinvention, what is claimed is: 1. The combination of an injector blade dispenser and a used blade compartment;

(A) said injector blade dispenser comprising: 2

(1) an elongated blade magazine for receiving 'a stackof blades, said magazine being bounded by atop wall, near and far side walls, a front end wall, a bottom wall and a rear plug frictionally held in the back end of said magazine, said rear plug having a latch WindOWin its rear face;

(2) means for pressing the stack of blades against the under surface of the top wall; 7

' (3) an exit slot' for the topmost blade between the upper edge of the front wall and the top wall;

(4) blade pusher means which is reciprocally movable in a longitudinal slot in said top wall, said blade pusher'means including means for engaging the topmost blade and pushing it through said exit slot; and l (5) an outwardly directed lip extending from a forward portion ofthe bottom wall; I

(B) said used blade compartment comprising:

(1) a bottom wall, near and far side walls, a front end wall, an upwardly directed rear panel which extends upwardly beyond the upper edges of said side walls and an opening for receiving theused blades;

(2) latching means on the inner surface of said rear panel;

(3) means at an elevated position in said used blade compartment for abutting the undersurface of the bottom wall of said dispenser; and

(4) an inwardly directed shelf which is attached to a forward portion of the inside of said'u'sed blade compartment at a position and elevation wherein said shelf will immediately overlie said outwardly directed lip of said injector blade dispenser when said injector blade dispenser is joined to said used blade compartment;

said injector blade dispenser being locked to said" used blade compartment by the upper surface of saidou't- Wardly extending lip engaging the lower surface of said inwardly directed shelf and said latching means latchingly engaging said latch windows.

2. A combination'as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for abutting the undersurfac'e of the bottom wall of said dispenser is an inwardly directed shoulder in a side wall of said used blade compartment.

.3. A combination as defined in elaim l including an elongated recess in the upper edgeof a side-wall of the used blade compartment for receiving a finger attached to said blade pusher, said finger, upon reciprocal movement of said pusher,engaging the end walls of said recess and thereby limitingthe reciprocal movement of said pusher. 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said rear plug has'a downwardly directed flange having a used blade slot therein which slot registers with said opening in the used blade compartment for receiving the used blades.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein an entrance ramp is positioned in said used blade entrance slot.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said entrance ramp is pitched such that upon inserting a used blade, the forward portion of said blade will engage the bottom wall of said dispenser at an acute angle and the trailing edge of said blade will contact the upper end wall of said entrance hatch, thereby causing said blade to bind slightly as it enters the used blade compartment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1954 Butlin 221-102 X 1/1957 Treiss 221102 X 5/1957 Butlin 221-102 X 11/1957 Kuhnl 221-232 X 4/1958 Treiss 221-102 X 6/1962 Kuhnl 221--232 3/1963 La Cas 221232 US. Cl. X.R.

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