US2611176A - Blade magazine for safety razors - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1952 N. TESTl BLADE MAGAZINE FOR SAFETY RAZORS Filed March 28, 1946 M57101 AS 7257/.

Patented Sept. 23, 1952 BLADE MAGAZINE FOR SAFETY RAZORS Nicholas Testi, Boston, Mass, assignor to The- Gillette Company, a corporation of Delaware I Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,641 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to blade magazines for safety razors, and it relates more particularly to blade magazines adapted for engagement with the safety razors when it is desired to feed a fresh razor blade into the razor.

The blade-magazine of the present invention is an improvement over the one with automatically operable blade-stop means shown in applicants U; S. Patent No. 2,384,503, issued September The present invention has among its objects the provision of a blade magazine which possesses advantageous and desirable safety'features of the earlier magazine but with fewer parts, and which is of sturdier construction, more dependable in use and more inexpensive to produce, which eliminates the leaf-spring blade stop without sacrificing any of'its desirable functions and featuresand in fact which affords improved and more reliableperformance of these functions, and which at the same time permits of a relatively substantial reduction in the overall length of the magazine.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear more fully from the following detailed description, accompanying drawings and appended claims, the present invention, in one of its aspects, may comprise a blade magazine having a casing containing a blade-positioning base member, a stack of razor blades positioned thereby, the magazine being constructed and arranged for operative engagement with a safety razor when it is desired to furnish said safety razor with a fresh blade, said base member including a yieldable portion of relatively substantial dimensions-arranged to be deflected by the operative engagement of the magazine with the safety razor, and stop means associated with said yieldable portion and limiting the degree of engagement of the magazine with the safety razor, said stop means obstructing the ejection of blades from said magazine when the latter is disassociated from the safety'razo'r and being movable by saidyieldable base portion into a non-obstructing position automatically upon-the engagement of said magazine with said safety razor.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents an enlarged perspective view of a loaded blade magazine, constituting one illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the magazine ofjFig.- 1, shown operatively associated with-the guard element of a safety razor, and with theupp'ermost blade being shown partially advanced by the sliding feeder towards the safety 7 razor, as during the 2 initial feeding of afresh blade into the safety razor;

Fig. 3 represents a transverse cross-sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken on line i -4' of the blade magazine illustrated in Fig.1, looking'in the'direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 represents an exploded view of internal parts of the magazine shown in'Figs. 1 and 2,

blades 3, and a blade-follower spring 4, and a the casing l. anel 6,21, pair of opposed side panels 1 and a pair "of inturned top flanges 8, the latter flanges demanuallyeoperable blade feeder 5, slidable along The casing I may have a bottom fining there-between a gap in which the downw'ardly projecting blade-engaging portions 9 of the blade'feeder 5 are adapted to be slid to-andfro during successive blade-expelling strokes of the feeder member 5. The magazine is adapted to feed the razor blades 3 from its opposite ends in alternate fashion, so that a single stroke of the feeder member 5 in either direction will expel a blade, thus eliminating idle'return strokes of the member 5, and in conjunction with the longithelikefolde'd to provide the bottom, side and top panels and flanges 6, I and 8. The central zones of theside panels I may be vertically corrugated, as shown at I 0, to facilitate the grasping of the magazine between the thumb and index finger of one hand for the operative engagement of said magazine with the safety razor which is to be furnished the fresh blade. 1 The magazine shell I may bear stop-lugs ll pressed therefrom for limiting the stroke of the 12 may be the. magazine for the purpose 'of guiding the safety razor into proper position relative to the blade-magazine upon operative inter-engagement of the two, as will appear more fully hereinafter. It will be noted from the drawings that the material of these guide-ribs I2 is severed from the side panel I along only two intersecting sides, thereby conveniently to provide flared guide portions at the rib ends nearest the magazine ends, facilitating rapid and accurate introduction of the safety razor into the blade-magazine, and simultaneously deflecting the end portion of base member 2 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The magazine base member 2 has been illustrated in exposed condition in Fig. 5. As will appear from that figure, this base member may include a series of longitudinally aligned upwardly projecting blade-positioning ribs l3, I4 and i5 centrally located thereon. These bladepositioning ribs are expressly designed to accommodate a vertical stack of centrally-slotted double-edged razor blades 3. alternately staggered to-and-fro in the longitudinal direction. This arrangement of longitudinally-staggered blades in a magazine package, and the special advantages resulting therefrom, have been shown and described in applicant's prior U. S. Patent No. 2,330,252, issued September 28, 1943, and will therefore not be repeated here. It will be noted, however, that in the illustratedconstruction the central blade-positioning rib l4 has but a single crown, and that is beveledalong the edges of at least its peak portion, as indicated at 16 and IT. This facilitates the loading of the razor blades 3 onto the base member 2, since the bevels I6 and I! will, through coaction with the edges of the blade slots, deflect any blades being applied to base 2 that may be slightly misaligned into correctly centered relation with respect to said base as the blades are dropped or placed thereon. The upper surfaces of the blade-positioning ribs I3, l4 and 15 are preferably curved, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The base member 2 may have a pair of longitudinal slots 18 disposed on opposite sides of the blade-positioning ribs in order to permit the bowed arms [9 of the forked spring member 4 (which, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is positioned between the base member 2 .and the bottom magazine panel 6) to project upwardly through the base slots l8 and bear against the stack of razor blades 3, pressing the uppermost blade against the underside of the casing flanges 8. This insures that as the uppermost blade of the stack is slid out, the next blade in the stack will be pushed into operative position for its own subsequent sliding removal by the blade feeder 5.

It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 5 that at least the side portions of the lower surface of the base member 2 are not flat but are beveled or tapered from their central portion 20 upwardly towards both ends of the blade magazine as at 2| and 22, providing a cantilever-type arrangement for the end portions of the base 2 for reasons which will presently appear.

The base member 2 may be fixedly secured at its central relatively thicker portions 20 to the lower panel 6 of themagazine casing by any suitable means, as for example by screws 23 which extend through the lower panel 6 into screwthreaded engagement with the internally threaded apertures 24 of the base member 2. ihe upper central portion of the base member 2 lying beneath the projected outline of the staggered razor blades 3 may be depressed as indicated at 25, in order to permit the magazine to accommodate a relatively substantial number of blades in a compact space-saving manner at a minimum overall thickness or height of the composite magazine package.

A pair of relatively rigid stop posts 26, preferably integral with but in any event fixedly associated with the base member 2, extend upwardly therefrom near each end. The stop posts 26 of each pair are so located as normally to present upright faces that obstruct longitudinal sliding removal of razor blade 3, and may conveniently be disposed at least partially within the cut-out corner portions 27 of the blades 3. When the base member 2 is in its normal unstressed condition, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the stop posts 26 preferably extend upwardly beyond the upper surface of the uppermost blade 3 of the stack, so as to assure positive obstruction to the removal ofthe uppermost blade on the stack, even though the latter be urged forward by the slide member 5. In order to permit these stop posts 26 to extend upwardly to the extent described, the superposed portions of the casing top flanges 8 may be apertured as at 28 as illustrated, or if desired, wells or concavities may be pressed into the under surfaces of the flanges 8 in the regions above the stop post ends.

The base member 2 may be constructed from any suitable resilient material, preferably from plastic such as Lucite, or the like, or it may be constructed from metal. By reason of the base member 2 being anchored or secured firmly at its central zone 20 to the bottom panel 6, and being tapered upwardly towards the end portions as at 2| and 22, these end portions of base member 2 are permitted to be flexed or displaced downwardly cantilever-wise, utilizing the inherent resilience of the material of the base member 2, during the introduction of a safety razor into the end of the magazine. Thus, referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the razor guard member 29, when introduced into either end of the magazine, is guided downwardly and forwardly by the pair of flared guide-ribs I 2 at that end into sliding contact with a cantilevered or outwardly tapering end portion of base member 2, and continued insertion of the razor guard member 29 to the full extent permitted deflects the base end portion downwardly, utilizing the inherent resilience of the base material. This deflection of the base end portion lowers its integral stop posts 26 until, by the time the forward edge of the razor guard member 29 abuts against the juxtaposed faces of the stop posts 26, the tips of the latter will have been lowered sufficiently to clear the exit passage for the uppermost blade 3. The inherent resilience of the base member 2 also serves to hold the razor guard member 26 snugly in place during the blade-feeding operation, and upon the subsequent withdrawal of guard member 26 from the magazine the deflected end portion of the magazine base memher will spring back toits normal unstressed condition shown in Fig. 4, thereby returning the upper ends of the stop posts 26 to their normal blade-obstructing position in the blade-exit passageway.

Only the guard portion 29 and the handle portion 56 of the safety razor have been illustrated in Fig. 2. The remaining portions of the safety razor may be as shown and described in applicants prior U. S. Patent No. 2,392,869, issued January 15, 1946. It will be noted, however, that the guide bar portions need not be undercut as shown in the prior patent. It is to be understood, however, that the magazine of the present invention isnot limited to combination with the aforementioned safety razor, but can be combined equally Well with various other kinds of safety razors designed to receive a razor blade endwise, as for example the safety razors shown and described in applicant's prior U. S. Patents Nos. 2,377,388 and 2,392,432.

A special and important feature of the hereinabove described invention is the provision of a blade-magazine having stop post members which not only normally obstruct the sliding removal of the uppermost razor blade and are designed to be shifted into non-obstructing position automatically upon the operative engagement of the safety razor with the magazine, but which also, during the engagement, serve to limit the insertion of the razor into the magazine and correctly position the former with respect to the latter for the then-permitted transfer of the fresh blade.

It will be noted that-the sharp edges of the razor blades 3 are protected at all times and are kept out of contact with all elements during loading of the blades into the magazine casing, during storage therein, and during the subsequent feeding of the blades into the'safety razor.

It will be further noted that the ultimate user of the razor blades packaged inthe magazine of the present invention is thoroughly protected against accidental-injury from the extremely sharp-edged razor blades, since the razor blades cannot be expelled from the magazine even though the blade-feeder member 5 be deliberately advanced, unless and until a safety razor is operatively engaged with the end of the magazine to shift the stop post members 25 clear of the blade-exit passageway. Of course, if the user should desire to expel a razor blade into his hand, this can be accomplished with the magazine of the present invention if the user will manually depress the resilient end of the base member 2, as for instance by pressing that end towards or against the underlying casing bottom-panel 6 using the thumb and index finger. Removal of a razor blade in this fashion, however, cannot conceivably be accomplished accidentally, since it requires deliberate sequential manipulations which could not'occuraccidentally.

The hereinabove described embodiment may be modified in various ways without losing the special advantages of the present invention. Thus, for example, the base portion may, if de-- sired, be constructed from two or more separate parts, the base end portions may be separated from the rib-bearing central portion and perhaps spring-urged into normal position by separate spring means (as for example by portions of a modified blade spring 4) as distinguished from the inherent resilience of the base material. Thus, also, the stop post members 26 need not be constructed in the form of posts, but may assume other shapes or forms as, for example, one or more bars or barriers near each end of the blade-magazine, and positioned centrally, symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the magazine.

If desired, the blade feeder member 5 may have associated therewith blade withdrawal fingers as shown in applicant's prior U. S. Patents Nos. 2,392,869 and 2,392,432, in which case the razor guard bars are preferably'undercut and the base plate construction modified as shown in applicants prior U. S. Patent No. 2,392,432. Visual 6 indication means, as shown and described in applicants prior Patent No. 2,384,503, may also be included, if desired,i to indicate to the user .the particular end of the magazinewhich should next be associated with the safety razor at any given time.

Although in the hereinabove-described embodiment double-edged razor blades have been shown stacked in longitudinally staggered fashion, it is to be understood that the advantages of the present invention can also be realized with unstaggered double-edged razor blades, or with single-edged razorblades either staggered or unstaggered. Furthermore, although in the illustrated embodiments the razor blades are designed to be fed alternately from opposite ends of the magazina'this feature may be omitted and advantages of the present invention realized in a magazine which feeds blades out of one end only. Y

Having thus disclosed the invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

V 1. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a generally rectangular casing adapted to contain a stack of longitudinally-staggered blades and having blade-exit passageways at its two onposite ends whereby alternate blades may be delivered one after another from opposite 'ends of the said stack, razor-engaging means at said casing ends adapted to engage the said safety razor and each including a resilient portion constructed and arranged to be deflected during the engagement of the razor with the associated casing end, each of said resilient portions having associated therewith a stop portion for limiting the engagement of the razor with the. associated casing end and being movable from a position obstructing the associated blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

2. In combination, a safety razor, and a blademagazine engageable therewith for dispensing razor blades directly into said razor, said magazine including a casing adapted to contain a stack of razor blades and having a blade-exit passageway, razor-engaging means at an end of said casing operatively engageable with said safety razor and aligning said blade-exit passageway with said safety razor, said razor-engaging means including a resilient portion constructed and arranged to be deflected during the aforesaid engagement of the razor with the magazine, said resilient portion having associated therewith a stop portion for limiting the engagement of said razor with said magazine and movable from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof, and blade-feeding means for sliding blades through said exit passageway into operative position in the aligned razor.

3. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a generally rectangular casing having blade-exit passageways at its opposite ends whereby alternate blades may be delivered one after another from opposite ends of a blade stack within the casing, base member in said casing connected therewith, blade-positioning means on said base member adapted to extend through perforations of longitudinally staggered blades and thereby retain them in longitudinally staggered relation,

spring means inside said casing adapted to bear against said blades and urge them towards exit positionwith respect to said blade-exit passageways, razor-engaging means atsaid casing ends adapted to engage said safety razor, and each being constituted, at least in part, by a portion of said base member resiliently movable during the engagement of the razor with the associated casing end, blade-stop means associated with the resiliently movable portions of said base member and movable therewithfrom a position obstructing the associated blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof, and blade feeding means for sliding said blades through said exit passageways directly into the safety razor.

4. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a casing having a blade-exit passageway, a base member inside said casing connected therewith and having blade-positioning means extending upwardly therefrom for positioning blades within said casing, razor-engaging means at an end of the casing adaptedto engage saidsafety razor and being constituted at least in part by an end portion ofsaid base member resiliently movable during the engagement of the razor with the magazine, and blade-stop means associated with the resiliently movable end portion of said base member and movable therewith from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

5. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a walled casing adapted to house a stack of blades and having a blade-exit passageway, a razorengaging element in said casing adjacent a wall thereof and having blade-positioning means extending therefrom, said razor-engaging element being made of resilient material and including a first portion connected to said casing and a second portion integral with, and extending from said first portion in spaced relation to the aforesaid wall, and blade-stop means associated with said second portion and movable therewith from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

6. A blade-magazine including a generally rectangular casing having a blade-exit passageway and a blade-carrying unit inside said casing, said unit including a base member having bladepositioning means thereon, a portion of said base member being resiliently movable and bearing relatively rigid blade-stop means fixedly associated therewith and presenting upright faces normally standing in the blade-exit passageway, said blade-stop means being movable with said resiliently-movable portion from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

'7. A blade-magazine including a generally rectangular casing having a blade-exit passageway and a blade-carrying unit inside said casing, said unit including a base member having bladepositioning means thereon, a portion of said base member being resilient and extending to one end of the rectangular casing where it may be reached by the user, and blade-stop projections fixedly associated with said resilient portion, having upright faces normally standing in the blade-exit passageway and movable with said resilient portion from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

8. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a generally rectangular casing adapted to contain a stack of longitudinally-staggered razor blades and having, a blade-exit passageway at each of its two opposite ends, razor-engaging means at said casing ends each adapted to engage said safety razor and each including a resilientlymovable base portion of relatively substantial transverse cross-sectional area arranged to be deflected duringv the engagement of the safety razor with the associated casing end, and bladestop means fixedly associated with said base portions and each movable therewith from a position obstructing the blade-exit passageway at that end to a position clear thereof.

9. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, including a casing adapted to house a stack of blades and having a blade-exit passageway, razor engaging means at an end of said casing adapted to engage said safety razor and including a resiliently-movable base member of relatively substantial transverse cross-sectional area arranged to be deflected during the aforesaid engagement of the razor with the magazine, and blade-stop means associated with said base member and movable therewith from a position obstructing said blade-exit passageway to a position clear thereof.

10. A safety magazine for dispensing razor blades directly into a safety razor, comprising a casing having a. blade-exit opening, a base enclosed within the casing and having a resilient end portion tapered upwardly and outwardly at its lower face and located beneath said opening, and a pair of spaced posts carried by said end portion, normally blocking said opening and movable to clear the said opening when the end portion is forcibly depressed.

NICHOLAS TESTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,363,908 Stampleman Nov. 28, 1944 2,384,503 Testi Sept. 11, 1945 2,410,311 Steinbach Oct. 29, 1946 2,431,523 Suerif et a1 Nov. 25, 1947

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