U.S. patent application number 11/602521 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for storage device for shaving razor, cartridges, or other stored items.
Invention is credited to Charles Bridgham III Worrick.
Application Number | 20070062050 11/602521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23433650 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062050 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Worrick; Charles Bridgham
III |
March 22, 2007 |
Storage device for shaving razor, cartridges, or other stored
items
Abstract
A storage device, e.g., for a shaving razor and replacement
cartridges, including a base member having at least one storage
compartment, and one or more sealed packages that are each located
in a respective storage compartment. The sealed package contains a
shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of
blades. Each compartment provides a retention force, e.g., by
opposed members, to retain a respective package within the
compartment with a retention force that is less than a peeling
force needed to initiate peeling of a cover layer sealably
connected to the stored package. The cover has shaving razor
engagement structure for carrying a razor on an external surface of
the cover.
Inventors: |
Worrick; Charles Bridgham III;
(Hanson, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
23433650 |
Appl. No.: |
11/602521 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10188926 |
Jul 2, 2002 |
7159324 |
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11602521 |
Nov 21, 2006 |
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09364240 |
Jul 29, 1999 |
6415517 |
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10188926 |
Jul 2, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
30/541 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/2052 20130101;
A45D 27/29 20130101; A45D 27/24 20130101; B65D 25/22 20130101; B65D
25/10 20130101; B26B 21/40 20130101; B65D 77/0446 20130101; B65D
51/24 20130101; B65D 2577/205 20130101; B65D 77/2044 20130101; A45D
27/22 20130101; B65D 43/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
030/541 |
International
Class: |
A45D 27/00 20060101
A45D027/00 |
Claims
1. A storage device for a shaving razor, the storage device
comprising a base member comprising a bottom wall and an upwardly
extending side wall which together define at least one storage
compartment having an entrance that is upwardly facing; an upper
structure hingedly connected to said base member in overlying
relation to the base member; and a shaving razor engagement
structure disposed on an upwardly facing external surface of the
upper structure.
2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
defines a lid portion overlying the at least one storage
compartment.
3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
overlies substantially the major longitudinal length of the base
member.
4. The storage device of claim 2, wherein said upper structure
overlies substantially the major longitudinal length of the base
member.
5. The storage device of claim 2, wherein said shaving razor
engagement structure and said lid portion are integrally part of
said upper structure.
6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said base member
comprises a surface-mounting structure.
7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said base member
comprises a wall mounting structure.
8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said base member is
formed of plastic and comprises a plurality of said compartments
and has dividers formed therein to define said compartments.
9. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said base member is
formed of plastic and comprises a side wall that extends around a
periphery of the base member.
10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein said base member
comprises a plurality of said storage compartments, and said base
member comprises dividers formed therein to provide said storage
compartments along with said side wall.
11. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure is
hingedly connected to said base member by a snap-fit
connection.
12. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
comprises a raised portion matching a contour of one side of a
razor handle.
13. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
comprises opposed wings to engage a razor handle near a razor head
end of the handle.
14. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
comprises opposed flexible wings to engage a razor handle near a
razor head end of the handle, and said upper structure further
comprises a support portion disposed between the wings.
15. The storage device of claim 12, wherein said upper structure
comprises opposed flexible wings to engage a razor handle near a
razor head end of the handle, and said upper structure further
comprises a support portion disposed between the wings.
16. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure is
made of softer plastic than said base member.
17. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
comprises a snap-fit closure member and a finger engagement lip
extending from said upper structure for opening said upper
structure.
18. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said razor engagement
structure includes a portion of said upper structure defining an
opening to engage the bottom of a handle of a razor.
19. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said upper structure
defines a flat area to provide clearance for a cartridge attached
to a handle supported on said engagement structure.
20. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each said storage
compartment defines an opening directed towards an underside of the
hinged upper structure in a closed condition thereof, whereby in a
closed condition the upper structure substantially overlies the
opening of the storage compartment.
21. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising one or more
stored units that are located in each storage compartment, said
stored unit containing a shaving cartridge including a plastic
housing and a plurality of blades.
22. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each compartment is
recessed below an upper surface of said base member.
23. A shaving cartridge storage device comprising a base member
comprising a user-facing side and a rear side and having at least
one divider spaced between respective ends thereof and defining at
least one package-receiving storage region on the user-facing side;
one or more covered packages that are each located in a respective
package-receiving storage region, each said covered package
containing a replaceable shaving cartridge including a plastic
housing and a plurality of blades, said shaving cartridge being
enclosed by said covered package and removable in unitary form from
said package; and a razor handle engagement structure that is
outwardly facing away from said base member and towards a user.
24. A wall-mountable device comprising a base member comprising a
user-facing side and a rear side and having a wall-mounting
structure, said base member having at least one package-receiving
storage region on the user-facing side; one or more packages that
are each located in a respective said storage region, each said
package containing a stored unit therein that is removable as a
single unit and comprises a shaving cartridge including a plastic
housing and a plurality of blades, each said storage region having
opposed members providing a retention force to opposite sides of a
said package within said storage region; and a razor handle
engagement structure that is outwardly facing away from said base
member and towards a user.
25. The storage device of claims 23, wherein said razor handle
engagement structure supports a razor handle aligned with a major
longitudinal axis of said storage device.
26. The storage device of claims 24, wherein said razor handle
engagement structure supports a razor handle aligned with a major
longitudinal axis of said storage device.
27. The storage device of claim 24, in combination with a razor
having a handle, said handle being engaged with said engagement
structure.
28. The storage device of claim 25, in combination with a razor
having a handle, said handle being engaged with said engagement
structure.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation (and claims the benefit
of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120) of U.S. Ser. No. 10/188,926,
filed on Jul. 2, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
09/364,240, filed on Jul. 29, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,517,
issued on Jul. 9, 2002, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention relates to storage devices for storing items
such as shaving razors and cartridges.
[0003] Shaving cartridges are typically sold in plastic dispensers
containing a plurality of shaving cartridges in respective sections
of the dispenser. Shaving razors are often sold supported on a
plastic tray that can then be used to support the razor in a
bathroom. Some plastic trays are designed to carry a dispenser of
razor blades on the bottom side of the tray.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving
cartridge storage device including a base member having at least
one storage compartment, and one or more sealed packages that are
each located in a respective storage compartment. Each sealed
package contains a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing
and a plurality of blades.
[0005] In some other aspects, the invention features, in general, a
sealed package storage device including a base member having at
least one storage compartment, and one or more sealed packages that
are each located in a respective storage compartment and contain a
respective stored unit therein. Each compartment provides a
retention force to retain a respective package within the
compartment. In some aspects the compartment has opposed members to
provide the retention force to opposite sides of a package. In some
other aspects each package has an opening that has been sealed with
a peelable film at a sealing surface surrounding the opening. The
film is peelable from the sealing surface upon the application of a
peeling force that is greater than the retention force that holds
the sealed package in the storage device compartment.
[0006] Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or
more of the following features. In preferred embodiments, the base
member of the storage device can carry a surface-mounting
structure, for a horizontal surface or a wall, such as double-sided
adhesive tape, suction cups, or openings in the base member for
receiving transverse mounting members attached to a wall. The base
member is formed of plastic and has a side wall that extends around
its periphery. The base member has dividers formed therein to
provide a plurality of compartments along with the side wall. The
dividers each have a flat portion at a free end of the divider, the
flat portion receiving a lip that extends from one side of the
package retained in the compartment. The dividers each also have a
ridge that is formed between the base and the free end for
receiving a narrow edge portion of the package. The dividers extend
only part way from the side wall at one side of the base member to
the side wall at the other side to provide a region for gripping an
exposed portion of the lip of the package. The dividers have
opposed members for retaining the packages. One of the opposed
members has a sharp portion that engages the package. One of the
opposed members can have spring flexure. The dividers have drainage
openings, and the side wall has a drainage opening at the bottom of
the base member. The base member has projections between the
dividers to position the packages.
[0007] In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a
storage device for sealed packages that includes a base member
having at least one storage compartment, one or more sealed
packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,
and a cover that is hingedly connected to the base member.
[0008] In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a
storage device for a shaving razor. The storage device includes a
base member having at least one storage compartment and a cover
that is hingedly connected to the base member. The cover has
shaving razor engagement structure on an external surface
thereof.
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or
more of the following features. In preferred embodiments, the cover
of the base member is hingedly connected to the base member by a
snap-fit connection. The cover has an opening that engages the
bottom of a razor handle and opposed flexible wings that engage the
razor head end of the handle. The cover has a raised portion that
matches the contour of one side of a razor handle. The cover has a
flat area to provide clearance for the cartridge attached to a
handle supported on the cover. The cover is made of softer plastic
than the base member. The cover has a snap-fit closure member and a
finger engagement lip extending from the cover for opening the
cover.
[0010] Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the
following advantages. Shaving cartridges packaged in sealed
containers, to protect them from water and cleaning agents, are
stored in a storage device that can be conveniently mounted on a
bathroom shower wall. The sealed packages are securely retained
prior to removal, and can be easily gripped at exposed corners. The
sealed packages are safely removed from the storage device in
normal use without risk of the peelable film being removed
prematurely. The shaving razor can be conveniently and securely
mounted on the outside of the cover for easy removal and
replacement without the need to open the cover. Drainage openings
prevent water from collecting in the device.
[0011] Other advantages and features of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of particular
embodiments of the invention and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a storage device
mounted on a bathroom wall.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the FIG. 1 storage
device in an open position with a single sealed package
therein.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the FIG. 1 device in a
closed position.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a base member of the FIG. 1 storage
device shown with a single sealed package therein.
[0016] FIG. 5 is the vertical sectional view, taken at 5-5 of FIG.
4, of the FIG. 4 base member and sealed package.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken at 6-6 of FIG. 7,
showing a cover of the FIG. 1 storage device.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the FIG. 6 cover.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sealed package of
FIGS. 2 and 4 in a partially opened condition.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mounting plate for an
alternative embodiment of the base member of the storage
device.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an elevation of the FIG. 9 mounting plate.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the alternative base member that
is mounted on the FIG. 9 mounting plate.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a partial view showing an alternative attachment
mechanism for the FIG. 1 device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown wall-mounted
storage device 10 for shaving razor 12, supported on the outside of
device 10, and replacement cartridges 13 in sealed packages 14,
stored inside device 10. Cartridges 13 each have a plastic housing
and a plurality of blades. Sealed packages 14 have airtight seals
to keep moisture and cleaning agents from cartridges inside the
packages. Cartridge 13 is not substantially flat and has a complex,
non-planar shape with may different contours. Sealed package 14
sufficiently surrounds those contours and acts as an air and
moisture barrier.
[0025] Storage device 10 includes base member 16, made of ABS, and
cover 18, made of polypropylene. Base member 16 is made of a hard
plastic to provide structural integrity for the mounted member.
Polypropylene provides a desired appearance for the cover, and
facilitates use of a snap-fitting hinge. Base member 16 is adhered
to bathroom tiles 20 on wall 22 via double-sided adhesive pads 24
(FIG. 3) made of foam pads and acrylic adhesive. Cover 18 is
hingedly connected to base member 16 via snap-fit hinge members 21.
Cover 18 has finger engagement lip 23 to assist in opening cover 18
and to provide sufficient force to overcome the snap (interference)
fit closure mechanism used to keep cover 18 closed. (Alternatively
a latch structure could be employed to keep cover 18 closed.) The
upper part of handle 15 of shaving razor 12 is engaged by wings 26
formed on the exterior surface of cover 18, and the bottom of
handle 15 sits within opening 28 in cover 18. Razor 12 rests on
cover 18.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is seen that base member 16
has three dividers 30, which, along with side walls 32 and upper
support 36 and lower support 38, define compartments for receiving
four sealed packages 14. In FIGS. 4 and 5, a single package 14 is
shown in the second compartment from the bottom. Each divider has a
flat outer surface 40 at an end thereof against which lip 43 (FIGS.
5 and 8) of package 14 rests. As is seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, the two
sides of the lip 43 extend beyond divider 30 or lower support 38 at
adjacent plastic tabs 72, providing access for a user to grip and
remove package 14. Prior to opening of the packages, tabs 72 in
effect are extensions of lip 43. The upper surface of each divider
30 and of lower support 38 has a retention member 42 that presses
against the bottom of package 14 and holds it against the opposing
flat surface 44 of the next higher divider 30. Retention member 42
advantageously has a sharp edge that digs into the softer plastic
of package 14. Retention member 42 and the opposed flat surface 44
function as opposed members that provide a retention force to
opposite sides of a package 14 within a compartment. While
retention members 42 are hard, they alternatively could be
spring-biased. Each compartment also has a pair of projections 46
which space the bottom of the package 14 away from the wall in the
desired position (FIG. 5). The upper portion of each divider 30 and
lower support 38 has an opening 48 for drainage of water. Flat
surface 44 has a ridge 52 at its outer end that receives an edge 54
of sealed package 14 (FIG. 5). Base member 16 also has four
through-holes 56 to permit mounting on pins extending from a
mounted base plate or to permit mounting by screws or other
fasteners. Base member 16 has drainage opening 57 at the
bottom.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, cover 18 has support surfaces
60, 62 that tend to conform to the back surface of razor handle 15,
which is designed for use by women in shaving underarms and legs.
The handle is shown in U.S. Des. Patent No. 407,851, which is
hereby incorporated by reference. The bottom of handle 15 is
engaged in and supported by opening 28, and the upper portion of
handle 15 is located in the space between wings 26 and outward of
support surface 62 and is engaged by wings 26. A flat portion 64 is
provided at the upper end of cover 18 for providing clearance for
the blade unit of the attached shaving cartridge 13. The back
surface of handle 15 closely matches and is close to the outer
surface of cover 18. The user grips the sides of handle 15, as
there is insufficient room for a user's fingers to grip the back
surface of handle 15.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 8, sealed package 14 includes a plastic
container 68 and peelable cover sheet 70 that is sealed to
container 68 to cover and closes the entrance to the storage region
for cartridge 13. Gripping tab 72 is attached to a corner of cover
sheet 70 at an end of lip 43 for use in initiating peeling of cover
sheet 70.
[0029] In use, storage device 10 is secured to bathroom tiles 20 of
wall 22 (e.g., in a shower) by removing a cover layer on double
sided-adhesive pads 24 and applying pressure to device 10 to cause
a good bond between the adhesive and the tile surface. The user
removes razor 12 when shaving and can store it on cover 18 between
uses.
[0030] When removing razor 12, handle 15 is grasped on the lateral
sides of the razor, is slipped outward through support wings 26,
and is raised upward from its rest position in opening 28. When
placing shaving razor 12 back on cover 18, the bottom of handle 15
is placed in opening 28, and the upper portion of handle 15 is
guided between wings 26 and held in place. When it is time to
replace the shaving cartridge 13 on handle 15 with a new cartridge
13, cover 18 is opened by engaging finger grips 23, and a sealed
package 14 is removed by engaging the tab 72 adjacent to lip 43.
Cover 18 is then closed. The user then peels open cover sheet 70
(see FIG. 8) and attaches the new cartridge 13 to handle 15. Cover
sheet 70 is attached to container 68 by a seal that has a
predetermined initial peel force value needed to open the package.
That value is five times higher (preferably ten times higher) than
the retaining force provided by retention members 42 to retain
packages 14 in their respective compartments in base member 16.
E.g., the initial peel force could be 3-5 pounds, and the retaining
force on packages 14 could be as little as one ounce. Thus,
packages 14 will not accidentally open upon (or prior to) removal
from base member 16.
[0031] Other embodiments of the invention are within the scope of
the claims. For example, device 10 could be connected to wall 22
via suction cups 200 (FIG. 12) instead of adhesive pads 24. Also,
storage device 10 could be mounted (or simply supported) in a
horizontal position on a horizontal surface, and could also be used
as a carrying case.
[0032] Also, instead of directly mounting storage device 10 to the
wall, it could be removably mounted on a wall-mounted plate, as is
shown in FIGS. 9-11. Referring to FIGS. 9-11, plate 100 has posts
102 with enlarged heads 104 that are received in the circular,
lower portions of slotted openings 106 on base member 108, the
narrow shafts 109 of posts 102 are locked in place in the tapered,
upper portions of slotted openings 106. Tapered blade projections
110 on plate 100 fit within recesses on the back sides of the upper
two dividers 30 of base member 108 in order to guide openings 106
to the locations of posts 102. Blade projections 110 also prevent
base member 108 from being forced downward too far too avoid
jamming or breaking of posts 102 during attachment. Plate 100 also
has a rectangular opening 112 and is sized so that the plate can be
contained within storage device 10 prior to mounting on a wall.
When plate 100 is contained in device 10, a divider 30 projects
through opening 112.
LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0033] wall-mounted storage device 10 [0034] shaving razor 12,
[0035] replacement cartridges 13 [0036] sealed packages 14 [0037]
handle 15 [0038] base member 16 [0039] cover 18 [0040] bathroom
tiles 20 [0041] wall 22 [0042] finger engagement lip 23 [0043]
double-sided adhesive pads 24 [0044] flexible wings 26 [0045]
opening 28 [0046] dividers 30 [0047] side walls 32 [0048] upper
support 36 [0049] lower support 38 [0050] flat outer surface 40
[0051] retention member 42 [0052] lip 43 [0053] flat surface 44
[0054] projections 46 [0055] opening 48 [0056] ridge 52 [0057] edge
54 [0058] through-holes 56 [0059] drainage opening 57 [0060]
surfaces 60, 62 [0061] flat portion 64 [0062] plastic container 68
[0063] cover sheet 70 [0064] gripping tab 72
* * * * *