U.S. patent application number 12/362752 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for blade dispenser.
Invention is credited to Gary E. VAN DEURSEN.
Application Number | 20090194557 12/362752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40913268 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090194557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VAN DEURSEN; Gary E. |
August 6, 2009 |
BLADE DISPENSER
Abstract
A blade dispenser is provided to safely and easily dispense
razor blades. Embodiments include a dispenser having a housing for
accommodating a stack of blades; and a push button slidably mounted
at a first end of the housing. The push button has a blade catch
for engaging a button-engaging portion of a blade of the blade
stack when the push button moves from a depressed position to a
released position, to move the blade to an extended position
partially outside the housing. A first spring engages the housing
and the push button to bias the push button in the released
position, and a blade pusher engages an end blade of the blade
stack. A second spring is provided for engaging the housing and the
blade pusher to bias the blade pusher and the blade stack towards
the blade catch of the push button, such that when the push button
moves from the depressed position to the released position, the
blade catch engages the button-engaging portion of the first end
blade of the blade stack to move the first end blade to the
extended position.
Inventors: |
VAN DEURSEN; Gary E.;
(Essex, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Family ID: |
40913268 |
Appl. No.: |
12/362752 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61006752 |
Jan 30, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/232 ;
206/359; 221/255; 221/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/232 ;
221/255; 221/276; 206/359 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/10 20060101
B65D083/10 |
Claims
1. A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of blades, the dispenser
comprising: a housing for accommodating the blades in a stacked
fashion; a push button slidably mounted at a first end of the
housing such that the push button is movable from a released
position to a depressed position and back to the released position,
the push button having a blade catch for engaging a button-engaging
portion of a first end blade of the blade stack when the push
button moves from the depressed position to the released position,
to move the first end blade to an extended position partially
outside the housing; a first spring for engaging the housing and
the push button to bias the push button in the released position; a
blade pusher for engaging a second end blade of the blade stack
opposite the first end blade of the blade stack; and a second
spring for engaging the housing and the blade pusher to bias the
blade pusher and the blade stack towards the blade catch of the
push button along a longitudinal axis of the housing, such that
when the push button moves from the depressed position to the
released position, the blade catch engages the button-engaging
portion of the first end blade of the blade stack to move the first
end blade to the extended position.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second spring is disposed
in the first end of the housing, the dispenser further comprising a
string connecting the blade pusher and the second spring.
3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the second spring comprises a
torsion spring; the dispenser further comprising a retracting wheel
to which the second spring and the string are attached to urge the
string to wind around the retracting wheel to bias the blade
pusher.
4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a pair
of opposing blade tracks for engaging corresponding opposing
grooves in each of the blades to prevent a sharp edge of each of
the blades from contacting the housing.
5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the blades are standard
single-edge safety razor blades having a protective piece wrapped
around an edge of the blade opposite a sharp edge, and the
protective piece is the button-engaging portion.
6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the push button is slidable in
a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the housing along which the blade pusher is biased.
7. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a storage
compartment for storing used blades between a second end of the
housing opposite the first end, and the blade pusher.
8. The dispenser of claim 7, further comprising a cover for the
housing over the blade stack, the housing including a slot proximal
the second end of the housing for inserting the used blades into
the storage compartment.
9. A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of blades, the dispenser
comprising: a housing for accommodating the blades in a stacked
fashion; a push button slidably mounted at a first end of the
housing such that the push button is movable from a released
position to a depressed position and back to the released position,
the push button having a blade catch for engaging a button-engaging
portion of a first end blade of the blade stack when the push
button moves from the depressed position to the released position,
to move the first end blade to an extended position partially
outside the housing; a spring for engaging the housing and the push
button to bias the push button in the released position; a blade
pusher for engaging a second end blade of the blade stack opposite
the first end blade of the blade stack; a ratchet proximal the
first end of the housing, operatively connected to the push button
to advance the ratchet when the push button moves from the released
position to the depressed position; and a belt attached to the
blade pusher and engageable with the ratchet to draw the blade
pusher and the blade stack towards the blade catch of the push
button along a longitudinal axis of the housing when the push
button moves from the released position to the depressed position,
such that when the push button moves from the depressed position to
the released position, the blade catch engages the button-engaging
portion of the first end blade of the blade stack to move the first
end blade to the extended position.
10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the belt comprises apertures
to engage the ratchet.
11. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a pair
of opposing blade tracks for engaging corresponding opposing
grooves in each of the blades to prevent a sharp edge of each of
the blades from contacting the housing.
12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the blade pusher rides on
the blade tracks.
13. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the blades are standard
single-edge safety razor blades having a protective piece wrapped
around an edge of the blade opposite a sharp edge, and the
protective piece is the button-engaging portion.
14. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the push button is slidable
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the housing along which Me blade pusher is biased.
15. The dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a storage
compartment for storing used blades between a second end of the
housing opposite the first end, and the blade pusher.
16. The dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a cover for the
housing over the blade stack, the housing including a slot proximal
the second end of the housing for inserting the used blades into
the storage compartment.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present invention claims priority of provisional patent
application No. 61/006,752 filed Jan. 30, 2008, the contents of
which are incorporated herein in their entirety
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a blade dispenser. The
present disclosure has particular applicability to dispensers for
standard safety razor blades.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Blade dispensers are used to conveniently store and dispense
a number of blades, such as standard, single-edge razor blades.
These blades have one sharp blade edge at the bottom, and an
opposed, safe top edge with a folded-over protective metal piece.
They are typically used for scraping and cutting. Conventional
blade dispensers require the user to catch a small protruding
portion of the blade with the edge of a finger or fingernail, and
push the blade slightly out through a slot in the front of the
dispenser. Typically, at this point the blade to be dispensed is
slightly extended sideways from the dispenser, exposing both a
portion of the safe top edge and the sharp blade edge. The blade is
then grasped with the thumb and forefinger and removed from the
dispenser.
[0004] One disadvantage of conventional dispensers is that many
users find it difficult to catch a small portion of the blade with
their finger or fingernail, which may be injured in the attempt to
catch the blade portion. Moreover, exposure of a portion of the
sharp blade edge during the dispensing process exposes the user's
fingers to injury.
[0005] There exists a need for a blade dispenser that dispenses
blades easily and safely.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] An advantage of the present disclosure is a blade dispenser
that dispenses blades such that the user can only grasp the safe
protective piece of the blade when removing the blade from the
dispenser, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the user.
[0007] According to the present disclosure, the foregoing and other
advantages are achieved in part by a dispenser for dispensing a
plurality of blades, the dispenser comprising a housing for
accommodating the blades in a stacked fashion; and a push button
slidably mounted at a first end of the housing such that the push
button is movable from a released position to a depressed position
and back to the released position. The push button has a blade
catch for engaging a button-engaging portion of a first end blade
of the blade stack when the push button moves from the depressed
position to the released position, to move the first end blade to
an extended position partially outside the housing. A first spring
engages the housing and the push button to bias the push button in
the released position, and a blade pusher engages a second end
blade of the blade stack opposite the first end blade of the blade
stack. A second spring is provided for engaging the housing and the
blade pusher to bias the blade pusher and the blade stack towards
the blade catch of the push button along a longitudinal axis of the
housing, such that when the push button moves from the depressed
position to the released position, the blade catch engages the
button-engaging portion of the first end blade of the blade stack
to move the first end blade to the extended position.
[0008] A further advantage of the present disclosure is a dispenser
for dispensing a plurality of blades, the dispenser comprising a
housing for accommodating the blades in a stacked fashion, and a
push button slidably mounted at a first end of the housing such
that the push button is movable from a released position to a
depressed position and back to the released position. The push
button has a blade catch for engaging a button-engaging portion of
a first end blade of the blade stack when the push button moves
from the depressed position to the released position, to move the
first end blade to an extended position partially outside the
housing. A spring engages the housing and the push button to bias
the push button in the released position, and a blade pusher
engages a second end blade of the blade stack opposite the first
end blade of the blade stack. A ratchet is provided proximal the
first end of the housing operatively connected to the push button,
to advance the ratchet when the push button moves from the released
position to the depressed position. A belt is attached to the blade
pusher and engageable with the ratchet to draw the blade pusher and
the blade stack towards the blade catch of the push button along a
longitudinal axis of the housing when the push button moves from
the released position to the depressed position, such that when the
push button moves from the depressed position to the released
position, the blade catch engages the button-engaging portion of
the first end blade of the blade stack to move the first end blade
to the extended position.
[0009] Additional advantages and other features of the present
disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from the practice of the disclosure. The advantages of the
disclosure may be realized and obtained as particularly pointed out
in the appended claims.
[0010] As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of
other and different embodiments, and its several details are
capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without
departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and
description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not
as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements
having the same reference numeral designations represent like
elements throughout, and wherein:
[0012] FIGS. 1a-d are perspective views of a blade dispenser
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the blade dispenser of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the blade dispenser of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the blade dispenser of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 5 is another cutaway view showing the retracting
mechanism of the blade dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the retracting mechanism of the
blade dispenser of FIG. 1; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a blade dispenser according to
a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A blade dispenser according to the present disclosure
addresses the disadvantages of conventional blade dispensers, which
require the user to grasp the blade while a portion of the sharp
blade edge is exposed. The present disclosure provides a dispenser
having a sliding button that engages a piece of the blade and moves
the protective metal top edge of the blade far enough outside the
dispenser to be grabbed by the user with two fingers. The blades
are kept in contact with the slide button by means of a pusher at
the bottom of a stack of blades. A spring mechanism or a ratchet
mechanism maintains pressure on the pusher to keep it in contact
with the blade stack. Thus, the dispenser of the present disclosure
is easy to use, and is safe for the user, unlike conventional
dispensers, wherein the blades extend sideways from the dispenser
during dispensing, exposing both a portion of the safe top edge and
the sharp blade edge.
[0020] The general operation of the dispenser according to the
present disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS.
1a-d. The dispenser 10 is used to dispense a plurality of blades
20. It has a spring-loaded push button 12 at one end, and a blade
pusher 40 at the other end which biases the blades 20 forward
against the rear surface of the push button 12. To operate the
dispenser, the button 12 is pushed down, as shown in FIG. 1b. Since
the button 12 is biased to its "up" position by a spring (not
shown), the button 12 returns to the up position when it is
released. As it returns to the up position, a finger on the rear
surface of button 12 catches the edge of protective metal piece 21
of the blade 20 abutting it (see FIG. 1c). The blade 20 can then be
gripped with two fingers and extracted. The rear of the housing 15
has a slot 15a for placing used blades for safe storage and
eventual disposal (see FIG. 1d).
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1a and 2-4, the present disclosure
includes a dispenser 10 that can be used to dispense a plurality of
blades 20, for example, 50 to 250 blades, depending on the length
of the dispenser 10. It has a push button section 11 at one end of
the housing 15, which includes a push button 12 which is biased in
an "up" (i.e., released) position by a spring 13, such as a coil
spring. The blades 20 are stacked in suspension in the housing 15;
that is, the grooves on each side of the blade 20 ride on a small
plastic track 17 on each side of the housing 15. The tracks 17
prevent the sharp cutting edge of the blades 20 from touching the
bottom of the housing. A rear blade pusher 40, which rides on
tracks 18 in housing 15, forces the blades 20 toward the button
12.
[0022] Blade pusher 40 is biased against the blade stack, to push
the blade stack towards a blade catch 12a of the push button 12
along a longitudinal axis of the housing 15. In certain
embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, blade pusher 40 is biased
towards the push button 12 by a torsion spring 30 mounted to a
spring base 31 under push button 12 and coil spring 13, and
connected to a retracting wheel 32 which is in turn connected to a
string 33. The string 33 is also attached to the blade pusher 40.
The torsion spring 30 and the retracting wheel 32 pull on the ends
of string 33, urging it to wind around the retracting wheel 32 to
keep a constant pressure on the blade pusher 40 (and hence the
blades), pulling them forward.
[0023] When the button 12 is returning upwardly it catches the edge
of the protective metal piece 21 wrapped around an edge of each
safety blade 20 with blade catch 12a. It picks up the blade 20,
presenting the safe end of the blade 20 to the user for removal.
The blade 20 can then be gripped with two fingers and
extracted.
[0024] The blades 20 are protected within the housing 15 by a
transparent cover 50 that may bear a logo 51 or other image.
[0025] In the rear of the housing 15 there is a slot 15a for
placing used blades for safe storage and eventual disposal (best
shown in FIG. 1d).
[0026] In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a
different mechanism is employed to force the blades towards the
push button, but other relevant aspects of this embodiment are the
same as the previously described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, a
dispenser 110 for dispensing a plurality of blades has a
spring-loaded push button 112 at one end of a housing 115, the
blades 120 are stacked in suspension in the housing 115, and the
blades ride on a small plastic track 117 on each side of the
housing 115. When the button 112 is depressed, it advances a
conventional ratcheting mechanism (not shown) which in turn engages
a belt loop 116 traveling within the housing 115, taking any slack
out of the belt loop 116 and moving it forward as apertures 116a in
the belt 116 engage the ratcheting mechanism. The belt 116 is
connected to a rear blade pusher 140, which rides on the tracks 117
and forces the blades 120 toward the button 112. When the button
116 is returning upwardly it catches the edge of the protective
metal piece 121 wrapped around each safety blade 120. It picks up
the blade 120, presenting the safe end of the blade 120 to the user
for removal.
[0027] The present disclosure can be practiced by employing
conventional materials, methodology and equipment. Accordingly, the
details of such materials, equipment and methodology are not set
forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions, numerous
specific details are set forth, such as specific materials,
structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it should be
recognized that the present disclosure can be practiced without
resorting to the details specifically set forth. In other
instances, well known processing structures have not been described
in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present
disclosure.
[0028] Only a few examples of the present disclosure are shown and
described herein. It is to be understood that the disclosure is
capable of use in various other combinations and environments and
is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the
inventive concepts as expressed herein.
* * * * *