Combination Razor, Razor Tray And Blade Dispenser

Abstract

The specific disclosure provides a combination of a bonded blade cartridge holder having a handle and a cartridge having at least one cutting edge at one end of the handle, a blade cartridge dispenser, and a razor tray. The tray comprises an elongated member, an opened receptacle at one end of the elongated member, and means including a wall extending downwardly from said one end for guiding the dispenser transversely of the elongated member into position beneath the elongated member. The tray further comprises means extending downwardly from the elongated member for biasing the dispenser into abutting engagement with the guiding means, and means extending upwardly from the elongated member for releasably engaging the handle with the at least one cutting edge positioned in the receptacle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combination of a razor, a blade dispenser and a razor tray, wherein the tray has means for releasably engaging the razor and the dispenser.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to provide a container or case for a safety razor set consisting of a razor and a blade dispenser. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,380 discloses a safety razor case having a tray-like bottom member for receiving a razor and a blade dispenser, and a cover member pivotally connected to the bottom member for opening the case so that the contents of the case are made conveniently accessible for removal. Typically, the tray-like member is recessed or partitioned to receive the razor and the blade dispenser, and the razor and the blade dispenser are maintained in a relatively fixed position by a bias applied thereon when the cover member is in a closed position. Razor cases or containers provide safe storage of the razor when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a razor tray, a blade dispenser, and a razor comprising a handle and a head portion having at least one cutting edge. The tray comprises an elongated member, and a receptacle at one end of the elongated member. The tray further comprises means for releasably engaging the dispenser, and means for releasably engaging the handle with the at least one cutting edge positioned in the receptacle.

Thus, the present invention provides a safety razor kit combination for storage or travel which eliminates the need for a closable container or case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a razor in phantom, a razor tray and a blade dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment with the razor tray shown in section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and with a portion of a wall of the dispenser cut away;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the dispenser taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another end elevation view of the dispenser taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the tray taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6. is an end elevation view of the razor, the blade dispenser and the razor tray taken along line 7--6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The specific embodiment shown in the figures is a bonded blade shaving system wherein at least one blade is bonded in a disposable cartridge, and wherein the razor takes the form of a holder having means at the head portion thereof for releasably engaging the bonded blade cartridge. U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 discloses a bonded blade system wherein each bonded blade cartridge has one cutting edge. U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665 by Jan Dawidowicz and Frank A. Ferraro for Razor Having Tandemly Mounted Blades Bonded In A Disposable Cartridge, filed Oct. 22, 1971, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses a bonded blade system wherein each bonded blade cartridge has two tandemly mounted cutting edges. U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 and U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665 are incorporated herein by reference.

As used herein, the term "razor" includes double edge safety razors such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,293,744 and 3,600,804 and single edge safety razors such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,713, and also bonded blade cartridge holders having a blade cartridge thereon such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,388,831 and 3,600,804 and in U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665.

As used herein, "razor head portion" includes the blade clamping or engaging end of a single or double edge safety razor, and also the cartridge engaging end of a bonded blade cartridge holder having a cartridge thereon.

"Blade dispenser", as used herein, includes safety razor dispensers of the single or double edge variety such as shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,982,442 and 3,602,366, respectively. Further, as used herein, blade dispenser also includes bonded blade cartridge dispensers such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 and U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665.

As used herein, "blade cartridge" refers to a disposable cartridge having one or more single or double edge blades premanently bonded therein. Examples of such blade cartridges are disclosed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,388,831 and 3,600,804 and U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665.

With reference to the figures, a razor tray 5 has an upwardly opened receptacle 12 formed at one end of an elongated member 26. A razor 9 is positioned on the tray 5 with a handle portion 11 extending along the elongated member 26 and a head portion 13 positioned in the receptacle 12. A blade dispenser 10 is releasably positioned beneath the elongated member 26.

Opposing vertical walls 40, 41 extend downwardly from the other end of the elongated member 26, and have a cross-bar or flexible rib 23 interconnecting the forward portions thereof. The flexible rib 23 has a vertical recess 24 formed in the forward side thereof. A skirt or wall 14 (FIG. 2) extends downwardly from the elongated member 26, and has a vertical recess 18 formed in a raised portion 17 of the rear surface thereof. Tabs 15, 16 perpendicularly extend from the lower side of the wall 14 for abutting engagement with the bottom end of a forward wall 20 of the dispenser 10. A similar tab 39 perpendicularly extends forwardly from the lower front surface of the flexible rib 23 for abutting engagement with the underside of a rear wall 21 of the dispenser 10.

Each of the front and rear walls 20, 21 of the dispenser 10 has an outwardly extending vertical rib 19, 22 which is positioned in the respective recess 18, 24 formed in the tray wall 14 and the flexible rib 23. The dispenser 10 is removable from the tray 5 by exertion of a transverse or side pressure which causes the flexible rib 23 to move rearwardly and thus permit disengagement of the vertical ribs 19, 22 from their respective recesses 18, 24, and thereby provide for transverse movement of the dispenser 10 from beneath the elongated tray member 26.

Opposing vertical walls 28, 29 extend upwardly from the upper side of the elongated tray member 26. A protrusion or boss 30, 31 extends inwardly from each of the opposing vertical walls 28, 29. As shown in FIG. 6, the razor handle 11 has opposite upwardly and outwardly extending side walls 32, 33 having horizontal ledges at the upper ends thereof which are snap or frictionally fitted beneath the bosses 30, 31 so that the razor handle 11 is releasably engaged by the bosses 30, 31 to maintain the razor 9 on the tray 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the forward end of the razor handle 11 rests on an upwardly extending tray member 22', and the razor head 13 shown in phantom includes a disposable blade cartridge which rests on a member 16' in the receptacle 12. The receptacle member 16' is shaped to prevent the cartridge cutting edge(s) from contacting the interior wall surfaces of the receptacle 12. The cutting edge(s) is not shown, but is positioned above the flat bottom surface of the receptacle 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the opposing side tray walls 40, 41 provide an opening 42 at the rear end of the tray 5 in which an individual may insert a finger to apply upward pressure on the handle 11 to disengage the handle 11 from the opposing bosses 30, 31.

The dispenser 10 corresponds to the dispenser described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23 of U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 191,665. The dispenser 10 has an opened bottom as shown in FIG. 2 so that the bonded blade cartridges can be dispensed therefrom without removing the dispenser 10 from the razor tray 5.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 also discloses dispenser embodiments adaptable for releasable engagement with a razor tray in accordance with the present invention such that the cartridges are dispensable therefrom without removing the dispenser from the tray. For example, the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 can be releasably secured to the tray 5 for dispensing cartridges therefrom without removing the dispenser from the tray 5. Similarly, the dispenser of the embodiment of FIG. 15 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 can be releasably secured to the tray 5 with the dispensing end thereof positioned to the right or left of the elongated tray member 5.

The specific embodiment described hereinabove is exemplary and is subject to modification without departing from the invention. For example, the downwardly extending tray wall 14 can be a flat surface without the recess 18 therein for abutting engagement with a forward end wall 20 of the dispenser 10 which does not have a vertical rib 19 thereon. Further, the vertical recesses 18, 24 and the vertical ribs 19, 22 can be interchanged such that the ribs are formed on the tray wall 14 and the flexible rib 23, and the recesses formed in the end walls 20, 21 of the dispenser 10.

Further, any number of tabs 15, 16 can extend from the tray wall 14, or a flange member can be substituted for the tabs 15, 16 for abutting engagement with the underside of the forward end wall 20. Similarly, any number of tabs may be provided to supplement the forwardly extending tab 39 at the flexible rib 23.

In addition, the receptacle can comprise, in whole or in part, a cover pivotally mounted at the forward end of the tray to provide protection for the entire razor head portion when pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. This alternative is particularly suitable for a double edge safety razor or bonded system such as shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,293,744 and 3,600,804, respectively. A pivotally mounted razor head portion cover is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,614,011.

Further, it is contemplated that the tray can be shaped to provide for releasable engagement of the dispenser on the upper side of the tray between the tray and the razor handle.

Still further, the biasing means described and shown as comprising the flexible rib 23 can alternatively be embodied as a frictional or snap lock means. Similarly, the vertical walls 28, 29 can be flexible members. The tray can be suitably composed of molded plastic.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a razor tray, a blade dispenser, and a razor comprising a handle, and a head portion having at least one cutting edge; said tray comprising an elongated member, an opened receptacle at one end of said elongated member, means extending from said elongated member for guiding said dispenser into a position on said elongated member, means extending from said elongated member for biasing said dispenser into abutting engagement with said guiding means, and means extending from said elongated member for releasably engaging said handle with said at least one cutting edge positioned in said receptacle.

2. In combination, a razor tray, a blade dispenser, and a razor comprising a handle and a head portion having at least one cutting edge; said tray comprising an elongated member, an opened receptacle at one end of said elongated member, means extending downwardly from said elongated member for guiding said dispenser transversely of said elongated member into a position beneath said elongated member, means extending downwardly from said elongated member for biasing said dispenser into abutting engagement with said guiding means, and means extending upwardly from said elongated member for releasably engaging said handle with said at least one cutting edge positioned in said receptacle.

3. In combination, a razor tray, a blade cartridge dispenser, a blade cartridge holder comprising a handle and a head portion at one end of said handle, and a blade cartridge releasably engaged by said head portion, said cartridge comprising at least one cutting edge; said tray comprising an elongated member, an upwardly opened receptacle at one end of said elongated member, means including a wall extending downwardly from said one end for guiding said dispenser transversely of said elongated member into position beneath said elongated member, means extending downwardly from said elongated member for biasing said dispenser into abutting engagement with said guiding means, and means extending upwardly from said elongated member for releasably engaging said handle with said at least one cutting edge positioned in said receptacle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said tray further comprises at least one tab member extending from said wall to beneath said dispenser for abutting engagement with said dispenser.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a flexible rib member, and wherein at least one tab member extends from said rib member to beneath said dispenser for abutting engagement with said dispenser.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said dispenser has a vertical rib formed at opposite ends thereof, and wherein each of said wall and said flexible rib has a vertical recess for reception of one of said vertical ribs when said dispenser is in position beneath said elongated member.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a flexible rib.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said tray is composed of molded plastic.

9. The combination of claim 3 wherein said releasably engaging means comprises a pair of spaced upwardly extending members for abutting engagement with opposite sides of said handle.

10. The combination of claim 3 wherein said tray further comprises means in said receptacle for preventing said at least one cutting edge from contacting said receptacle.

11. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cartridge dispenser is adapted for dispensement of cartridges without removal of said cartridge dispenser from said tray.