Blade dispenser assembly

• US 20030085236A1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Handy Cutter Incorporated (PHC Sharp Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Handy Cutter Incorporated (PHC Sharp Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, G. Gerry
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/232
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 27/24 for storing thin flat razor blades, e.g. after use devices for collecting used scalpel blades A61B17/3217; devices for dispensing new razor-blades B65D83/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/10 for dispensing razor-blades
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/22 Pushers actuated indirectly by hand, e.g. through cranks or levers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

A blade dispenser assembly includes a housing and an integrally formed shuttle mechanism which functions to dispense one blade at a time from the bottom of a stack of blades held within the housing. The shuttle mechanism is configured to engage a bottommost blade in the stack when in a closed position and to carry the engaged blade with it when the shuttle mechanism is moved to an opened position. In the opened position, the shuttle mechanism is partially extended from the housing and securely holds and displays the withdrawn blade. An exemplary preferred shuttle mechanism is pivotally coupled to the housing and includes an arm portion that allows a person to pivot the shuttle mechanism away from the housing while keeping the person'"'"'s hand safely away from the blade being withdrawn. The blade dispenser assembly also includes a follower mechanism that is positioned adjacent the top of the stack of blades and mechanically coupled to the housing such that it descends with the stack of blades as successive blades are withdrawn from the bottom of the stack and such that it retains its position relative to the housing when the assembly is turned upside down, thereby functioning as a one-way ratchet that prevents the stack of blades from falling away from the shuttle mechanism.

Claims

1. A blade dispenser assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a vertical channel that laterally supports a stack of blades thereabout;

a shuttle mechanism mechanically coupled to the housing such that the shuttle mechanism withdraws a blade from the bottom of the stack when the shuttle mechanism is moved to an opened position in which a portion of the shuttle mechanism is extended from the housing; and

a follower mechanism mechanically coupled to the housing such that the follower mechanism descends within the housing adjacent a top portion of the stack as blades are successively removed from the bottom of the stack.

2. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the shuttle mechanism is formed such that the blade withdrawn from the housing by the shuttle mechanism is accessible for removal from the shuttle mechanism when the shuttle mechanism is in its opened position.

3. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 2, wherein the shuttle mechanism is formed such that a next blade of the stack is mechanically engaged by the shuttle mechanism after the blade withdrawn from the housing is removed from the shuttle mechanism and the shuttle mechanism is moved back to a closed position beneath the stack.

4. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the follower mechanism separates the housing into a lower portion for new blades and an upper portion for used blades; and

the upper portion includes an aperture sized to receive the used blades.

5. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the follower mechanism is formed to function as a one-way ratchet such that when the blade dispenser apparatus is turned upside down the follower mechanism maintains its position relative to the housing thereby preventing the unused blades from falling away from the shuttle mechanism.

6. A blade dispenser assembly, comprising:

a housing sized to receive a stack of blades; and

a shuttle pivotally coupled to the housing and shaped such that a blade from the stack is engaged by the shuttle when the shuttle is in a closed position and such that the blade is drawn from the stack and extended from the housing when the shuttle is moved to an opened position.

7. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 6, wherein the shuttle is positioned beneath the stack.

8. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 6, wherein the shuttle includes a blade receiving surface and a plurality of ridges at peripheral portions of the blade receiving surface.

9. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 6:

wherein the housing includes a front side with a recessed portion; and

wherein the shuttle includes an arm portion that fits within the recessed portion when the shuttle is in its closed position.

10. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 6, wherein the shuttle includes a stop member positioned to make contact with a portion of the housing once the shuttle has been pivoted a predetermined amount relative to the housing.

11. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 6:

wherein the housing includes a post member; and

wherein the shuttle includes a sleeve that receives the post member therein pivotally coupling the shuttle to the housing.

12. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the post member and sleeve are formed such that a full bearing surface is provided for pivoting the shuttle relative to the housing.

13. A blade dispenser assembly, comprising:

a housing configured to hold a stack of blades and to facilitate dispensing one blade at a time from the housing;

a shuttle member mechanically coupled to the housing and shaped such that the shuttle member engages a blade from the bottom of the stack when the shuttle member is in a closed position and such that the shuttle member extends from the housing with the engaged blade when the shuttle member is moved to an opened position; and

a follower member positioned above the stack and mechanically coupled to the housing such that the follower member can only move in one direction within the housing, descending with a top portion of the stack as the stack becomes smaller.

14. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 13:

wherein the housing is formed with a vertical channel and includes a follower guide member that faces the vertical channel; and

wherein the follower member includes a main portion shaped to fit within the housing and a cantilevered portion positioned between the vertical channel and the follower guide member.

15. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 14, wherein the follower member includes an attaching portion between the main portion and the cantilevered portion, the attaching portion fitting within the vertical channel.

16. The blade dispenser assembly of claim 14, wherein the main portion and the cantilevered portion approximately form a right angle.