Razor cartridge with metal clip retaining blades

• US 6,035,537 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Anderson, Katherine Elizabeth, Apprille, Domenic Vincent Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/941,328
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 30/50, 30/47-49, 30/346.5, 30/346.57
• US Class Current: 30/346.5
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/227 with blades being resiliently mounted in the changeable unit
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/4068 Mounting devices; Manufacture of razors or cartridges B26B21/528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49915 Overedge assembling of seated part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49954 Fastener deformed after application

Abstract

A razor cartridge including a housing, blades mounted on said housing, and a metallic retaining clip that wraps around the housing and retains the blades on the housing, the housing including fulcrum portions extending outward beyond adjacent surface portions on two sides of the fulcrum portions, the clips having end portions that have been bent over the fulcrum portions beyond the elastic limit of the clips, the housing also having wedge portions making interference fits with the ends of the retaining clips.

Claims

1. An elongated razor cartridge comprising:

a housing having a top, front and back sides, and a bottom, a first fulcrum portion extending outward from said bottom beyond first adjacent surface portions on two sides of said fulcrum portion, said first fulcrum portion being spaced from a said side, said first adjacent surface portions being on said bottom on different sides of a longitudinal axis passing through said fulcrum,

blades mounted on said housing, and

a metallic retaining clip that retains said blades and has a first end portion that has been bent over said first fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip, said clip overlying said first adjacent surface portions

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said housing has a second fulcrum portion extending outward beyond second adjacent surface portions on two sides of said second fulcrum portion, and wherein said clip has a second end portion that has been bent over said second fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum portion tapers as it projects outward from said housing.

4. The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said fulcrum portion has a blunt upper surface.

5. The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said first fulcrum portion is a portion that has been deformed and reduced in height by pressure applied to said fulcrum portion during bending of said first end portion about said first fulcrum portion.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said end portion of said clip has a notch, said first end portion of said clip bending at a narrowed portion adjacent to said notch.

7. The cartridge of claim 6 wherein said housing has a notch post aligned with said notch.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said housing has a raised edge adjacent to an edge of said clip that positions said clip on said housing.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said blades are movably mounted in slots in said housing.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein said blades are mounted on a top portion of said housing, and said end portion of said clip is located at a bottom portion of said housing.

11. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein said housing is recessed inward at a portion of said housing adjacent to the ends of said clip to receive said end portions of said clip during bending.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein there are three said blades.

12. A razor cartridge comprising:

a housing having a first fulcrum portion extending outward beyond first adjacent surface portions on two sides of said fulcrum portion,

blades mounted on said housing, and

a metallic retaining clip that retains said blades and has a first end portion that has been bent over said first fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip,

wherein said housing has a wedge portion extending outward beyond a third adjacent portion, and said metallic retaining clip has an end portion that makes an interference fit with said wedge portion so as to retain said clip on said housing.

14. An elongated housing for a razor cartridge comprising a top,

front and back sides,

a bottom,

blade mounting structure, and

a clip receiving portion for receiving a metallic retaining clip that retains said blades on said housing, said clip receiving portion including a first fulcrum portion extending outward from said bottom beyond first adjacent surface portions on two sides of said fulcrum portion, said first fulcrum portion being spaced from a said side, said first adjacent surface portions being on said bottom on different sides of a longitudinal axis passing through said fulcrum, whereby a first end portion of said clip can be bent over said first fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip.

15. The housing of claim 14 wherein said housing has a second fulcrum portion extending outward beyond second adjacent surface portions on two sides of said second fulcrum portion such that a second end portion of said clip can be bent over said second fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip.

16. The housing of claim 14 wherein said first fulcrum portion tapers as it projects outward from said housing.

17. The housing of claim 16 wherein said first fulcrum portion has a blunt upper surface.

18. The housing of claim 14 wherein said housing has a notch post adjacent to said first fulcrum portion.

19. The housing of claim 14 wherein said housing has a raised edge for positioning said clip on said housing.

20. The housing of claim 14 wherein said blade receiving structure defines slots in said housing.

21. The housing of claim 14 wherein said blade receiving structure is located at a top portion of said housing, and said first fulcrum portion is located at a bottom portion of said housing.

23. The housing of claim 15 wherein said housing is recessed inward at a portion of said housing adjacent to the ends of said clip to receive said end portions of said clip during bending.

24. The housing of claim 20 wherein there are three said slots.

22. A housing for a razor cartridge comprising

blade mounting structure, and

a clip receiving portion for receiving a metallic retaining clip that retains said blades on said housing, said clip receiving portion including a first fulcrum portion extending outward beyond first adjacent surface portions on two sides of said fulcrum portion such that a first end portion of said clip can be bent over said first fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip,

wherein said housing has a wedge portion extending outward beyond a third adjacent portion, and said metallic retaining clip has an end portion that makes an interference fit with said wedge portion so as to retain said clip on said housing.

25. A razor cartridge comprising:

an elongated housing having a top, front and back sides, and a bottom, a wedge portion extending outward beyond an adjacent portion in a direction parallel to said bottom and aligned with a longitudinal axis of said housing,

blades mounted on said housing, and

an elongated metallic retaining clip that retains said blades and that has an end portion that has a lateral edge that extends along a side of said clip transverse to said direction, said lateral edge having dimensions along said direction so as to make an interference fit along said direction with said wedge portion so as to facilitate retaining said clip on said housing.

26. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein said housing has a raised edge adjacent to an edge of said clip that positions said clip on said housing, and said wedge portion extends sideways from said raised edge.

27. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein said wedge portion has an angled surface at said interference fit, and said end portion of said clip has a mating angled surface.

28. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein said end portion of said clip has a notch.

29. The cartridge of claim 28 wherein said housing has a notch post aligned with said notch.

30. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein a portion of said wedge portion overlies a portion of said clip at said interference fit.

31. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein said wedge portion is swaged over said ends of said clip, and wherein said housing is recessed inward at a portion of said housing adjacent to the ends of said clip to receive said end portions of said clip during swaging of said wedge portion.

32. A razor cartridge comprising:

a housing having a first fulcrum portion extending outward beyond first adjacent surface portions on two sides of said fulcrum portion,

blades mounted on said housing, and

a metallic retaining clip that retains said blades and has a first end portion that has been bent over said first fulcrum portion beyond the elastic limit of the clip,

wherein said first fulcrum portion is a portion that has been crushed, permanently deformed and reduced in height by pressure applied to said fulcrum portion during bending of said first end portion about said first fulcrum portion.