Dispensing razor blade cartridges used with a handle

• US 6,041,926 A
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Trotta, Robert A., Petricca, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US08/802,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 30/40, 30/50, 30/40.2, 30/537, 30/540, 206/352, 206/354, 206/355, 206/356, D 9/340
• US Class Current: 206/356
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 27/225 for storing razor blade cartridges, e.g. after use
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/24 of the magazine type; of the injector type containers for storing razor-blades A45D27/24
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/40 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/521 Connection details, e.g. connection to razor heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1282 comprising at least one overlap joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12841 comprising at least two butt joint-segments
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7186 Shaving equipment

Abstract

A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges including latches that retain cartridges in predetermined positions permitting connection to a handle connecting structure on a handle as the handle is moved toward the cartridge, each latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle camming structure so as to cause the latch to be deflected and to unlatch a cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to cartridge connecting structure of a cartridge. The dispenser also has blade unit dividers that extend from the base, are substantially perpendicular to the base, and define blade unit regions in which the blade units are received, and angled dividers that extend from the ends of respective blade unit dividers at acute angles with the base and define angled regions through which the blade units pass in delivery to and removal from the blade unit regions and in which the cartridge connecting structure is received.

Claims

1. A cartridge dispenser for a razor blade cartridge used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining a cartridge receiving section for receiving a respective cartridge retained in said section in a predetermined position permitting connection of said respective cartridge to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said cartridge, and

a latch that is carried by the housing structure and has a latch camming structure and a cartridge retaining portion extending within said cartridge receiving section of the housing structure, said latch camming structure being shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said latch to be deflected to an unlatched position in which said cartridge retaining portion release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said cartridge.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said latch is for retain the respective cartridge in said section.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing structure defines further sections for receiving further respective cartridges retained in said further sections in predetermined positions permitting connection of said further respective cartridges to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said respective cartridges and further comprising further respective latches for said further respective cartridges, each said further respective latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said further latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said further respective cartridge.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 further comprising razor blade cartridges retained in respective said sections.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said latch camming structure includes a cam follower, and said corresponding handle structure includes a cam surface.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said latch camming structure includes a latch cam surface.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 in which said housing structure is made of a bottom part and a top part that have been connected together.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 or 8 wherein said housing structure has drainage holes associated with respective sections.

8. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges,

said housing structure including a base, side walls, and a plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers having upper and lower surfaces that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges,

said angled regions being partially bounded by an upper surface of one angled divider and a facing lower surface of an adjacent angled divider,

said angled dividers having upper surfaces for extending above uppermost regions of said cartridges when said cartridges are received in said sections.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 in which said housing structure is made of a bottom part and a top part that have been connected together.

10. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges,

said housing structure including a base and plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges, wherein said cartridges each have a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connection to a handle, said cartridge connecting structure extending from said blade unit,

wherein said cartridge dividers also include blade unit dividers that extend from said base, are substantially perpendicular to said base, and partially define blade unit regions in which said blade units are received, and

wherein said angled dividers extend from the ends of respective said blade unit dividers, and wherein said angled regions lead to respective blade unit regions for delivery of blade units to and removal of blade units from said blade unit regions, and wherein said cartridge connecting structure is received in said angled regions,

an angled region of one section partially overlying a blade unit region of an adjacent section,

wherein said housing structure is made of a bottom part and a top part that have been connected together, said bottom part including said base and said blade unit dividers, said top part including said angled regions.

11. The dispenser of claim 7, 9, or 10 wherein said bottom part and said top part are made of molded plastic.

12. The dispenser of claim 7, 9, or 10 wherein said bottom part and said top part are made of molded plastic, and wherein said bottom part and top part are connected to each other by ultrasonic welding.

14. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges,

said housing structure including a base, side walls, and a plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers having upper and lower surfaces that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges,

said angled regions being partially bounded by an upper surface of one angled divider and a facing lower surface of an adjacent angled divider,

wherein said cartridges each have a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connecting to a handle, said cartridge connecting structure extending from said blade unit,

wherein said cartridge dividers also include blade unit dividers that extend from said base, are substantially perpendicular to said base, and partially define blade unit regions for receiving said blade units, and

wherein said angled dividers extend from the ends of respective said blade unit dividers, and wherein said angled regions lead to respective blade unit regions for delivery of blade units to and removal of blade units from said blade unit regions, and wherein said angled regions are adapted for receiving said cartridge connecting structure,

an angled region of one section partially overlying a blade unit region of an adjacent section.

15. A cartridge dispenser for a razor blade cartridge used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining a section for receiving a respective cartridge retained in said section in a predetermined position permitting connection of said respective cartridge to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said cartridge, and

a latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said cartridge,

wherein said housing structure defines further sections for receiving further respective cartridges retained in said further sections in predetermined positions permitting connection of said further respective cartridges to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said respective cartridges and further comprising further respective latches for said further respective cartridges, each said further respective latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said further latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said further respective cartridge

wherein said housing structure has a base and a plurality of cartridge dividers extending upward from said base and defining said sections, and wherein said latches are located at said cartridge dividers.

16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said latches are located at midportions of said dividers.

17. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said latches have resilient cantilevered arms that extend from said cartridge dividers and have ends with said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches.

18. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said latches have resilient cantilevered arms that extend from said cartridge dividers and have ends with said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches and blocking surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to said arms for blocking removal of said cartridges.

19. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said latches include resilient cantilevered arms extending from said cartridge dividers and ends that each have said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches, and wherein said cartridge dividers have spaces nearby said ends of said cantilevered arms to receive said handle connecting structure.

20. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges,

said housing structure including a base and plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges, wherein said housing structure includes side walls, and said angled dividers have first portions that extend between the side walls closer to said base and second portions that extend upward from the first portions but are not connected to said side walls.

21. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges,

said housing structure including a base and plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges, further comprising a latch associated with each said section, and wherein said cartridges can be retained in said sections in predetermined positions by a respective latch permitting connection of a respective said cartridge to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said cartridge,

each said latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with a corresponding handle camming structure on said handle so as to cause said latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said cartridge.

22. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein said latches retain said cartridges in said sections.

23. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein said latch camming structure includes a cam follower, and said handle camming structure includes a cam surface.

24. The dispenser of claim 23 further comprising said razor blade cartridges retained in respective said sections, and wherein said cartridge connecting structure connects to said handle by movement of said handle along a connection axis toward said cartridge connecting structure, and wherein said cartridge connecting structure includes a recessed portion for receiving said cam surface on said handle as said handle is moved along said connection axis.

25. The dispenser of claim 23 further comprising razor blade cartridges retained in respective said sections, and wherein said cartridge connecting structure has inwardly directed surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of said handle connecting structure,

wherein said cartridge connecting structure connects to said handle by movement of said handle along a connection axis toward said cartridge connecting structure,

wherein said cartridge connecting structure includes a latching portion that is engaged by said latch and a recessed portion adjacent said latching portion for receiving said cam surface on said handle as said handle is moved along said connection axis.

26. The dispenser of claim 25 wherein said recessed portion has an inwardly directed angled surface.

27. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein said latches have resilient cantilevered arms that extend from said cartridge dividers and have ends with said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches.

28. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein said latches have resilient cantilevered arms that extend from said cartridge dividers and have ends with said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches and blocking surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to said arms for blocking removal of said cartridges.

29. The dispenser of claim 21 further comprising razor blade cartridges retained in respective said sections.

30. The dispenser of claim 29 wherein said cartridges have blades and cartridge end structures outside of and above said blades, and said housing structure has raised members on which said cartridge end structures are supported so as to avoid contact of said blades with said housing structure.

31. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein said latches include resilient cantilevered arms extending from said cartridge dividers and ends that each have said latch camming structure extending from one side of said latches, and wherein said cartridge dividers have spaces nearby said ends of said cantilevered arms to receive said handle connecting structure.

32. A cartridge dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle comprising

a housing structure defining sections for receiving respective cartridges

said housing structure including a base and plurality of cartridge dividers between said sections,

said cartridge dividers including angled dividers that make acute angles with said base and define angled regions for receiving said cartridges, wherein said cartridges each have a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connection to a handle, said cartridge connecting structure extending from said blade unit,

wherein said cartridge dividers also include blade unit dividers that extend from said base, are substantially perpendicular to said base, and partially define blade unit regions in which said blade units are received, and

wherein said angled dividers extend from the ends of respective said blade unit dividers, and wherein said angled regions lead to respective blade unit regions for delivery of blade units to and removal of blade units from said blade unit regions, and wherein said cartridge connecting structure is received in said angled regions,

an angled region of one section partially overlying a blade unit region of an adjacent section,

wherein said angled dividers make an angle of greater than 30°

with said base.

33. A combination of a cartridge dispenser for a plurality of razor blade cartridges used with a handle and said plurality of razor blade cartridges comprising

a housing structure defining a section for receiving a respective said cartridge retained in said section in a predetermined position permitting connection of said respective cartridge to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said cartridge, and

a latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said cartridge,

wherein said housing structure defines further sections for receiving further respective said cartridges retained in said further sections in predetermined positions permitting connection of said further respective cartridges to a handle connecting structure on said handle as said handle is moved toward said respective cartridges and further comprising further respective latches for said further respective cartridges, each said further respective latch having a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding handle structure to cause said further latch to be deflected and to release said cartridge as said handle is moved toward and connected to a cartridge connecting structure of said further respective cartridge,

further comprising said razor blade cartridges retained in respective said sections,

wherein said cartridges have blades and cartridge end structures outside of and above said blades, and said housing structure has raised members on which said cartridge end structures are supported so as to avoid contact of said blades with said housing structure.

34. A method of making a dispenser for razor blade cartridges comprising

providing a bottom plastic part including a base and a top plastic part, said bottom part including bottom divider portions and said top part including top divider portions defining sections for receiving respective razor blade cartridges, and

permanently connecting said bottom plastic part to said top plastic part by ultrasonically welding them together, respective top and bottom divider portions being welded together.

35. A method of making a dispenser for razor blade cartridges comprising

providing a bottom plastic part including a base and a top plastic part, said parts defining sections for receiving respective razor blade cartridges,

said bottom part including blade unit dividers that extend from said base, are substantially perpendicular to said base, and define blade unit regions in which blade units of said cartridges are to be received,

said top part including angled dividers that are sized to extend from the ends of respective blade unit dividers at acute angles with said base so as to define angled regions through which said blade units will pass in delivery to and removal from said blade unit regions and in which cartridge connecting structures of said cartridges can be received, and

permanently connecting said bottom plastic part to said top plastic part such that said angled dividers are aligned with respective blade unit dividers.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said permanently connecting includes ultrasonically welding said bottom part and said top part together, said ultrasonically welding including welding said blade unit dividers to said angled dividers.