Storage device for shaving razor, cartridges, or other stored items

• US 6,415,517 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Worrick, Charles Bridgham III
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US09/364,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 305/37, 305/41, 30/40, 206/470, 206/471, 206/228, 206/208, 206/223, 206/352, 206/353, 211/87.01, D 9/342, D 9/345, 221/100, 221/123, 221/154
• US Class Current: 30/541
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 27/22 Containers or carriers for storing shaving appliances
• 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: A45D 27/29 Stands for shavers or razors A45D27/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/40 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/22 for facilitating lifting or suspending of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2577/205 integral with the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0446 the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks B65D81/3825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2044 whereby a layer of the container or cover fails, e.g. cohesive failure B65D77/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2052 the container being weakened

Abstract

A storage device, e.g., for a shaving razor and replacement cartridges, including a base member having at least one storage compartment, and one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment. The sealed package contains a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades. Each compartment provides a retention force, e.g., by opposed members, to retain a respective package within the compartment with a retention force that is less than a peeling force needed to initiate peeling of a cover layer sealably connected to the stored package. The cover has shaving razor engagement structure for carrying a razor on an external surface of the cover.

Claims

1. A shaving cartridge storage device comprising

a base member having at least one divider spaced between respective ends thereof and defining at least one storage compartment, and

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said sealed package containing a replaceable shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades, said shaving cartridge being enclosed by said sealed package and removable in unitary form from said package.

22. The storage device of claim 1 or 3 wherein said base member is formed of plastic, and wherein said base member has a plurality of said compartments and has a plurality of said dividers formed therein to provide said compartments.

23. The storage device of claim 1 further comprising a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member.

39. The storage device of claim 3, 4, 23 or 34 wherein said cover has a snap-fit closure member and a finger engagement lip extending from said cover for opening said cover.

49. The storage device of claim 1 or 3, wherein

said sealed package comprises a container having an opening that has been sealed with a cover sheet, and

with said sealed package being received in its storage compartment, the container having article-surrounding lateral sides upstanding from the base member and the container opening directed upwards away from the base member.

2. A sealed package storage device comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment, and

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said sealed package having an opening that has been sealed with a peelable film at a sealing surface surrounding said opening, each said sealed package containing a stored unit therein, said film being peelable from said sealing surface upon the application of a peeling force greater than a predetermined peel force value,

each said compartment providing a retention force to retain a respective said package within said compartment,

said retention force being less than said predetermined peel force value.

6. The storage device of claim 2 wherein said base member has a surface-mounting structure.

7. The storage device of claim 2 wherein said base member has a wall mounting structure.

9. The storage device of claim 2 wherein said base member is formed of plastic and has a side wall that extends around its periphery.

10. The storage device of claim 9 wherein said base member has a plurality of said compartments and dividers formed therein to provide said compartments along with said side wall, each said divider having a free end and a base portion.

13. The storage device of claim 10 or 12 wherein said dividers each have a flat portion at said free end of said divider, said flat portion receiving a lip that extends from one side of said package, said divider having a ridge that is formed in said divider between said base portion and said end for receiving a narrow edge portion of said package.

14. The storage device of claim 10 or 12 wherein said dividers each have a flat portion at said free end of said divider, said flat portion receiving a lip that extends from one side of said package, and said dividers extend only part way from said side wall at one side of said base member to the side wall at the other side to provide a region for gripping an exposed portion of said lip.

19. The storage device of claim 10 or 12 wherein said dividers have drainage openings.

21. The storage device of claim 10 or 12 wherein said base member has projections between said dividers to position said packages.

34. The storage device of claim 2 further comprising a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member.

35. The storage device of claim 34 wherein said cover has a shaving razor engagement structure on an external surface thereof.

3. A storage device for one or more sealed packages comprising

a base member having at least one divider spaced between respective ends thereof and defining at least one storage compartment,

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said package containing a stored solid unit therein which is enclosed by said sealed package and removable in unitary form from said package, and

a reclosable cover that is hingedly connected to said base member, wherein in an open position of said cover being spaced from said base member each said package being selectively removable from its respective storage compartment independently of any other said package.

8. The storage device of claim 3 or 5 wherein said stored unit is a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades.

32. The storage device of claim 3 wherein said base member is formed of plastic and has a side wall that extends around its periphery.

33. The storage device of claim 32 wherein said base member has a plurality of said compartments and said base member has a plurality of said dividers formed therein to provide said compartments along with said side wall.

4. A storage device for a shaving razor comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment, and

a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member,

said cover having a shaving razor engagement structure on an external surface thereof.

56. The storage device of claim 4 wherein each said storage compartment has an opening directed towards an underside of said hinged cover in a closed condition thereof, whereby in a closed condition the cover substantially overlies the opening of the storage compartment.

5. A wall-mounted storage device comprising

a base member having a wall-mounting structure,

said base member having at least one storage compartment, and

one or more packages that are each located in a respective said compartment,

each said package containing a stored unit therein that is removable as a single unit,

each said compartment having opposed members providing a retention force to opposite sides of a said package within said compartment.

11. The storage device of claim 5 wherein said base member is formed of plastic and has a side wall that extends around its periphery.

12. The storage device of claim 11 wherein said base member has a plurality of said compartments and dividers formed therein to provide said compartments along with said side wall, each said divider having a free end and a base portion.

15. The storage device of claim 12 wherein said dividers have said opposed members thereon.

16. The storage device of claim 5 wherein one said opposed member is resilient.

17. The storage device of claim 5 wherein a said opposed member has a sharp portion that engages said package.

18. The storage device of claim 5 wherein said opposed members provide an interference fit for a respective said package.

20. The storage device of claim 9 or 11 wherein said side wall has a drainage opening at the bottom of said base member.

36. The storage device of claim 5 wherein said wall mounting structure comprises double-sided adhesive tape.

37. The storage device of claim 5 wherein said wall mounting structure comprises suction cups.

38. The storage device of claim 5 wherein said wall mounting structure comprises portions of said base member defining openings for receiving transverse mounting members attached to a wall.

57. The storage device of claim 5 wherein

the base member has a rear wall, a pair of laterally opposed side walls upstanding from the rear wall, and at least one pair of spaced transverse walls upstanding from the rear wall,

the pair of opposed side walls and the transverse walls defining the at least one storage compartment, whereby said storage compartment surrounds each said package at opposed lateral faces of the package and defines a withdrawal opening directed away from the rear wall for each said package and is stored unit to be withdrawn together as a unit in a direction generally normal to and away from the rear wall.

24. A shaving cartridge storage device comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment, and

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said sealed package containing a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades,

further comprising a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member,

wherein said cover has a shaving razor engagement structure on an external surface thereof.

25. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover is hingedly connected to said base member by a snap-fit connection.

26. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said razor engagement structure includes a portion of said cover defining an opening to engage the bottom of a handle of a razor.

27. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover has a raised portion matching the contour of one side of a razor handle.

28. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover has opposed wings to engage a razor handle near the razor head end of the handle.

29. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover has opposed flexible wings to engage a razor handle near the razor head end of the handle, and a support portion between the wings.

30. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover has a flat area to provide clearance for the cartridge attached to a handle supported on said engagement structure.

31. The storage device of claim 4 or 24 wherein said cover is made of softer plastic than said base member.

40. A wall-mounted storage device comprising

a securing device for securely mounting to a wall, said securing device carrying a first engagement structure, and

a base member that is removably mounted to said securing device, said base member carrying a second engagement structure that removably engages said first engagement structure,

said base member having a plurality of storage compartment and one or more packages that are each located in a respective said compartment,

each said package containing a single razor cartridge comprising a plastic housing and one or more blades.

41. The storage device of claim 40 wherein said securing device includes a plate that is adapted to be attached to said wall, and said first engagement structure extends from said plate.

42. The storage device of claim 41 wherein said first engagement structure comprises a post, and said second engagement structure comprises a slotted opening sized to receive said post in one portion of said slotted opening, and securely engage said post with an interference fit in another portion of said slotted opening.

43. The storage device of claim 41 wherein said first engagement structure comprises four posts, and said second engagement structure comprises four slotted openings that are each sized to receive a respective said post in one portion of said slotted opening, and securely engage said respective post with an interference fit in another portion of said slotted opening.

44. The storage device of claim 40 wherein said base member includes a recess, and said securing device includes a locating projection shaped to fit within said recess.

45. The storage device of claim 40 or claim 41 wherein said securing device is shaped to fit within at least one of said plurality of storage compartments of said base member prior to attachment to said wall.

54. The storage device of claim 40 or 46 wherein there are a plurality of said packages.

55. The storage device of claim 40 or 46 wherein said base member has a longitudinal vertical axis, and said compartments have longitudinal axes arranged transverse to said vertical axis of said base member.

46. A removable wall-mounted storage device for connection to a securing device that is securely mounted to a wall and carries a first engagement structure, said storage device comprising

a base member that is removably mountable to said securing device,

said base member carrying a second engagement structure that removably engages said first engagement structure,

said base member having a plurality of storage compartment, and

one or more packages that are each located in a respective said compartment,

each said package containing a single razor cartridge comprising a plastic housing and one r more blades.

47. The storage device of claim 46 wherein said first engagement structure comprises a post, and said second engagement structure comprises a slotted opening sized to receive said post.

48. The storage device of claim 46 wherein said first engagement structure comprises four posts, and said second engagement structure comprises four slotted openings that are each sized to receive a respective said post in one portion of said slotted opening, and securely engage said respective post with an interference fit in another portion of said slotted opening.

50. A shaving cartridge storage device comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment, and

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said sealed package containing a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades,

wherein said base member has a surface-mounting structure.

51. A storage device for one or more sealed packages comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment,

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said package containing a stored unit therein, and

a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member,

wherein said base member has a surface-mounting structure.

52. A shaving cartridge storage device comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment, and

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said sealed package containing a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades,

wherein said base member has a wall-mounting structure.

53. A storage device for one or more sealed packages comprising

a base member having at least one storage compartment,

one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment,

each said package containing a stored unit therein, and

a cover that is hingedly connected to said base member,

wherein said base member has a wall-mounting structure.