Cutlery – Razors – Knockdown and/or folding
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-11
2001-02-27
Payer, Hwei-Siu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Razors
Knockdown and/or folding
C030S050000, C030S526000, C030S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to dispensing razor blade cartridges from a dispenser onto a handle.
Razor blade cartridges are typically removed from a dispenser by connecting the handle to the cartridge while the cartridge is still retained in the dispenser. The user then pivotally moves the handle with respect to the dispenser, using the leverage of the handle against a friction or interference fit of a projection that holds the cartridge body, and frees the cartridge from the dispenser. When the cartridge is of a type that has a pivotal connection to the handle, the user must pivot the handle beyond the range of motion allowed by the pivotal connection before leverage is applied to the friction or interference fit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a dispenser for razor blade cartridges used with a handle. The dispenser has a housing structure that defines sections for receiving respective cartridges and retaining the cartridges in predetermined positions that permit connection of a handle connecting structure on the handle to one of the cartridges as the handle is moved toward the cartridge. The dispenser also has a latch for each section. Each latch has a latch camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with a corresponding handle camming structure on the handle, causing the latch to be deflected and to release the cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to cartridge.
In another aspect, the invention features in general a dispenser having a housing structure that includes a base and a plurality of angled cartridge dividers that define angled sections for receiving respective cartridges.
Certain implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. In certain implementations, each latch has a resilient cantilevered arm that extends from a cartridge divider and has an end with a cam follower and a blocking surface that is substantially perpendicular to the arm for blocking removal of the cartridge. The cartridge dividers include 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. The cartridge dividers also include 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. An angled region of one section partially overlies a blade unit region of an adjacent section. The angled cartridge dividers have first portions that extend between the side walls closer to the base and second portions that extend upward from the first portions but are not connected to the side walls. The angled dividers make an angle of greater than 30° with the base. The dispenser has drainage holes associated with respective sections. The dispenser has raised members on which end structures (e.g., clips) of the cartridge are supported so as to avoid contact of the blades with the dispenser.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a handle for connecting to a replaceable razor cartridge held in a predetermined position in a dispenser by a latch. The handle has a hand engageable portion and a handle connecting structure at the upper end of the handle that makes connection to the cartridge by movement along a connection axis toward the cartridge in the dispenser. The handle connecting structure includes a handle camming structure that is shaped and positioned to interact with a corresponding latch camming structure on the latch on the dispenser so as to cause the latch to be deflected and to release the cartridge as the handle is moved along the connection axis toward and is connected to the cartridge.
In certain implementations of the invention, the handle connecting structure fits within a cartridge connecting structure on the cartridge, and the handle connecting structure is asymmetrical so as to guarantee proper alignment of a cam surface on the handle with a cam follower on the dispenser as the handle is moved toward and is connected to the cartridge. The handle carries a button used to eject the cartridge; the button is located on a platform adjacent to the cam surface and has a recessed region in line with the cam surface to provide a space to receive the latch during or after connection of the handle to the cartridge.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a replaceable razor blade cartridge that includes a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connecting the blade unit to a handle by movement of the handle along a connection axis toward the cartridge connecting structure. The cartridge connecting structure includes a recessed portion for receiving a cam surface on the handle as the handle is moved along the connection axis.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a replaceable razor blade cartridge that includes a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connecting the blade unit to a handle by movement of the handle along a connection axis toward the cartridge connecting structure. The cartridge connecting structure includes a cutaway portion functioning as a keyway for receiving a mating key structure on the handle as the handle is moved along the connection axis to enhance proper orientation of the handle.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a replaceable razor blade cartridge that includes a blade unit and a cartridge connecting structure for connecting the blade unit to a handle by movement of the handle along a connection axis toward the cartridge connecting structure. The blade unit includes an elongated housing and a cross bar that is parallel to the connection axis and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing at a bottom portion of the housing. The cartridge connecting structure includes a latching portion for engagement by a latch on a cartridge dispenser. The latching portion is aligned with the cross bar, so that the cross bar is aligned with the latch upon removal of the cartridge from the dispenser.
In certain implementations of the invention, the cartridge connecting structure has inwardly directed surfaces that define a flat-shaped region for insertion of a flat-shaped handle connecting structure. The cartridge connecting structure has an engagement structure providing a releasable (e.g., snap-fit) connection to the handle. The engagement structure is a projection for mating with a matching depression on the handle.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general a razor including a handle with a cam surface and a cartridge with a recessed portion for receiving the cam surface on the handle as the handle is moved along a connection axis during connection of the cartridge to the handle.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, the combination of a cartridge dispenser, a cartridge stored in the dispenser, and a handle. The dispenser has a latch that releasably holds the cartridge stored on the dispenser in a latched position and has a latch camming structure. The handle has a handle camming structure that interacts with the latch camming structure to cause the latch to be deflected from the latched position and to release the cartridge as the handle is moved toward and connected to the cartridge. The handle also includes a platform on which the latch rides in an unlatched position after the latch has released the cartridge prior to removal of the connected cartridge from the dispenser.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general, the combination of a cartridge dispenser and a cartridge in the dispenser. The cartridge has a blade unit and-a cartridge connecting structure that is movably connected to the blade unit. The dispenser has a housing structure that supports the blade unit and a latch that engages the cartridge connecting structure. The housing structure and the latch hold the cartridge in an im
Metcalf Stephen C.
Petricca John D.
Trotta Robert A.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Payer Hwei-Siu
The Gillette Company
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