US3587170A - Safety razor with disposable blade magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

A SAFETY RAZOR HAVING A DISPOSABLE TWO-COMPARTMENT BLADE MAGAZINE OPERABLY RELATED WITH A MANUALLY OPERATED BLADECONTROLLING MECHANISM CARRIED BY THE RAZOR HEAD FOR DISPLACIN THE NEW BLADES INDIVIDUALLY INTO SHAVING POSITION AND FOR TRANSFERRING SUCH BLADES WHEN DULL FROM THE NEW BLADE COMPARTMENT TO THE OTHER COMPARTMENT FOR STORAGE UNTIL THE NEW BLADE SUPPLY IS EXHAUSTED REQUIRING A MAGAZINE EXCHANGE.

Description

United States Patent Glenn T. Randol Loch Lynn Heights, Md. 785,186

Dec. 19, 1968 June 28, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SAFETY RAZOR WITH DISPOSABLE BLADE MAGAZINE 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 30/40 Int. Cl B26b 21/24 Field of Search 30/40, 40.2, 62

ll 22 E3 E6 3O 3! 32 35 Jll lll im in [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,693 4/1956 Nigro 30/40 2,989,805 6/ 1961 Bringewald 30/40 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, .Ir.

ABSTRACT: A safety razor having a disposable two-compartment blade magazine operably related with a manually operated blade-controlling mechanism carried by the razor head for displacing the new blades individually into shaving position and for transferring such blades when dull from the new blade compartment to the other compartment for storage until the new blade supply is exhausted requiring a magazine exchange.

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as as 39 64 en 6 '9 4E 46 6 77 76 7 SAFETY RAZOR WITH DISPOSABLE BLADE MAGAZINE This invention relates to safety razors providing manual blade changing. In the related art, the problem of attaching a separate blade magazine to the commercial injector-type razor and subsequent operation and removal of the magazine from the razor to enable shaving along with manual storing of the used blades individually in the magazine with possible personal injury involved, constitutes the major objection to this type of razor since both hands are required to forcibly attach and detach the magazine and to manipulate the blade injector (finger-piece) while holding the razor stabilized, and more often than not the magazine key is difficult to insert between the blade-clamping members (razor head) and when so inserted disalignment often exists between the new incoming blade and the used blade to be ejected thus blocking movement of the finger-piece until manual maneuvering of the magazine and razor head restores blade alignment to release the finger piece for movement to effect the blade exchange. Upon such blade exchange being completed, manual separation of the magazine from the razor head requires use of both hands before a shaving operation can ensue. Accordingly, it is seen that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages in a blade exchange in the commercial injector-type razor which requires multiple manual operations involving both hands along with personal inconvenience and possible injury handling the blades individually, more than offset the advantages of being able to insert the new blades individually without touching them.

Therefore, the primary objective of the invention is to overcome such disadvantages by providing a novel and improved injector-type safety razor which carries a disposable two-compartment blade magazine with one compartment containing new blades and formed with integrated cutting-edge control components, and the other compartment serving as a storage for dull blades, and a manual blade-controlling (moving) mechanism carried by the razor head for displacing new blades individually into shaving position and for effecting transfer of the blades as they become dull from the new blade compartment to the used blade compartment thus eliminating manual handling of the blades individually and possible personal injury and/or inconvenience, and wherein the floor of the storage compartment is magnetized to stabilize the dull blades in stacked formation against rattling" during manipulation of the razor until the new blade supply is exhausted requiring a magazine exchange.

Another object is to produce the razor head in the form of a magazine holder comprising a head segment projecting forwardly at an angle from a support segment defining an extension of the razor handle, said magazine having integrally formed longitudinally spaced blade-stops defining opposite extremities, respectively, of a cutting-edge guard segment subjacent to a cutting-edge outlet between the forward marginal edge of the head segment and top of the magazine front wall whereby the magazine becomes a shaving instrument in itself independently of the holder.

Another object is to provide such magazine with a stabilizing latch which projects through an opening in said handle extension in locking engagement with a cooperating edge margin defining said opening thus locking the magazine in operative position on the razor head with respect to the topmost blade, said latch being manually movable against spring-bias in two directions to release and partially project the magazine from the razor head thus facilitating manual removal. Another object is to utilize a normally compressed spring between the floor of the new blade compartment and the confronting lowermost blade for feeding the stack of new blades to individually engage opposite end margins thereof with a pair of blade-retaining flanges, respectively, the latter overlying opposite ends, respectively, of a blade outlet defined by the top of the front wall of the magazine in spaced subjacent relation to said flanges. As each blade is presented in engagement with said flanges therefore in alignment with said blade outlet, such blade is predeterminately advanced under said blade injector to engage opposite corners of the cutting edge with said blade stops, respectively, to establish the blade in shaving position and releasably so maintained.

Another object is to produce such two-compartment magazine from molded plastic material with a removable bottom wall defining the floor of both compartments, and to enable loading with unused blades in commercial form, said bottom wall having a medially transverse depending embossment which carries the aforesaid spring-biased latch (catch) for stabilizing the magazine in shaving position by automatically engaging a cooperating edge margin defining a preferably rectangular opening in an extension depending from the support segment, said latch being manually disengageable from said opening to enable removal of the magazine upon using all of the sharp blades, the bottom wall of the compartment containing unused blades being provided with a pair of spaced upstanding control elements (projections) which project through similarly spaced elongated apertures in the blades in commercial form to maintain alignment in stacked formation with the respective cutting edges spaced from the inner side of the magazine front wall to prevent dulling. The tops of said projections being flush with the top of said front wall which defines the lower side of said blade outlet, to enable releasing the topmost blade for advancement into shaving position without interrupting engagement of its opposite end margins with said blade-retaining flanges, under said blade injector.

An object related to the object next above is to form the upper longitudinal edge of said front wall as a cutting-edge guard segment projecting forwardly, and that portion of said wall below said guard segment being angulated (tapered) rearwardly out of interference with the flow of beard-ladened lather through the usual expulsion opening adjacent said guard segment, and to facilitate manipulation of the guard segment in contact with the skin at the correct shaving angle.

Another object is to provide a novel form of safety razor using commercial single-edged injector blades characterized by a sharp cutting edge opposite a butt (dull) edge, and which lends itself to economical manufacture on a quantity basis.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will become apparent during the following comprehensive disclosure of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a safety razor incorporating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the lower portion of the razor handle broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on an enlarged scale along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 to clarify the structure comprising the manual blade injector and guide member therefor carried on the razor head;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation on a reduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation on the same scale as FIG. 2 showing the cutting-edge control components with the lower portion of the razor handle broken away;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the novel two-compartment blade magazine unit including a blade depicted in broken outline in its three relative positions controlled by the aforesaid manual blade injector and spring associated with the new blades;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of the razor head and operatively related blade magazine in process of being removed;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the blade injector in fully retracted position to accommodate insertion of a loaded magazine unit shown in progress; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the manual blade injector and related under side of the guide member therefor.

Referring to the drawing, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention is the razor illustrated in FIGS. I9 and generally designated R. The razor head RH serves as a magazine holder and includes a rectangular head segment 9 forwardly projecting at an angle from a substantially upright rectangular support segment 10 having an elongated horizontal opening 11 adjacent its juncture with the segment 9. A

marginal segment (lip) 12 defines the forward edge portion of said head segment 9 and is offset inwardly at opposite ends to produce control shoulders 13. The reduced length of the segment 12 is adapted to control centralization of a novel twocompartment blade magazine unit generally designated BM with respect to the razor head RH during insertion, and to overlie that portion of the blade adjacent its cutting edge in shaving position. An elongated depending extension 14 on said support segment 10, is rigidly attached at its lower end portion 15 to the upper end portion of the razor handle H to produce a unitary assembly thereof as best shown in FIG. 4. Blade-moving means disclosed herein as a manual blade control (injector) BT best illustrated in FIG. 9, are slidably carried transversely of the head segment 9 medially thereof as shown in FIG. 1 in operative association with the topmost blade, and comprise: a rectangular plate 17 formed with a forward offset shelf 18 which carries a resilient member 19 on its upper side and is characterized by a pair of longitudinally spaced forwardly overhanging extensions 20 each terminating in a rounded end 21 and a rearwardly spaced blade control shoulder 22 normal to said extension. The upper side of said member 19 is flush with the upper face of the plate 17 proper therefore the combined thicknesses of the shelf 18 and member 19 equal the thickness of the plate 17 proper as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The blade control shoulders 22 are adapted to engage the confronting edges of a pair of aligned elongated apertures (slots) 23 in the body of the blade B characterized by a cutting (sharpened) edge 24 opposite a butt (nonsharpened or dull) edge 25 in commercial form. A segmental portion of the blade body is disposed between said slots and the butt edge 25, the latter being engageable by a forward control edge 26 on the shelf 18 under protractive manual movement of the plate 17 therefore theblade injector Bl, to advance an unused blade relatively to a blade outlet 27 defined by blade thickness space obtaining between the top of the front wall of the magazine compartment 28 for new blades and the superjacent forward marginal edge of the lip segment 12 aforesaid, to expose the sharpened edge 24 for shaving as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and also to position said blade control shoulders 22 in alignment with their respective edges of the slots 23 in the blade B for subsequent engagement thereby to withdraw such blade into registry with the open top of the magazine compartment 29 for storage therein, under full retractive manual movement of said blade injector plate 17. A pair of fasteners (rivets) 30 rigidly secure the body portion of the resilient member 19 to the upper side of said shelf 18 as shown, so that the rounded ends 21 on the resilient extensions 20 when normally relaxed in horizontal position (see FIG. 2) will have camming engagement with the butt edge 25 of the topmost blade B for lifting the blade control shoulders 22 to slide over the segmental portion of the blade body under protractive manual movement of the blade injector Bl into registry with the aforesaid blade slots 23 to present the edges thereof for engagement by said blade control shoulders 22. The resilient characteristic of the extensions 20 is effective to restore them to normal relaxed status shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, to effect such engagement of the shoulders 22 into the blade slots 23 so that ensuing retractive movement of the blade injector Bl will be effective to move the connected topmost blade as a unit for deposit in the used blade compartment 29 as shown in FIG. 6 (dashed lines) and in FIG. 7 (solid lines) wherein such blade in FIG. 6 is shown in broken outline in all three of its relative positions in the two-compartments of the magazine unit BM including its shaving position.

The resilient member 19 is provided with a rearwardly extending springy detent element 31 of reduced width and having a terminal arcuate portion 32 freely movable within a perimeter opening 33 in the plate 17, to releasably engage a cooperating slot 34 formed in a rectangular guide member 35 fast on the underside of said head segment 9 as by a pair of rivets 36 or otherwise, with its rear end spaced from the opening 12 aforesaid, said detent element when relaxed as shown in FIG. 9 being disposed at an angle to the extensions 20, but

when installed under operative tension as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, it is disposed in a common horizontal plane with the extensions 20. The perimeter opening 33 enables the arcuate detent portion 32 to adjust flush with the underside of said guide member 35 when the blade injector plate 17 is being moved between its two operative extremes shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, respectively. The blade injector plate 17 is adapted to slidably interfit between a pair of opposing lateral inturned flanges 37 defining a channel therebetween in alignment with the aforesaid opening 11 in the support segment 10. The corresponding edges on the plate 17 are complementally beveled to interfit said inturned flanges 37 and produce shoulders 38 with the vertical edged portions at the rear end of said plate 17. Therefore, the blade injector plate 17 is slidably supported by said inturned flanges and the aforesaid opening 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, said flanges providing a track" for the bevel edges on the plate 17 to support said plate therefore the blade injector BI for manual reciprocative movement relative to the guide member 35 therefore the razor head RH in effecting a blade transfer and accommodating a magazine exchange as is understood. The forward portions of said flanges 37 are partially removed at 39 to provide clearance for the dull blade being withdrawn from the compartment 28 for deposit in the compartment 29. The aforesaid detent portion 32 and cooperating slot 34 when engaged releasably stabilize the blade injector plate 17 therefore the blade injector BI in fully protracted position shown in FIG. 2 wherein a new blade is releasably stabilized in shaving position and the said shoulders 38 are in abutting relation with the confronting rear ends of said flanges 37. Upon fully retracting the plate 17 therefore the blade injector Bl to the position of FIG. 8, the detent portion 32 becomes effective in engagement with the rear edge 40 of the guide member 35 and in engageable alignment with the upper inner margin of said opening 1 1, thus releasably stabilizing the plate 17 therefore the blade injector BI in such retracted position which corresponds to withdrawal of a used blade from compartment 28 for deposit in the compartment 29 or when a magazine exchange is being made.

It is important to note that upon inserting the blade injector Bl through the opening 11 into slidable interfitting relation with said inturned flanges 37 that fortuitous displacement of the blade injector Bl from the razor head RH is prevented by the detent portion 32 engaging the upper inner margin of said opening 11. Accordingly, the detent portion 32 and shoulders 38 cooperate with the upper inner margin of the opening 12 and with the rear ends of the flanges 37, respectively, to define positive limits of manual reciprocative movement of the blade injector Bl in placing a blade in shaving position and transferring it to the used blade compartment 29, and to accommodate a magazine exchange, while the function of the detent portion 32 and cooperating slot 34 is to releasably stabilize the blade injector BI at such limits of reciprocable movement. Disassembly of the blade injector BI from the razor head RH requires aligning of the detent portion 32 with the opening 11 and then manually withdrawing it from the razor head.

The rear terminal portion of said plate-l7 exterior of the razor head RH, is formed with a downturned extension 41 provided with a pair of opposing lateral flanges 42 defining tabs (finger-pieces) for grasping between the thumb and forefinger, for example, to enable withdrawing the plate 17 therefore the blade injector BI to effect a blade transfer between the blade compartments 28,29 while the finger under pressure against the extension 41 proper is effective to protract the control edge 26 on the shelf 18 into engagement with the butt edge 25 of the new blade B in compartment 28 and advance it to present its cutting edge 24 through the blade outlet 27 into shaving position as shown in FIGS. I and 2.

The aforesaid control shoulders 13 on the head segment 9 best shown in FIG. 1, are adapted to control the fully installed status of the magazine unit BM in the razor head RH as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The magazine unit BM shown in FIG. 6 is generally rectangular and is relatively thin in depth compared to its length and width. The magazine comprises: a detachable bottom wall (floor) 44 having a plurality of projecting locking tabs 45 defining at least two opposite edges thereof as shown in FIG. 2. These locking tabs are adapted to engage complemental recesses 46 formed in the inner side margins defining the bottoms of the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively, to produce a unitary assembly of the floor 44 and magazine walls as shown best in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. One of the purposes in producing the floor 44 detachable, is to enable loading new blades in the compartment 28 under bias of a compressed spring 49 shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and in broken outline in FIG. 6, said latter spring being effective to feed the new blades upwardly to place the topmost blade in alignment with said blade outlet 27 defined by engagement of opposite end portions of the topmost blade in compartment 28 with a pair of longitudinally spaced inwardly projecting blade retaining flanges 50 overlying opposite blade end portions aforesaid, respectively, said flanges being spaced from the open top of said latter compartment the thickness of a blade for the new blade to project its cutting edge 24 through the blade outlet 27 in shaving position without said opposite end portions of the blade becoming disengaged from said retaining flanges 50 formed on the inside of the upper portions of the magazine sidewalls 51, 52, respectively, which extend above the top of the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively, thus producing a channel therebetween in which said blade injector BI is slidably disposed in operative relation to the open top of the magazine unit BM installed in the razor head (holder) RH shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The lower side of the blade outlet 27 is flush with the tops of the walls 47,48, respectively, and the terminal ends of the blade outlet are closed to produce a pair of longitudinally spaced blade stops 53,54 interconnected by a downturned cutting edge guard segment 55 subjacently spaced from the cutting edge 24 of the blade B in shaving position to enable expulsion of beard-ladened lather from said cutting edge through a communicating elongated opening 56 to the rear of said guard segment 55 and flush with the outer face of the confronting portion of the front wall 47 of the magazine unit BM, the downturned face of said guard segment 55 being characterized by a series of closely generated longitudinal serrations best shown in FIG. 5 for controlling facial contact and exposure of the beard hairs to the cutting edge aforesaid. lntegrally formed atop the forward half substantially of said retaining flanges 50, is a pair of forwardly inclined elongated embossments 57,58, respectively, which project upwardly at their rear flush ends with the top surface of the aforesaid head segment 9 and define shoulders 59 engageable by the aforesaid control shoulders 13 on the latter segment. The bottoms of the shoulders 59 are disposed flush with the rearward portions of the tops of the sidewalls 51,52 of the magazine unit BM. The marginal profile of the head and support segments 9,10, respectively, including the depending extension 14, is formed to have contiguous relation with the confronting tops of the sidewalls 51,52 which extend rearwardly from the aforesaid shoulders 59, and with the perimeter of the rear end of said magazine unit BM, that is, the sidewall tops and perimeter of the rear end of the magazine unit BM effect a substantially watertight seal with the marginal profile of the razor head RH when the blade magazine BM is in operative position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

That portion of the magazine floor 44 which closes the open bottom of the used blade compartment 29, is provided in part with a permanent magnet 60 which has beveled front and rear longitudinal edges 61,62, respectively, adapted to engage complemental angulated surfaces 62,63, respectively, at the bottom of that portion of the floor 44 closing the used blade compartment 29 and the rear wall 48, respectively, to stabilize said magnet in effective position as shown. The detachable construction of the floor 44 enables installation of the magnet 60 whereupon assembly of the floor 44 effects stabilization of the magnet in blade-holding position between the beveled edges and angulated surfaces aforesaid. A partition wall 64 integrally projects upwardly from the medial transverse portion of the floor 44 which closes the open bottom of the magazine unit BM, said partition wall being characterized by a tapering cross section to a point flush with the tops of the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively. This partition wall serves to divide the interior of the magazine unit BM into the aforesaid new and used blade compartments 28,29, respectively. Upstanding from that portion of the floor which closes the bottom of the compartment 28, is a pair of spaced blade control elements (projections) 65,66, intermediately disposed with respect to the width of said latter compartment. These blade control elements extend flush with the tops of the partition wall 64 as well as with the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively, and project through the aforesaid blade slots 23 to maintain the blades B in aligned stacked formation for operative engagement by the aforesaid blade injector Bl in the manner abovedescribed.

Depending from the central portion of the underside of said floor 44, is an integral embossment 70 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). This embossment is formed interiorly with a blind cavity 71 opening toward the rear end for reception of a manual latch (catch) 72 pivotally mounted at one end on a cross pin 73 supported on the sidewalls of said cavity as shown. A compressed spring 74 is operably disposed between the bottom wall 75 of said cavity and the underside of said latch 72, and is effective to bias the latter upwardly into engagement with the upper margin of a rectangular opening 76- through the support extension 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). This latch is operable under thumb pressure, for example, while the razor handle 16 is grasped between the fingers and palm of the same hand. Downward movement of the latch disengages its latching element 77 defining the other end of the former, from said opening 76 and ensuing forward thrust by the thumb pushes the magazine unit BM forwardly for easy grasp of the finger depressions 78 between the forefinger and thumb of the other hand to effect removal of the magazine unit from the razor head RH as shown in FIG. 7. The arcuate surface of the latching element 77 is provided with closely generated longitudinal serrations 79 to facilitate thumb contact during a magazine exchange. Insertion of the magazine unit BM is readily effected by grasping the finger depressions 78 as described and then sliding the magazine into position in the razor head RH as shown in FIG. 2 and demonstrated in progress by FIG. 8 with the blade injector Bl fully retracted whereupon full protraction of the latter is effective to bring the control edge 26 on the shelf 18 into engagement with the butt edge 25 of the new blade B and advance the cutting edge 24 of the latter through the blade outlet 27 into shaving position wherein the corners of the cutting edge abut the blade stops 53,54, respectively. The latching element 77 under spring 74 automatically yields to accommodate passing through the opening 76 and then automatically raises into engagement with the upper edge margin of the opening 76 to lock the blade magazine BM in operative position in the razor R. Therefore, removal of the magazine requires only manual unlatching since the latch 72 operates automatically to lock the magazine to the razor as a function of pushing the magazine into the razor head RH as shown in FIG. 8 to the operating position shown in FIG. 2.

A window 80 is provided through that portion of the sidewall 51 in alignment with the new blade compartment 28 to enable the users visual observation of the number of unused blade remaining in the compartment 28 (see FIG. 7) thus anticipating a magazine exchange. Also a vent port 81 through the floor 44 ahead of the cutting edges 24 of the new blades in compartment 28, is provided to insure draining of any water that may enter the compartment 28 when rinsing during a shave or when shaking dry after a shave. It is contemplated that upon completing a shave that the razor R should be shaken free of any water therefore any residue moisture (dampness) in the compartment 28 will either drain through the port 81 are quickly disappear with the razor out of use.

The normal operational cycle of the present safety razor R involves grasping the depressions 78 between the thumb and the forefinger of one hand and inserting a loaded magazine BM into the razor head RH as demonstrated by FIG. 8 while the blade injector Bl is fully retracted, and then manually protracting the latter to the FIG. 2 position wherein the topmost blade previously disposed in the compartment 28 is now advanced to project its cutting edge 24 in shaving position against the aforesaid blade stops 53,54. During insertion of the magazine BM, the latch 72 automatically functions under its spring 74 to engage the marginal edge of said opening 76 to lock the magazine in operating position. Thereafter, when a new blade has been used until dull, full manual cycling of the blade injector Bl, that is, full retracting and protracting movements thereof, causes the dulled blade to be withdrawn for deposit in the compartment 29 under gravity to engage the magnet 60 to prevent rattling" as a function of the retracting phase of said cycling, and the protracting phase being effective to engage the topmost blade in compartment 28 disposed contiguous at opposite ends to said retaining flanges 50, and advance the same into shaving position against the blade stops 53,54 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During the retracting phase, the control shoulders 22 engage the slot edges in the blade B and withdraw the latter for storage in compartment 29, while in the protracting phase of said cycling, the control edge 26 on the shelf 18 engages the butt edge of the topmost blade in compartment 28 and advances the same into shaving position as explained above. When a dulled blade is withdrawn over the partition wall 64 in registry with the open top of the compartment 29, it falls under gravity to the floor of that compartment and is instantly grasped by the magnet 60 to prevent rattling," the magnet being effective to hold all of the blades stabilized which originate from the new blade compartment 28 according to the number of blades originally provided, such as six to blades. Upon withdrawal of a dulled blade in the manner described above, the spring 49 automatically moves the topmost blade B into engagement with the retaining flanges 50 in alignment with the blade outlet 27 in readiness for advancement into shaving position under full protractive movement of the blade injector Bl.

It is thus seen that the blade injector BI performs a two-fold function of l) injecting the new blade into shaving position against the blade stops 53,54 and (2) ejecting (withdrawing) the dulled blade from shaving position for storage in the used blade compartment 29 under said magnet 60 until a magazine exchange is made. During such a blade change, ejection of the used blade from shaving position as it moves across the open end of compartment 28 prevents the next succeeding (top) unused blade from moving upwardly under spring 49; but upon the dulled blade clearing the aforesaid retaining flanges 50, the topmost blade in the compartment 28 moves automatically into engagement with said retaining flanges 50 under spring 49 which places such blade in alignment with the blade outlet 27 for ensuing injection of its cutting-edge portion into shaving position against the blade stops 53,54 as is understood.

Accordingly, the spring 49 continuously biases the stack of new blades upwardly to engage the topmost blade with said retaining flanges 50 for subsequent projection under protractive movement of the blade injector Bl into shaving position and while such blade is in shaving position or being ejected for replacement by a new blade, it remains partially or wholly in contact with the next succeeding new blade for the latter to move upwardly under spring 49 into engagement with the retaining flanges 50, upon the dull blade reaching the open top of the used blade compartment 29. Thus, the active blade prevents fortuitous displacement of the underlying blade until the dull blade is removed from the compartment 28 for storage in the compartment 29 under the magnet 60. Upon completion of the storage of the dull blade, protraction of the blade injector Bl forces the new topmost blade now in engagement with the retaining flanges 50 under said spring 49, partly through the blade outlet 27 to expose the cutting edge 24 for shaving with the comers of the latter in engagement with the blade stops 53,54, and the used blade or blades in the compartment 29 are fully stabilized under the magnet 60 to produce an absolutely quiet use of the razor R since the used blades cannot rattle under movement of the razor while shaving or handling otherwise and the spring 49 maintains tension on the stack of new blades in the compartment 28.

The aforesaid detent portion 32 and cooperating slot 34 are effective at the extremes of reciprocative movement of said blade injector BI to releasably stabilize the latter in such extremes to prevent fortuitous movement thereof therefore the connected blade intermediate such extremes, and to stabilize the active blade in shaving position.

The magazine unit BM may be used separately from the razor R for shaving in the event the razor is not available or misplaced, since the forefinger of the shaving hand may be pressed against the top of the blade in the blade outlet 27 and advance the same into shaving position against the blade stops 53,54, and while holding the blade so advanced under the forefinger and with the second finger and thumb of the same hand grasping the finger depressions 78, a shaving operation may be expeditiously carried out in such emergency without likelihood of personal injury or inconvenience.

A further novel advantage of the present safety razor R resides in the use of commercial injector single-edged blades, and the magazine unit BM is preferably formed of plastic material for economical production and lightness.

The novel and patentable blade magazine BM through the use of the blade window which may be open are covered with transparent material, exposes the quantity of unused blades to the user so that a magazine exchange may be anticipated, such magazine featuring the detachable bottom 44 from which the aforesaid blade control elements 65,66 upstand to facilitate reloading with commercially packaged blades when a factory-loaded magazine may be temporarily unobtainable, thus enabling use of the present safety razor R if only one single-edged blade is available which can be inserted into the open bottom of the empty magazine unit BM under spring bias when the bottom is reattached or, optionally, such blade may be inserted between the retaining flanges 50 and said spring 49 and subsequently fed into shaving position by the blade injector Bl in the manner above described in detail. Normally the magazine unit BM would be loaded with new sharp blades at the factory through the open bottom of the new blade compartment 28 before attaching the floor 44.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, however, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the full scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. ln a safety razor, the combination of: an upright handle; a holder including an extension connected at one end to said handle and the other end defining a forward lip segment extending at an angle to said extension; a disposable blade magazine unit adapted to be removably carried by said holder, said magazine unit having a front wall spaced from a rear wall with a dividing wall therebetween defining two compartments for new and used blades, respectively, the latter being characterized by a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and an apertured body defining with said nonsharpened edge a segmental portion of said body, a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges in blade thickness space from the top of said front wall, a blade outlet for exposing the sharpened edge of said blades for shaving, and a guard segment substantially coextensive with said blade outlet and subjacently disposed with respect to the blade sharpened edge in shaving position; blade-moving means operably mounted on said lip segment in operative relationship to the topmost blade in the new blade compartment for individually and successively advancing such blades to expose the sharpened edge in said blade outlet for shaving, and for transferring the new blades when dulled from the new blade compartment to the used blade compartment for storage; means in the used blade compartment for automatically stabilizing the used blades in stacked formation against rattling during handling of the razor; manual means for securing the magazine unit in operating position on said holder and for releasing the magazine unit for removal from said holder when the new blade supply is exhausted; and resilient detent means operably associated with said moving means, for releasably stabilizing the latter in fully protracted and retracted positions.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said blade-moving means comprise: a rectangular guide member fast on the underside of said lip segment for movably supporting a rectangular plate; an offset shelf provided with a blade control edge defining the forward edge of said movable plate, said control edge being adapted to engage the nonsharpened edge of each new blade to advance the sharpened edge thereof into shaving position; an opening through said extension subjacent to the rear end of said lip segment; a resilient member mounted on the upper side of said shelf flush with the upper face of said movable plate, and provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced overhanging extensions which span the aforesaid segmental portion of the topmost blade, said extensions terminating in a rounded end spaced from a rearwardly disposed blade control shoulder, said shoulders being adapted to engage a cooperating edge of the aforesaid body aperture of the topmost blade aforesaid to withdraw the same out of shavin'g position, said blade control edge being effective to advance a new blade into shaving position; and a reduced width extension projecting from the rear edge of said movable plate through said opening in said extension on the handle to the exterior thereof and terminating in a downtumed portion provided with a pair of spaced lateral finger tabs to enable manual grasp thereof to move said movable plate.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said automatic means comprise: a permanent magnet in the floor of the used blade compartment.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said manual means comprise: a pivotally mounted latch carried by said magazine unit and spring-biased into latching connection automatically with a cooperating portion on said handle extension; a compressed spring for biasing said latch into latching position; and a knurled surface on a portion of said latch enabling firm finger contact therewith to effect two-way movement thereof and to partially displace said magazine unit from said holder under two-directional finger pressure applied to said knurled surface.

5. The combination according to claim 4 in which said detent means comprise: a transverse slot in said guide member spaced from the rear edge thereof; a springy detent element projecting from the rear edge of said resilient member, and terminates in an arcuate portion freely movably within a perimeter opening in said movable plate, to releasably engage said transverse slot in said guide member and thereby releasably stabilizing said movable plate in its fully protracted position, and releasably engaging the rear edge of said guide member and the upper margin of said opening in said handle extension to releasably stabilize said movable plate in its fully retracted position.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which said blade outlet comprises: an elongated rectangular opening defined by blade thickness space obtaining between the top of the magazine front wall and the superjacent forward marginal edge of said lip segment, said marginal edge lying contiguously to the marginal portion of the blade defining the sharpened edge thereof.

7. In an injector-type safety razor, the combination of: a cutting blade having a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and an apertured body defining with said nonsharpened edge a segmental portion of said blade body; and blademoving means having a resilient extension with a hooklike terminal portion spaced from a blade-control edge between which said segmental portion is confined whereby said moving means and blade move as a unit, said blade control edge being effective to protract said blade to expose its sharpened edge for shaving and said hooklike portion being effective to retract said blade out of shaving position.

8. In an injector-type safety razor, the combination of: a cutting blade having a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and an aperture therebetween defining a segmental portion of the blade body; blade-moving means including a resilient extension with a hooklike terminal portion spaced from a blade control edge between which said segmental body portion is confined whereby said moving means and blade move as a unit, said blade control edge effecting protractive movement of said blade to expose its sharpened edge for shaving and said hooklike portion effecting retractive movement of said blade out of shaving position for storage; disposable blade magazine means having a front wall spaced from a rear wall and a bottom wall with a medial upstanding wall dividing.

the space between said front and rear walls into a pair of compartments for new and used blades, respectively, a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges engageable by opposite end margins of the topmost blade in said new blade compartment to present such blade for movements aforesaid under said moving means, a stabilizing element in said new blade compartment projecting through the apertures in said new blades except the aforesaid topmost blade, for maintaining the new blades in stacked operational alignment for successive and individual protractive movement into shaving position, biasing means in said new blade compartment continuously feeding the blades therein toward said topmost position into engagement with said pair of retaining flanges, and a guard segment subjacently disposed with respect to the blade sharpened edge in shaving position; manually operable means for moving said moving means, retractive movement of a blade out of shaving position being effective to store the same in said used blade compartment; means in the used blade compartment for stabilizing the stored blades against rattling; manual means for securing the magazine unit to a holder in operating position and for releasing the same for removal when the new blade supply is exhausted; and resilient detent means operably related with said moving means, for releasably stabilizing the latter in fully protracted and retracted positions.

9. In a safety razor blade magazine unit, the combination comprising: a hollow casing open at the top and bottom and having front and rear walls and a pair of interconnecting sidewalls; a partition wall dividing the interior of said casing into two compartments for new and used blades, respectively; a cutting-edge guard segment defining the outer upper edge margin of said front wall; an elongated lather expulsion opening between said guard segment and front wall; a blade outlet defined by the top of said front wall; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade stops defining opposite ends, respectively, of said blade outlet; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges projecting toward each other and defined by the inner top margins of said sidewalls, respectively, and adapted to overlie opposite end portions, respectively, of said new blade compartment in blade thickness spaced relation with respect to the top of said front wall; a detachable bottom wall for closing the corresponding opening of said casing; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-stabilizing elements upstanding from that portion of the bottom wall of said new blade compartment; a permanent magnet in the floor of that portion of the bottom wall of said used blade compartment; a central transverse embossment integrally depending from the underside of said bottom wall; a blind cavity in said embossment opening toward the rear end of said magazine unit; a pivotally mounted latch in said cavity with the free end thereof projecting exteriorly thereof; and a compressed spring operatively positioned in said cavity between said latch and a wall portion of said cavity to bias said latch into latching position.

10. A safety razor blade magazine unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holder, comprising in combination: a rectangular hollow casing open at the top and bottom; a pair of transversely spaced front and rear wall, respectively; a pair of longitudinally spaced sidewalls, respectively, extending above the tops of said front and rear walls; a detachable bottom wall for closing the corresponding opening of said casing and having a pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced bladestabilizing elements and a longitudinal partition wall upstanding flush with the tops of said front and rear walls and transversely spaced from said stabilizing elements, to produce a new and used blade compartment with respect to said front and rear walls, respectively, in said casing; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges projecting toward each other from that portion extending above said front and rear walls, respectively, in blade thickness space from the top of said front wall, said flanges being adapted to overlie opposite end portions of said new blade compartment; a blade outlet defined by the aforesaid blade thickness space; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade stops defining the forward closed terminals of opposite ends, respectively, of said blade outlet; a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures through each of said blades in stacked formation in the new blade compartment and through which said stabilizing elements project flush with the bottom of said blade outlet; a compressed spring operably positioned between the bottom of the new blade compartment and confronting lowermost blade therein for continuously urging the stack of blades upwardly to present said opposite end portions of the topmost blade in engagement with said retaining flanges, respectively, in readiness for advancement into said blade outlet to engage the blade cutting edge comers with said blade stops, respectively; a permanent magnet in the bottom wall underlying said used blade compartment for stabilizing the used blades in stacked formation against rattling; a cutting-edge guard segment interconnecting said blade stops; an elongated lather expulsion opening adjacent said guard segment and substantially coextensive therewith; a pair of forwardly inclined embossments integrally formed atop the aforesaid retaining flanges, respectively, to produce a pair of longitudinally spaced control shoulders with the latter; a central embossment depending from the underside of said bottom wall and provided on opposite sides with a pair of finger depressions, respectively; a blind horizontal cavity formed in the rear end portion of said cavity; a latch pivotally mounted in said cavity on a cross pin spanning said cavity and supported at opposite ends in a pair of vertical walls, respectively; a compressed spring operably disposed between said latch and bottom wall of said cavity to bias said latch into latching position with respect to said holder; and a knurled surface on the free end portion of said latch enabling two-way application of manual pressure to operate said latch in opposition to said last-defined spring to free said magazine unit from said holder and partially displace the same therefrom for removal of the magazine unit from said holder.

11. The combination according to claim 10 in which said partition wall is integral at opposite ends thereof with intermediate portions of said sidewalls, respectively, and offset upwardly the thickness of said bottom wall to accommodate attachment of the latter.

12. The combination according to claim 11 including a recess formed in the inner side of the bottom end margins of said front and rear walls; and complemental projections defining corresponding edges of said bottom wall for engaging said recesses to produce a unitary assembly of said hollow casing and bottom wall.

13. The combination according to claim 12 in which said front wall is inclined forwardly to enable the guard segment aforesaid defining the upper outer edge of said front wall, to contact the skin thus facilitating control of the cutting edge of the effective blade at its proper cutting angle.

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