US3771223A

US3771223A - Bonded blade cartridges and a cartridge dispensing system

Info

Publication number: US3771223A
Application number: US00258682A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Dawidowicz; F Ferraro
Original assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Current assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
Priority date: 1971-10-22
Filing date: 1972-06-01
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13

Abstract

The specific disclosure provides a dispensing system for bonded double edge razor blade cartridges comprising a dispenser, a plurality of disposable double edge cartridges in the dispenser, and a cartridge holder. Each of the cartridges has a plurality of double edge blades, and a T-shaped channel formed transversely thereof. The holder has a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel. The dispenser has a plurality of guide surfaces for aligning the supporting surfaces of the holder with a T-shaped channel of at least one of the cartridges.

Description

United States Patent [191 Dawidowicz et al.

111 3,771,223 1451 Nov. 13, 1973 BONDED BLADE CARTRIDGES AND A CARTRIDGE DISPENSING SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Jan Dawidowicz, Fairfield; Frank A.

Ferraro, Trumbull, both of Conn.

[73] Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company, Morris Plains, NJ.

22 Filed: June 1, 1972 21 App1.No.: 258,682

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. Nos. 191,665, Oct. 22, 1971, and Ser. No. 236,723, March 21, 1972.

[52] US. Cl. 30/40, 206/16 BC, 221/102,

30/50 [51] Int. Cl B26!) 21/22, B65d 85/54 [58] Field of Search 30/32, 40, 40.2,

30/34 R, 90, 50; 206/16 BC; 220/20, 22; 312/35, 221/110, 279, 307, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,388,831 6/1968 Hansom 30/40.2

3,696,915 l0/l972 Douglas ..30/40X Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerGary L. Smith Att0rneyJames F. Powers, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The specific disclosure provides a dispensing system for bonded double edge razor blade cartridges comprising a dispenser, a plurality of disposable double edge cartridges in the dispenser, and a cartridge holder. Each of the cartridges has a plurality of double edge blades, and a T-shaped channel formed transversely thereof. The holder has a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel. The dispenser has a plurality of guide surfaces for aligning the supporting surfaces of the holder with a T-shaped channel of at least one of the cartridges.

12 Claims, 27 Drawing Figures PMENTEUHUV 1:; m5 115571., 223' SHEET 2 OF 6 PATENTEDHnv 13 I975 SHEET 3 Cr" 6 PATENTEU NOV 13 I975 SHEET H []F 6 PAIENTEDnuv 13 m 3,771. 223

SHEET 8 BF 6 V aao jmi 402 BONDED BLADE CARTRIDGES AND A CARTRIDGE DISPENSING SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 191,665, filed Oct. 22, I971, for Razor Having Tandemly Mounted Blades Bonded In A Disposable Cartridge, and of U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 236,723, filed Mar. 21, 1972, for Dispenser and Dispensing System For Bonded Razor Blade Cartridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety razors of a type having a plurality of blades permanently bonded in a disposable cartridge. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser and dispensing system for cartridges having a plurality of double edge blades.

It is known to permanently bond a blade having a single edge in a disposable cartridge. For example, U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,654,]48 and 3,388,831 each disclose a razor blade permanently bonded in a disposable cartridge. Typically, a safety razor has a guard surface situated downwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge of a blade and parallel to the cutting edge. The guard surface may be of the comb variety, such as in U. S.

Pat. No. 2,654,148, or formed by the outer surface of an elongated guard bar, such as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,388,831. An advantage of providing a blade permanently bonded in a cartridge is that it is possible to optimize the shaving angle defined by the relationship between the cutting edge and the guard surface to minimize the possibility of nicks-and cuts and to maximize shaving efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing system for bonded razor blade cartridges comprising, in combination, a dispenser, ,a plurality of disposable double edge cartridges in the dispenser, and a holder. Each of the cartridges has a plurality of double edge blades, and slidably engageable surfaces. The holder comprises means for sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces. The holder additionally comprises stop means for preventing sliding engagement with the engageable surfaces when the sliding engagement means is in an improper orientation with respect to the dispenser. The dispenser has means formed thereon for guiding the sliding engagement means into sliding engagement with the slidably engageable surfaces, and means for abutting the stop means when the sliding engagement means is in an improper orientation to thereby prevent the sliding engagement means from engaging the engageable surfaces.

The invention thereby provides proper orientation of the holder with respect to each cartridge for removal from the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cartridge and a car-.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of a cartridge with portions removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spacer used to separate the blades of the cartridge of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of still another embodiment of a cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 8 taken along lines 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is'an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view ofa cap member of the cartridge embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of a blade separator used in the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a blade used in the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a blade seat member used in the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of a cartridge;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 15 taken along lines 16 16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a spacer for separating the blades of the embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of a blade seat member of the embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a dispenser of one dispensing embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a side view with an outer wall broken away of a portion of the dispenser of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is another embodiment ofa dispenser for dispensing cartridges in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 22 with a side wall broken away;

FIG. 24 is a side elevation view of a movable wall for the dispenser of FIG. 22 with a portion broken away;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation view of another movable wall of the dispenser of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is another perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 22 showing the used cartridge storage end of the dispenser; and

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 27 27 of FIG. 26 showing the used cartridge storage end of the dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a blade cartridge 10 and a cartridge holder 12. The blade cartridge 10 has a pair of

double edge blades

38, 40. bonded permanently between a cap 34 and a blade seat member 36. The

blades

38, 40 are maintained in a separated state by a spacer 42. A guard bar 44 is spaced outwardly T-shaped channel 32 formed transversely along the underside of the blade seat 36.

With reference to FIG. 2, the cap member 34 has a plurality of transversely spaced

posts

48, 50, 52, 54 extending downwardly from the lower surface thereof. The posts 48 54 extend through a slot 62 in the upper blade 38, apertures 74 in the spacer 42, a slot 62 in the lower blade 40, and apertures 80 in the blade seat member 36. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom portions of the posts 48 54 are staked, for example, by ultrasonic, mechanical or heat energy, to deform the lower ends and thereby bond the components of the cartridge together.

The spacer 42 has a plurality of longitudinally extending

teeth

64, 68 on each end thereof which protrude a slight distance in front of the cutting edges of the upper blade 38. The

teeth

64, 68 have

spaces

70, 72 therebetween which are in flow communication with perforations 58', 60' in the lower blade 40. The perforations 58, 60' are in fluid communication with downwardly extending

apertures

76, 78 in the blade seat member 36. Shaving residue generated between the cutting edges of the

blades

38, 40 passes through flow paths defined by the

spaces

70, 72, the

perforations

58, 60, and the

apertures

76, 78.

The upper blade 38 is also shown with

perforations

58, 60 which may be formed during a blade construction process. However, the

upper blade perforations

58, 60 do not carry out a flow path function in the described embodiment.

The upper blade 38 has a cutting edge-to-cutting edge dimension less than that of the lower blade 40, and the spacer 42 has a constant cross-sectional distance along its longitudinal axis. The narrower upper blade 38 and the constant cross-sectional thickness of the spacer 42 act to provide tandemly mounted cutting edges at each longitudinal end of the cartridge 10 when assembled. In this embodiment, the cutting edges of both the upper and

lower blades

38, 40 have the same cutting angle as defined by their relative position with respect'to corresponding guard bars 44, 44'.

The blade seat member 36 has upwardly extending

posts

82, 84, 86, 88 at the outer four corners thereof. The posts 82 88 are provided to prevent the corners of the lower blade 40 from engaging the skin. In this embodiment, the components of the cartridge 10 are aligned and orientated by the downwardly extending

posts

48, 50, 52, 54. Thus, it is preferred that the blade seat posts 82 88 are spaced a slight distance outwardly from the cutting edges of the lower blade 40 to avoid the possibility of interfering with the alignment of the lower blade 40 on the posts 48 54 of the cap member 34.

With reference to FIG. 4, then T-shaped channel formed in the lower side of the blade seat member 36 may have a pair of opposing

notches

91, 93 therein. One of the

notches

91, 93 receives a detent 24 on the spring 22 of the member (FIG. 3) when the U- shaped member 18 is in sliding engagement with the T- shaped channel to minimize the possibility of the cartridge 10 from accidentally sliding off the holder 12.

A pair of

stops

90, 92 are positioned in the T-shaped channel 32 at one end thereof to prevent passage of the U-shaped channel member 18 therethrough, and to aid in centrally locating the U-shaped member 18 in the T- shaped channel 32.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show another embodiment of a cartridge having tandemly mounted double edge blades. In this embodiment, a spacer has a plurality of longitudinally extending

fingers

100, 101 which protrude a slight distance from beneath the cutting edges of an upper blade 538. The spacer also includes upwardly extending

posts

106, 108, 110, 112 at the outer four corners thereof for protecting a user from the corners of the upper blade 538. The

fingers

100, 101 have

slots

102, 104 therebetween. The

slots

102, 104 are in fluid communication with

perforations

558, 560 in a lower blade 540 and downwardly extending

apertures

576, 578 in a blade seat member 536 to provide a flow path for shaving residue from between the cutting edges of the

blades

538, 540.

The upper blade 538 may also have

perforations

558, 560. The cartridge embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 7 is also assembled by orientating the

blades

538, 540, the spacer 598, and the blade seat member 536 on

posts

548, 550, 552, 554 extending downwardly fromthe cap member 534, and staking the lower ends of the posts 548 554 as shown at 116 in FIG. 7 to rigidly bond the components of the cartridge together. As shown in FIG. 7, this cartridge embodiment also has a T-shaped channel 532 for sliding engagement with the holder 12 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8 through 14 show another cartridge embodiment in which equally dimensioned

double edge blades

118, 122 are separated by a spacer 120 and rigidly bonded between a cap member 116 and a blade seat member 124. The bond is provided by staking the lower ends of posts 170 173 which extend downwardly from the cap member 116 through a slot 167 in the upper blade 118, apertures 174 177 in the spacer 120, a slot 167 in the lower blade 122, and apertures 166 in the blade seat member 124.

As shown in FIG. 12, the spacer 120 has longitudinal channels 178 183 for the passage of shaving residue from between the cutting edges of the upper and

lower blades

118, 122 on opposite sides thereof. At least the lower blade 122 has perforations 168, 169 which are in fluid communication with the spacer channels 178 183 and with downwardly extending

apertures

164, 165 in the blade seat member 124 to provide yet another series of flow paths for shaving residue generated between the cutting edges of the

blades

118, 122. The guard bars 126, 126 are spaced from the blade seat 124 by a plurality of

ribs

129, 129 to provide residue flow channels 127 below the cutting edges of the lower blade 122.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 14, the lower blade 122 has the outer ends of the cutting edges in abutting engagement with stops 163 formed on the blade seat member 124. Similarly, the upper blade 118 has its cutting edges in abutting engagement with

stops

158, 159, 158', 159 extending upwardly from the outer four corners of the spacer 120.

The upper surface of the spacer 120 is longitudinally upwardly curved and has a pre-determined radius of curvature. The lower surface of the cap member 116 has a transverse center portion 151 (FIG. 1 1) with a radius of curvature less than the pre-determined radius of curvature of the upper surface of the spacer 120. Similarly, the upper surface of the blade seat member 124 has a pre-determined radius of curvature, and the lower surface of the spacer 120 has a transverse center portion 153 (FIG. 12) with a radius of curvature less than that of the upper surface of the blade seat 124. As shown in FIG. 9, the relatively smaller radii of curvature in the transverse center portions 151, 513 provide transverse gaps 152, 154 between the cap member 116 and the upper blade 118, and between the spacer 120 and the lower blade 122.

The transverse gaps 152, 154 compensatefor manufacturing tolerances in the formation of the components of the cartridge which may be in the order of 0.002 0.003 inch. The compensation is accomplished by absorbing the tolerances in the gaps 152, 154 after the blade edges are in abutting engagement with respective pairs of

stops

158, 159; 158, 159; 160, 161', 162, 163 on the spacer 120 and the blade seat member 124. In this manner, the relationship between the cutting edges and the guard bars 126, 126' on each side of the blade seat member 124 is predetermined by the relative positions of the blade stops on the spacer 120 and the blade seat member 124.

Since the dimensions of the

blades

118, 122 are equal, the radius of curvature of the upper surface of the spacer 120 is less than the radius of curvature of the upper surface of the blade seat member 124 to narrow the assembled distance between the cutting edges of the upper blade 118 to less than the distance between the cutting edges of the lower blade 122 such that the blades are tandemly mounted in the cartridge. As clearly shown in FIG. 10, this configuration situates the cutting edges of the upper blade 118 to a cutting angle with respect to the guard bars 126, 126' which is less than the cutting angle of the edges of the lower blade 122.

The embodiment of FIGS. through 19 provides for equalizing the cutting angles of the upper and lower blades by reversed curves at 236 and 233 in the upper blade to orientate the outer ends thereof parallelly with the outer ends of the lower blade. The embodiment of FIGS. 15 19 is similar to that of FIGS. 8 15 in that equally dimensioned

double edge blades

228, 230 are vertically separated by a spacer 232 and rigidly maintained between a cap member 210 and a blade seat member 247. As in the preceding embodiment, the cap member 210 has a plurality of downwardly extending posts which pass through an elongated slot (not shown) in the upper blade 228, apertures 238 in the spacer 232, an elongated slot (not shown) in the lower blade 230, and apertures 242 in the blade seat member 247, and are staked at the lower ends thereof.

Guard bars 212, 212 are spaced from the blade seat member 247 by a plurality of ribs 214 to provide downwardly extending shaving residue flow channels 216, 216' below the cutting edges of the lower blade 230. As shown in FIG. 19, the blade seat member 247 has a plurality of longitudinally extending shaving

residue flow channels

246, 248, 250, 251, 252, 254 which are in flow communication with another plurality of downwardly extending

channels

256, 258 in the blade seat member 247. The spacer 232 has a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth 239, 239' which protrude a slight distance from beneath the cutting edges of the upper blade 228, and which provide a plurality of spacers 240, 240' between adjacent teeth. Shaving residue from between the cutting edges of the

blades

228, 230 passes into the

spaces

240, 240 and downward through perforations 227 (FIG. 17) in the lower blade 230 to the downwardly extending

flow channels

256, 258 in the blade seat member 247.

It is contemplated that the

longitudinally extending channels

246, 248, 250, 251, 252, 254 in the blade seat member 247 can extend to the

guard bar channels

216, 126 to provide shaving residue flow paths beneath the lower blade 230 between the cutting edges thereof. It is also contemplated that the spacer 232 can additionally have longitudinally extending channels such as shown in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 16, transverse center portions of the lower surfaces of the cap member 210 and of the spacer 232 have a radius of curvature less than that of respective corresponding transverse center portions of the upper surfaces of the spacer 232 and of the blade seat member 247. The smaller radii of curvature provide

transverse gaps

234, 235 between the cap member 210 and the upper blade 228, and between the spacer 232 and the lower blade 230. The

transverse gaps

234, 235 compensate for manufacturing tolerances as described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 8

14 by absorbing the tolerances in the

gaps

234, 235

after the blade edges are in abutting engagement with respective pairs of

stops

224, 226; 220, 222 on the spacer 232 and on the blade seat member 247.

A dispenser 260 suitable for storing used and dispensing unused cartridges 10 is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. The dispenser 260 has a pair of opposing end wals 276, 278, and a pair of opposing

side walls

280, 282. Cartridge chambers are formed within the dispenser 260 by transverse partitions 284. Each of the chambers has a pair of wedge-shaped

rest members

270, 271 formed along the inside surfaces of each of the

side walls

280, 282. The wedge-shaped

members

270, 271 prevent the cutting edges of the cartridge blades from contacting the surfaces of the chamber.

Stop

members

272, 274 are formed on the top portion of each of the end wall 276 and of the partitions 284 for engaging an underside portion of the guard bar of the cartridge 10 to maintain the cartridge 10 in the chambers in abutting engagement with the rests 270, 271 as shown in FIG. 21.

The side wall 282 has a plurality of guide channels 262 transversely formed in the top surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 21, each of the channels 262 has an upwardly extending transverse guide top 267 formed between guide surfaces 266, 268. The upper guide surface 266 is narrower than the lower guide surface 268 such that a plurality of

stop tabs

26, 28, 30 ('FIG. 3) on the member 20 can pass over the lower guide surface 268 without hitting or abutting the guide stop 267. However, the

stop tabs

26, 28, 30 cannot pass over the upper guide surface 266 without abutting the guide stop 267. Thus, the combination of the guide stops 267 and of the

holder stop tabs

26, 28, 30 prevents inserting a cartridge in an inverted position on the holder 12.

By way of example, the dispenser 260 can initially have a cartridge in each one of the lower chambers as viewed in FIG. 20, and the guide channels 262 for the lower five chambers can be numbered from 1 to 5. A new holder 12 may have a dummy cartridge (not shown) having the same general outer configuration as that of the cartridge 10. The dummy cartridge (not shown) or a used cartridge (not shown) from a prior dispenser is inserted in the top chamber by initially inserting the guard bar portion in the chamber and rotating the holder 12 in a counter-clockwise manner as viewed in FIG. 21 until the lower portion of a guard bar snaps under the stops 27 2, 274. The holder 12 can then be slid to the right with the holder channel member 18 (FIG. 1) passing outwardly through the guide channel of the upper chamber.

A new cartridge is removed by positioning the portion of the U-shaped channel member 26 of the holder 12 in one of the lower five guide channels 26 with the

holder stop tabs

26, 28, 30 orientated to pass over the lower guide surface 268 as described hereinabove. The holder 12 is then moved to the left for sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel in the lower part of the cartridge 10. The new cartridge is then removed from the chamber by rotating the holder 12 clockwise as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 21, and the holder 12 can then be lifted upwardly for use.

As noted above, the lower five guide channels 262 can be numbered. The numbers are provided as a guide for use. Specifically, the dummy cartridge (not shown) or a used cartridge (not shown) is initially placed in the upper chamber, and an unused cartridge in the next lower chamber having numeral 1 (not shown) is first used. When this cartridge is no longer useful, it is retunred to its chamber, and the next lower cartridge identified by numeral 2 (not shown) is used. This process is continued until all of the cartridges are used.

An alternative dispenser 350is shown in FIGS. 22 27. With refernce to FIGS. 22 27, the dispenser 350 has a top wall 352 and an opposing bottom wall 351, as well as opposing

side walls

353 and 354. A new cartridge dispensing end is formed of opposing inwardly directed

flange portions

364, 365 extending transversely of the dispenser 350. As shown in FIG. 23, the cartridges 10, are arranged in abutting relationship in the dispenser 350 and are biased upwardly such that the opposing inwardly directed

members

147, 148 defining the T-shaped channel of the uppermost cartridge 10 are in abutting engagement with the undersides of the

flange portions

364, 365. The cartridges 10, 10' are biased upwardly by a pair of springs 379 (only one shown) extending vertically between a pair of

movable walls

371, 372. The upper movable wall 372 has downwardly extending

side walls

373, 374 that are in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of the top and

bottom walls

351, 352 of the dispenser 350. Similarly, the bottom movable wall 371 has a pair of opposed upwardly extending

wall portions

375, 376 that are positioned in sliding engagement with the interior surfaces of the

side walls

353, 354 of the dispenser 350. Each of the spings 379 are vertically positioned and held in vertical alignment by

posts

377, 378 which extend in an opposing manner from the upper and lower

movable walls

372, 371. The springs 379 preferably should have a sufficient bias to move the lowermost cartridge into an abutting engagement with the inner surfaces of the inwardly directed

flange portions

364, 365 while the lower movable wall 371 remains in the position shown in FIG. 23. It is obvious that the biasing means may take other forms than the pair of springs 379. For example, such biasing means may be a single spring having a coiled biasing member at one end thereof and a pair of elongated members extending tangentially from the coiled member and tending to rotate in counterradial directions about the axis of the coiled member such that the biasing force is applied to the opposing surfaces of the two

movable walls

372, 371.

A single guide channel defined by

guide surfaces

366, 367 and a guide stop 368 is formed on the upper sur face of the side wall 354. The guide stop 368 is located such that the

stop tabs

26, 28, 30 will pass over the guide surface 367 without abutting the guide stop 368. However, the guide surface 366 is dimensioned such that the

stop tabs

26, 28, 30 on the holder 12 will not pass over the guide surface 366 without abutting the guide stop 368. When properly orientated, the holder 12 is slid or moved to the left in sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel 34 in the bottom of the cartridge 10 until the detent 24 (FIG. 3) is in abutting engagement with the recess 35 of the cartridge 10.

A new cartridge exiting port is formed in the dispenser side wall 353 by opposing

parallel surfaces

400, 401 which are interconnected at the lower end by a surface 402 which is perpendicular to the

surfaces

400, 401. Inwardly directed tabs 362, 363 extend in an opposing ammner from the

opposite surfaces

400, 401 and beneath the

flange portions

364, 365. The tabs 362, 363 are sufficiently flexible to permit the passage of the cartridge 10 to the left out of the dispenser 350 by movement of the holder 12 to the left such that the left sides of the flanges on the holder U-shaped channel member 18 are in abutting engagement with

stops

151, 150 formed in the left side of the T-shaped channel 34. When the uppermost cartridge 10 is removed from the dispenser 350, the next cartridge 10' is moved into abutting engagement with the undersides of the

flange portions

364, 365 by action of the springs 379.

A used blade end of the dispenser 350 is shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. With reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, the used blade access port 396 has inwardly directed opposing

flange members

393, 395. Opposing ramp elements 392 are formed on the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls 352 351 (the ramp element of wall 351 is not shown). A used cartridge 10" is inserted through the port 396 above the opposing

flange members

393, 395 while the holder 12 is still secured to the cartridge 10". The left side of the cartridge 10 slides up a ramp surface 394 on each of the ramp members 392 and moves the lower movable wall 371 upwardly such that transverse movement of the cartridge 10 to the left as viewed in FIG. 27 can be continued. Transverse movement of the used cartridge 10" is continued until the inwardly directed

surfaces

147, 148 defining the T-shaped channel of the used cartridge 10' rest on horizontal surfaces 411 of the ramp members 392, and the used cartridge 10" is in the position as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 27.

The lower end 410 of the side wall 354 can be sloped or beveled as shown in FIG. 27 to provide relatively free movement of the used cartridge 10" up the rampsurfaces 394 during transmovement thereof into the used cartridge end 396 of the dispenser 350.

When the used cartridge 10" is seated on the horizontal upper surfaces 411 of the ramp member 392, the holder 12 can be removed by transverse movement to the right while maintaining the right side of the used cartridge 10" in abutting engagement with the inner surface of the side wall 354. Alternatively, the

stop members

151, 152 can be designed to yield to a pressure on the left side of the U-shaped holder channel member 18, and thus provide for removal of the holder 12 out a port 397 defined by opposing

vertical surfaces

402, 404 and a horizontal surface 405 interconnecting the opposing

surfaces

403, 404. Further, the

stop members

151, 152 can be eliminated and theU-shaped holder channel member 18 can be removed through the port 397 because the left side of the used cartridge is in abutting engagement with an inner surface of the side wall 353 as shown in FIG. 27.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing system for razor blade cartridges comprising, in combination:

a dispenser;

a plurality of disposable blade cartridges in said dispenser, each of said cartridges comprising a cap member, a blade seat member, and at least two double cutting edge blades separated by a spacer, said blades and said spacer being bonded between said cap member and said blade seat member, said blade seat member having a plurality of underside surfaces forming a channel transversely thereof;

a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with said channel surfaces, and stop means for preventing said supporting surfaces from engaging said channel surfaces when said supporting surfaces are in an improper orientation;

a plurality of guide surfaces formed on said dispenser for aligning said supporting surfaces with said channel surfaces; and 1 means on said dispenser for abutting said stop means when said supporting surfaces are in said improper alignment and for clearing said stop means when said supporting surfaces are in a proper alignment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said channel surfaces are T-shaped in cross-section, and wherein said supporting surfaces comprise forwardly and re arwardly extending flange members formed at an opened end of a U-shaped transversely extending support member, said stop means being located between a pair of opposing walls of said supporting member, and said abutting means being located between said guide surfaces.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising opposing recesses formed in said channel surfaces, and biasing means extending through an opening in one of said walls for abutting engagement in one of said recesses.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said cartridges further comprises means extending into said channel at one end thereof for abutting engagement with an end of at least one of said flanges to prevent passage to said flanges through said one end of said channel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said dispenser comprises a base, a pair of opposing side walls extending from said base, a plurality of transverse parallel partitions extending from said base and interconnecting said side walls to provide a plurality of cartridge chambers, means in each of said chambers for releasably maintaining one of said cartridges therein with said channel surfaces psoitioned for engagement, said plurality of guide surfaces formed transversely in one of said side walls in alignment with each of said chambers.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said dispenser comprises a base wall, a top wall in opposing relationship to said base wall, a pair of opposing side walls interconnecting said base and top walls, a transverse opening formed at one end of said dispenser for permitting transverse movement therein of said supporting surfaces of said holder, means for biasing said cartridges in abutting relationship to said one of said dispenser with said channel surfaces of one of said cartridges in position for engagement, and means at said one end of said dispenser for releasably maintaining said cartridges in said dispenser, said plurality of guide surfaces being formed transversely in one of said side walls at said one end of said dispenser.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising a cartridge exit port in the other of said side walls at said one end of said dispenser, whereby further transverse movement of said holder after said supporting surfaces and said channel surfaces are engaged will remove said one cartridge from said dispenser through said exit port.

8. The dispenser ofclaim 6 further comprising a used cartridge transverse opening formed at the other end of said dispenser for permitting transverse movement therein of a holder having a used cartridge slidably engaged therewith.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said cartridges has at least two tandemly mounted cutting edges on opposite longitudinal sides thereof, and wherein said spacer comprises a plurality of channels extending longitudinally of said cartridge between said opposite sides.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said cartridges has at least two tandemly mounted cutting edges on opposite longitudinal sides thereof, and wherein said blade seat member comprises a plurality of channels extending longitudinally of said cartridge between said opposite sides.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the lower blade has a pluralityof perforations spaced inwardly from each cutting edge thereof, and wherein said blade seat member has a plurality of downwardly extending channels in fluid communication with said perforations to provide a shaving residue flow path from between the tandemly mounted cutting edges.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the lower blade hasa plurality of perforations spaced inwardly from each cutting edge thereof, and wherein said blade seat member has a plurality of downwardly extending channels in fluid communication with said perforations to provide a shaving residue flow path from between the tandemly mounted cutting edges.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for razor blade cartridges comprising, in combination: a dispenser; a plurality of disposable blade cartridges in said dispenser, each of said cartridges comprising a cap member, a blade seat member, and at least two double cutting edge blades separated by a spacer, said blades and said spacer being bonded between said cap member and said blade seat member, said blade seat member having a plurality of underside surfaces forming a channel transversely thereof; a holder having a plurality of supporting surfaces formed transversely thereof for sliding engagement with said channel surfaces, and stop means for preventing said supporting surfaces from engaging said channel surfaces when said supporting surfaces are in an improper orientation; a plurality of guide surfaces formed on said dispenser for aligning said supporting surfaces with said channel surfaces; and means on said dispenser for abutting said stop means when said supporting surfaces are in said improper alignment and for clearing said stop means when said supporting surfaces are in a proper alignment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said channel surfaces are T-shaped in cross-section, and wherein said supporting surfaces comprise forwardly and rearwardly extending flange members formed at an opened end of a U-shaped transversely extending support member, said stop means being located between a pair of opposing walls of said supporting member, and said abutting means being located between said guide surfaces.

8. The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising a used cartridge transverse opening formed at the other end of said dispenser for permitting transverse movement therein of a holder having a used cartridge slidably engaged therewith.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the lower blade has a plurality of perforations spaced inwardly from each cutting edge thereof, and wherein said blade seat member has a plurality of downwardly extending channels in fluid communication with said perforations to provide a shaving residue flow path from between the tandemly mounted cutting edges.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the lower blade has a plurality of perforations spaced inwardly from each cutting edge thereof, and wherein said blade seat member has a plurality of downwardly extending channels in fluid communication with said perforations to provide a shaving residue flow path from between the tandemly mounted cutting edges.