HINGELESS RAZOR CASE
United States Patent 3586158
A safety razor case comprising a base tray and cover; the base tray having upwardly extending end walls but no sidewalls, an underlying pedestal for holding the bottom of the tray above a supporting surface, and an upwardly open recess which is contoured to receive and hold a razor. The cover is channel shaped with open ends and downwardly directed sidewalls; the lower edge of each sidewall being provided with a downwardly directed notched tongue for interlocking engagement with registered apertures in the tray, wherein said notched tongues are of different sizes so as not to be interchangeably insertable within the apertures. Thus, the cover can only be joined to the base when the corresponding tongues and apertures are aligned and the stop positioned on the underside of the cover is positioned so as to overlie the head of the safety razor.
US Patent References:
Box construction
Lermer - April 1950 - 2504850
Container with integral snapping closure fastener
Williamson - November 1951 - 2576708
Safety razor kit
Bond - July 1956 - 2753987
Razor cases, shaving kits, and the like
Braginetz - September 1965 - 3206012
Plastic box
Dreyfuss - April 1967 - 3315796
Box construction
Lermer - April 1950 - 2504850
Container with integral snapping closure fastener
Williamson - November 1951 - 2576708
Safety razor kit
Bond - July 1956 - 2753987
Razor cases, shaving kits, and the like
Braginetz - September 1965 - 3206012
Plastic box
Dreyfuss - April 1967 - 3315796
Application Number:
04/788506
Publication Date:
06/22/1971
Filing Date:
02/02/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
The Gillette Company (Boston, MA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
206/45.200, 220/786
International Classes:
B65D85/54
Field of Search:
206/16,16A,16S,45.14,45.19,45.20,DIG.25,1.5,39 220/60,DIG.25,4,24.2 215/9
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Leclair, Joseph R.
Assistant Examiner:
Lipman, Steven E.
Claims:
1. A hingeless razor case comprising:
Description:
This invention comprises a new and improved safety razor case capable of being molded from plastic material and having desireable features in respect to simplicity of construction, economy in manufacture, attractiveness in appearance, and convenience in use. When the cover is constructed of transparent material, the case will serve as an attractive display container for the counter as well as a convenient storage compartment for the razor. It is so designed that its walls are substantially of the same thickness throughout, thus facilitating molding. It is also provided with snap fastener connection means which are inconspicuous and at the same time adequate to hold the parts of the case in closed condition while eliminating rattling of its contents.
These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a view of the closed case in side elevation,
FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the open tray,
FIG. 4 is an end view partly in section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 is a view of the cover in side elevation,
FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the open tray supported in upright position upon the inverted cover,
FIG. 7 is an end view showing the open tray supported in upright position upon the inverted cover, and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views of the snap fastener connecting parts of the case shown on a enlarged scale; FIG. 8 being with the cover in closed position and FIG. 9 being with the cover in inverted position.
As will appear from the figures, the case comprises in general two principal elements, viz, (A) a base tray 10 having a contoured recess 12 therein to receive the safety razor and having upwardly directed end walls 26 but no sidewalls, and (B) a channel-shaped, open-ended cover 20 having downwardly directed sidewalls 28. The tray 10 and cover 20 in combination form a complete closure which is detachedly held together by inconspicuous snap fasteners.
The tray 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 is rectangular in outline and merges with its upwardly directed end walls 26 through arcuately upturned walls 30. On the underside of the tray 10 there is provided a rectangular pedestal 11 which serves to support the tray 10 with its bottom elevated above a supporting surface, as in FIG. 1. The pedestal 11 is bounded by sidewalls 32 and end walls 34 with the length of said sidewalls 32 and end walls 34 being somewhat shorted than those of the base tray 10. Tab-receiving slots 18 are provided in the sidewalls 32 of the pedestal 11 which can be used to attach the case to a card for display purposes.
The tray 10 includes an upwardly open recess 12 which is contoured to receive a safety razor and cradle it so as to prevent damage to the blade. Within the recess, a pair of studs 16 are positioned so as to engage the head of the razor and a longitudinal rib 15 is positioned so as to engage the handle. The rib 15 and studs 16 in combination with a cooperating element on the cover 20, hereinafter described, serve to reduce movement of the razor in the case. At each end of the recess 12, there is included a pair of drain openings 17 which facilitate the drying of a wet razor when placed therein. A lateral dam-wall 14 is positioned across the recess 12 to prevent corrosive liquids which may possibly get into the handle section from flowing into the section of the recess 12 designed to receive the head of the razor. About midway along the length of the tray 10 and near the marginal edges, there is provided a pair of elongated apertures 13 and 13a. The length of aperture 13 (0.748 in.) is somewhat larger than that of aperture 13a (0.625 in.). As will be hereinafter shown, such apertures 13 and 13a in combination with cooperating elements on the cover 20 serve to properly align the cover 20 over the tray 10 and detachedly unite them to one another.
The cover 20 is channel shaped and comprises a top wall 36 which is joined to its sidewalls 28 through downwardly directed arcuate walls 38. The length of the cover 20 is such that it fits closely between the upstanding end walls 26 of the tray 10 and overlies supporting shoulders 19 which are provided near the marginal edges of the end walls 26, as shown in FIG. 3. On the underside of the cover, there is provided a downwardly extending stop 42 which is positioned so as to overlie the head of the razor. The stop 42 aids in preventing the cover from being scored by the head of the razor and in combination with rib 15 and studs 16 also serves to reduce the movement of the razor in the case.
On the lower edge of the sidewalls 28 of the cover, there are provided downwardly extending tongues 21 and 21a which are positioned so as to respectively register and be insertable into elongated apertures 13 and 13a in the base tray 10. The tongues 21 and 21a are spaced from one another in a manner such that they have to be moved slightly inwardly in order to be inserted or removed from the apertures 13 and 13a. Tongue 21 is somewhat longer than tongue 21a (0.685 in. to 0.562 in.) and will fit into aperture 13 but not aperture 13a. As a result of the difference in sizes between tongues 21 and 21a and between apertures 13 and 13a, the cover 20 can only be joined to the tray 10 when it is aligned in that particular direction, which would bring tongue 21 in register with aperture 13 and tongue 21a in register with aperture 13a. In this manner it is assured that the downwardly extending stop 42 provided on the underside of the cover 20 will always overlie the head of the razor and perform the functions set forth above.
On the outer sidewalls of each of the tongue 21 and 21a, a notch 40 is provided near the lower marginal edge. As shown in FIG. 8, when the cover 20 is joined to the tray 10 notches 40 tightly engage the outer edges of apertures 13 and 13a and thereby lock the case in closed position. The insertion and removal of the tongues 21 and 21a from the respective apertures 13 and 13a is facilitated by rounding the edges of the tongues 21 and 21a adjacent the notches 40 and by beveling the outer edges of the apertures 13 and 13a . The removal and replacement of the cover 20 is further facilitated by forming the cover 20 from resilient material which will enable the sidewalls 28 to be flexed slightly inwardly on such removal and replacement. When the sidewalls 28 are so flexed, the arcuate walls 38 serve to distribute the strain involved over a broader area; thus lessening the chances of cracking.
As is apparent, the case may be closed by first positioning the cover so that tongues 21 and 21a are respectively in register with apertures 13 and 13a and then pressing the cover downward with sufficient pressure to force the notches on tongues 21 and 21a into engagement with the outer edges of apertures 13 and 13a . When the cover 20 is locked in place, a completely enclosed case is provided which is suitable for storing or displaying the razor. The cover 20 may be readily removed by pressing the sidewalls 28 thereof sufficiently inwardly to disengage the notches 40 and render the tongues 21 and 21a removable from the apertures 13 and 13a.
The tray 10 and cover 20 are constructed so that the cover 20 may be attached to the underside of the tray 10 to prevent it from being lost or misplaced when the case is opened. As shown in FIG. 6, this can be readily accomplished by inverting the cover 20 and placing the pedestal 11 of the tray 10 into the channel between the sidewalls 28. The tray 10 and cover may be locked in the inverted position by the same tongues 21 and 21a and apertures 13 and 13a which are used to lock the case in closed condition; the only difference being that the tongues 21 and 21a are inserted into the respective apertures 13 and 13a from a direction opposite that used in closing the case. The locking engagement of the tongues 21 and 21a and apertures 13 and 13a in the inverted position is shown in FIG. 9. The case as herein shown may be molded of clear or opaque general-purpose polystyrene or other suitable compound of synthetic resin.
These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a view of the closed case in side elevation,
FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the open tray,
FIG. 4 is an end view partly in section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 is a view of the cover in side elevation,
FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the open tray supported in upright position upon the inverted cover,
FIG. 7 is an end view showing the open tray supported in upright position upon the inverted cover, and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views of the snap fastener connecting parts of the case shown on a enlarged scale; FIG. 8 being with the cover in closed position and FIG. 9 being with the cover in inverted position.
As will appear from the figures, the case comprises in general two principal elements, viz, (A) a base tray 10 having a contoured recess 12 therein to receive the safety razor and having upwardly directed end walls 26 but no sidewalls, and (B) a channel-shaped, open-ended cover 20 having downwardly directed sidewalls 28. The tray 10 and cover 20 in combination form a complete closure which is detachedly held together by inconspicuous snap fasteners.
The tray 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 is rectangular in outline and merges with its upwardly directed end walls 26 through arcuately upturned walls 30. On the underside of the tray 10 there is provided a rectangular pedestal 11 which serves to support the tray 10 with its bottom elevated above a supporting surface, as in FIG. 1. The pedestal 11 is bounded by sidewalls 32 and end walls 34 with the length of said sidewalls 32 and end walls 34 being somewhat shorted than those of the base tray 10. Tab-receiving slots 18 are provided in the sidewalls 32 of the pedestal 11 which can be used to attach the case to a card for display purposes.
The tray 10 includes an upwardly open recess 12 which is contoured to receive a safety razor and cradle it so as to prevent damage to the blade. Within the recess, a pair of studs 16 are positioned so as to engage the head of the razor and a longitudinal rib 15 is positioned so as to engage the handle. The rib 15 and studs 16 in combination with a cooperating element on the cover 20, hereinafter described, serve to reduce movement of the razor in the case. At each end of the recess 12, there is included a pair of drain openings 17 which facilitate the drying of a wet razor when placed therein. A lateral dam-wall 14 is positioned across the recess 12 to prevent corrosive liquids which may possibly get into the handle section from flowing into the section of the recess 12 designed to receive the head of the razor. About midway along the length of the tray 10 and near the marginal edges, there is provided a pair of elongated apertures 13 and 13a. The length of aperture 13 (0.748 in.) is somewhat larger than that of aperture 13a (0.625 in.). As will be hereinafter shown, such apertures 13 and 13a in combination with cooperating elements on the cover 20 serve to properly align the cover 20 over the tray 10 and detachedly unite them to one another.
The cover 20 is channel shaped and comprises a top wall 36 which is joined to its sidewalls 28 through downwardly directed arcuate walls 38. The length of the cover 20 is such that it fits closely between the upstanding end walls 26 of the tray 10 and overlies supporting shoulders 19 which are provided near the marginal edges of the end walls 26, as shown in FIG. 3. On the underside of the cover, there is provided a downwardly extending stop 42 which is positioned so as to overlie the head of the razor. The stop 42 aids in preventing the cover from being scored by the head of the razor and in combination with rib 15 and studs 16 also serves to reduce the movement of the razor in the case.
On the lower edge of the sidewalls 28 of the cover, there are provided downwardly extending tongues 21 and 21a which are positioned so as to respectively register and be insertable into elongated apertures 13 and 13a in the base tray 10. The tongues 21 and 21a are spaced from one another in a manner such that they have to be moved slightly inwardly in order to be inserted or removed from the apertures 13 and 13a. Tongue 21 is somewhat longer than tongue 21a (0.685 in. to 0.562 in.) and will fit into aperture 13 but not aperture 13a. As a result of the difference in sizes between tongues 21 and 21a and between apertures 13 and 13a, the cover 20 can only be joined to the tray 10 when it is aligned in that particular direction, which would bring tongue 21 in register with aperture 13 and tongue 21a in register with aperture 13a. In this manner it is assured that the downwardly extending stop 42 provided on the underside of the cover 20 will always overlie the head of the razor and perform the functions set forth above.
On the outer sidewalls of each of the tongue 21 and 21a, a notch 40 is provided near the lower marginal edge. As shown in FIG. 8, when the cover 20 is joined to the tray 10 notches 40 tightly engage the outer edges of apertures 13 and 13a and thereby lock the case in closed position. The insertion and removal of the tongues 21 and 21a from the respective apertures 13 and 13a is facilitated by rounding the edges of the tongues 21 and 21a adjacent the notches 40 and by beveling the outer edges of the apertures 13 and 13a . The removal and replacement of the cover 20 is further facilitated by forming the cover 20 from resilient material which will enable the sidewalls 28 to be flexed slightly inwardly on such removal and replacement. When the sidewalls 28 are so flexed, the arcuate walls 38 serve to distribute the strain involved over a broader area; thus lessening the chances of cracking.
As is apparent, the case may be closed by first positioning the cover so that tongues 21 and 21a are respectively in register with apertures 13 and 13a and then pressing the cover downward with sufficient pressure to force the notches on tongues 21 and 21a into engagement with the outer edges of apertures 13 and 13a . When the cover 20 is locked in place, a completely enclosed case is provided which is suitable for storing or displaying the razor. The cover 20 may be readily removed by pressing the sidewalls 28 thereof sufficiently inwardly to disengage the notches 40 and render the tongues 21 and 21a removable from the apertures 13 and 13a.
The tray 10 and cover 20 are constructed so that the cover 20 may be attached to the underside of the tray 10 to prevent it from being lost or misplaced when the case is opened. As shown in FIG. 6, this can be readily accomplished by inverting the cover 20 and placing the pedestal 11 of the tray 10 into the channel between the sidewalls 28. The tray 10 and cover may be locked in the inverted position by the same tongues 21 and 21a and apertures 13 and 13a which are used to lock the case in closed condition; the only difference being that the tongues 21 and 21a are inserted into the respective apertures 13 and 13a from a direction opposite that used in closing the case. The locking engagement of the tongues 21 and 21a and apertures 13 and 13a in the inverted position is shown in FIG. 9. The case as herein shown may be molded of clear or opaque general-purpose polystyrene or other suitable compound of synthetic resin.