Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02509346 2000-07-24
STORAGE DEVICE POR SHAVING RAZOR, CARTRIDGES, OR OTHER STORED
ITEMS
This application is a division of copending commonly owned Canadian Patent
Application No. 2,378,319 of July 24, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to storage devices for storing items such as shaving
razors
and cartridges.
Shaving cartridges are typically sold in plastic dispensers containing a
plurality of
shaving cartridges in respective sections of the dispenser. Shaving razors are
often sold
supported on a plastic tray that can then be used to support the razor in a
bathroom.
Some plastic trays are designed to carry a dispenser of razor blades on the
bottom side of
the tray. French Patent Document No. 2,491,877 shows a carrier supporting a
plurality
of toiletry items, such as pre-packaged soaps and shaving creams, and also
supporting
personal hygiene tools such as a razor, a comb and a toothbrush. U.S. Patent
No.
4,611,716 shows a storage device with a hinged cover that houses bottled items
(such as
shampoo and cream rinse) and a bar of soap in corresponding compartments
defined
therein. U.S. Patent No. 5,782,346 shows a tray for a razor that includes a
base member
and a platform member wherein the base member includes platform structure for
releasably retaining the razor thereon. European Patent Application No. 290965
shows
a dispenser for replacement shaving cartridges in respective protective
casings that are
retained in the dispenser by forces on both sides of the casing. UK Patent
Document No.
2,107,175 shows a device that can be removably attached to a mating plate that
is secured
to a wall, the device having a region that receives a razor blade cartridge
and the head of
a razor.
The invention as defined in the parent application identified above provides a
wall-
mounted device which comprises a base member having a wall-mounting structure.
The
base member has at least one package-receiving storage region, the base member
defining
a rear surface and the package-receiving storage region facing away from the
rear surface.
One or more packages are each located in a respective storage region, and each
is
removable from the storage region in a direction away from the rear surface.
Each
package contains a stored unit therein that is removable as a single unit and
comprises a
shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades. Each
storage region
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CA 02509346 2000-07-24
has opposed members providing a retention force to opposite sides of the
package within
the storage region.
SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the invention of the present application provides a
storage
device for one or more sealed packages, including a base member having at
least one
divider spaced between respective ends thereof and defining at least one
storage
compartment. One or more sealed packages are each located in a respective
storage
compartment. A reclosable upper structure is hingedly connected to the base
member.
Each package contains a stored solid unit therein which is enclosed by the
sealed package
and is removable in unitary form from the package. In an open position of the
upper
structure spaced from the base member each package is selectively removable
from its
respective storage compartment independently of any other said package.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following
features.
In certain embodiments, the base member of the storage device can carry a
surface-mounting structure, for a horizontal surface or a wall, such as double-
sided
adhesive tape, suction cups, or openings in the base member for receiving
transverse
mounting members attached to a wall. The base member is formed of plastic and
has a
side wall that extends around its periphery. The base member has dividers
formed therein
to provide a plurality of compartments along with the side wall. The dividers
each have
a flat portion at a free end of the divider, the flat portion receiving a lip
that extends from
one side of the package retained in the compartment. The dividers each also
have a ridge
that is formed between the base and the free end for receiving a narrow edge
portion of
the package. The dividers extend only part way from the side wall at one side
of the base
member to the side wall at the other side to provide a region for gripping an
exposed
portion of the lip of the package. The dividers have opposed members for
retaining the
packages. One of the opposed members has a sharp portion that engages the
package.
One of the opposed members can have spring flexure. The dividers have drainage
openings, and the side wall has a drainage opening at the bottom of the base
member.
The base member has projections between the dividers to position the packages.
In other embodiments, the cover of the base member is hingedly connected to
the
base member by a snap-fit connection. The cover has an opening that engages
the bottom
of a razor handle and opposed flexible wings that engage the razor head end of
the handle.
The cover has a raised portion that matches the contour of one side of a razor
handle. The
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cover has a flat area to provide clearance for the cartridge attached to a
handle supported
on the cover. The cover is made of softer plastic than the base member. The
cover has
a snap-fit closure member and a finger engagement lip extending from the cover
for
opening the cover.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following
advantages.
Shaving cartridges packaged in sealed containers, to protect them from water
and cleaning
agents, are stored in a storage device that can be conveniently mounted on a
bathroom
shower wall. The sealed packages are securely retained prior to removal, and
can be easily
gripped at exposed corners. The sealed packages are safely removed from the
storage
device in normal use without risk of the peelable film being removed
prematurely. The
shaving razor can be conveniently and securely mounted on the outside of the
cover for
easy removal and replacement without the need to open the cover. Drainage
openings
prevent water from collecting in the device.
Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the
following
detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a storage device mounted on a bathroom
wall.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the Fig. 1 storage device in an open
position
with a single sealed package therein.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the Fig. 1 device in a closed position.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a base member of the Fig. 1 storage device shown with
a
single sealed package therein.
Fig. 5 is the vertical sectional view, taken at 5-5 of Fig. 4, of the Fig. 4
base
member and sealed package.
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken at 6-6 of Fig. 7, showing a cover
of the Fig.
1 storage device.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the Fig. 6 cover.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a sealed package of Figs. 2 and 4 in a
partially
opened condition.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a mounting plate for an alternative embodiment
of
the base member of the storage device.
Fig. 10 is an elevation of the Fig. 9 mounting plate.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the alternative base member that is mounted on the
Fig.
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CA 02509346 2000-07-24
9 mounting plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown wall-mounted storage device 10
for a
shaving razor 12 that is supported on the outside of device 10, and
replacement cartridges
13 in a sealed package 14 that is stored inside device 10. Cartridges 13 each
have a
plastic housing and a plurality of blades. Sealed packages 14 have airtight
seals to keep
moisture and cleaning agents from cartridges inside the packages. Cartridge 13
is not
substantially flat and has a complex, non-planar shape with many different
contours.
Sealed package 14 sufficiently surrounds those contours and acts as an air and
moisture
barrier.
Storage device 10 includes base member 16, made of ABS, and cover 18, made of
polypropylene. Base member 16 is made of a hard plastic to provide structural
integrity
for the mounted member. Polypropylene provides a desired appearance for the
cover, and
facilitates use of a snap-fitting hinge. Base member 16 is adhered to bathroom
tiles 20 on
wall 22 via double-sided adhesive pads 24 (Fig. 3) made of foam pads and
acrylic adhesive.
Cover 18 is hingedly connected to base member 16 via snap-fit hinge members
21. Cover
18 has finger engagement lip 23 to assist in opening cover 18 and to provide
sufficient
force to overcome the snap (interference) fit closure mechanism used to keep
cover 18
closed. (Alternatively a latch structure could be employed to keep cover 18
closed.). The
upper part of handle 15 of shaving razor 12 is engaged by wings 26 formed on
the exterior
surface of cover 18, and the bottom of handle 15 sits within opening 28 in
cover 18. Razor
12 rests on cover 18.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it is seen that base member 16 has three dividers
30,
which, along with side walls 32 and upper support 36 and lower support 38,
define
compartments for receiving four sealed packages 14. In Figs. 4 and 5, a single
package
14 is shown in the second compartment from the bottom. Each divider 30 has a
flat outer
surface 40 at an end thereof against which lip 43 (Figs. 5 and 8) of package
14 rests. As
is seen in Figs. 4 and 8, the two sides of the lip 43 extend beyond divider 30
or lower
support 38 at adjacent plastic tabs 72, providing access for a user to grip
and remove
package 14. Prior to opening of the packages, tabs 72 in effect are extensions
of lip 43.
The upper surface of each divider 30 and of lower support 38 has a retention
member 42
that presses against the bottom of package 14 and holds it against the
opposing flat
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surface 44 of the next higher divider 30. Retention member 42 advantageously
has a
sharp edge that digs into the softer plastic of package 14. Retention member
42 and the
opposed flat surface 44 function as opposed members that provide a retention
force to
opposite sides of a package 14 within a compartment. While retention members
42 are
hard, they alternatively could be spring-biased. Each compartment also has a
pair of
projections 46 which space the bottom of the package 14 away from the wall in
the desired
position (Fig. 5). The upper portion of each divider 30 and lower support 38
has an
opening 48 for drainage of water. Flat surface 44 has a ridge 52 at its outer
end that
receives an edge 54 of sealed package 14 (Fig. 5). Base member 16 also has
four
through-holes 56 to permit mounting on pins extending from a mounted base
plate or to
permit mounting by screws or other fasteners. Base member 16 has drainage
opening 57
at the bottom.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, cover 18 has support surfaces 60, 62 that tend to
conform to the back surface of razor handle 15, which is designed for use by
women in
shaving underarms and legs. The handle is shown in U.S. Des. Patent No.
407,851. The
bottom of handle 15 is engaged in and supported by opening 28, and the upper
portion of
handle 15 is located in the space between wings 26 and outward of support
surface 62 and
is engaged by wings 26. A flat portion 64 is provided at the upper end of
cover 18 for
providing clearance for the blade unit of the attached shaving cartridge 13.
The back
surface of handle 15 closely matches and is close to the outer surface of
cover 18. The
user grips the sides of handle 15, as there is insufficient room for a user's
fingers to grip
the back surface of handle 15.
Referring to Fig. 8, sealed package 14 includes a plastic container 68 and
peelable
cover sheet 70 that is sealed to container 68 to cover and closes the entrance
to the
storage region for cartridge 13. Gripping tab 72 is attached to a corner of
cover sheet 70
at an end of lip 43 for use in initiating peeling of cover sheet 70.
In use, storage device 10 is secured to bathroom tiles 20 of wall 22 (e.g., in
a
shower) by removing a cover layer on double sided-adhesive pads 24 and
applying
pressure to device 10 to cause a good bond between the adhesive and the tile
surface. The
user removes razor 12 when shaving and can store it on cover 18 between uses.
When
removing razor 12, handle 15 is grasped on the lateral sides of the razor, is
slipped
outward through support wings 26, and is raised upward from its rest position
in opening
28. When placing shaving razor 12 back on cover 18, the bottom of handle 15 is
placed
in opening 28, and the upper portion of handle 15 is guided between wings 26
and held in
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place. When it is time to replace the shaving cartridge 13 on handle 15 with a
new
cartridge 13, cover 18 is opened by engaging finger grips 23, and a sealed
package 14 is
removed by engaging the tab 72 adjacent to lip 43. Cover 18 is then closed.
The user
then peels open cover sheet 70 (see Fig. 8) and attaches the new cartridge 13
to handle
15. Cover sheet 70 is attached to container 68 by a seal that has a
predetermined initial
peel force value needed to open the package. That value is five times higher
(preferably
ten times higher) than the retaining force provided by retention members 42 to
retain
packages 14 in their respective compartments in base member 16. E.g., the
initial peel
force could be 3-5 pounds, and the retaining force on packages 14 could be as
little as one
ounce. Thus, packages 14 will not accidentally open upon (or prior to) removal
from base
member 16.
Other embodiments of the invention are within the scope of the claims. For
example, device 10 could be connected to wall 22 via suction cups instead of
adhesive pads
24. Also, storage device 10 could be mounted (or simply supported) in a
horizontal
position on a horizontal surface, and could also be used as a carrying case.
Also, instead of directly mounting storage device 10 to the wall, it could be
removably mounted on a wall-mounted plate, as is shown in Figs. 9-11.
Referring to Figs.
9-11, plate 100 has posts 102 with enlarged heads 104 that are received in the
circular,
lower portions of slotted openings 106 on base member 108, the narrow shafts
109 of
posts 102 are locked in place in the tapered, upper portions of slotted
openings 106.
Tapered blade projections 110 on plate 100 fit within recesses on the back
sides of the
upper two dividers 30 of base member 108 in order to guide openings 106 to the
locations
of posts 102. Blade projections 110 also prevent base member 108 from being
forced
downward too far to avoid jamming or breaking of posts 102 during attachment.
Plate 100
also has a rectangular opening 112 and is sized so that the plate can be
contained within
storage device 10 prior to mounting on a wall. When plate 100 is contained in
device 10,
a divider 30 projects through opening 112.
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