Abstract:
A storage device for a shaving razor replacement cartridge package, including a base member having at least one package-receiving storage region, and one or more covered packages that are each located in a respective storage region. The covered package contains a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades. The storage region preferably provides a retention force, e.g., by opposed members, to retain a respective package within the compartment with a retention force. The retention force is preferably determined so that is less than an opening force needed to initiate opening of a removable cover seated on the stored package. The storage device can include shaving razor engagement structure for carrying a razor generally aligned with the base member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation (and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120) of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/364,240, filed on Jul. 29, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,517. This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/325,364, filed on Dec. 19, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,140, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/364,342. This application is also related to an application entitled “CONTAINER FOR SHAVING CARTRIDGE OR OTHER STORED ITEM,” U.S. application Ser. No. 09/364,242, filed on Jul. 29, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,595. The subject matter of each of these patents and applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     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. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a shaving cartridge storage device including a base member having at least one storage compartment, and one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment. Each sealed package contains a shaving cartridge including a plastic housing and a plurality of blades. 
     In some other aspects, the invention features, in general, a sealed package storage device including a base member having at least one storage compartment, and one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment and contain a respective stored unit therein. Each compartment provides a retention force to retain a respective package within the compartment. In some aspects the compartment has opposed members to provide the retention force to opposite sides of a package. In some other aspects each package has an opening that has been sealed with a peelable film at a sealing surface surrounding the opening. The film is peelable from the sealing surface upon the application of a peeling force that is greater than the retention force that holds the sealed package in the storage device compartment. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. In preferred 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 another aspect, the invention features, in general, a storage device for sealed packages that includes a base member having at least one storage compartment, one or more sealed packages that are each located in a respective storage compartment, and a cover that is hingedly connected to the base member. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a storage device for a shaving razor. The storage device includes a base member having at least one storage compartment and a cover that is hingedly connected to the base member. The cover has shaving razor engagement structure on an external surface thereof. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. In preferred 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 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. 9  mounting plate. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial side view showing an alternative attachment mechanism for the  FIG. 1  device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , there is shown wall-mounted storage device  10  for shaving razor  12 , supported on the outside of device  10 , and replacement cartridges  13  in sealed packages  14 , 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 may 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 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 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. Pat. No. 407,851, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 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&#39;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 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  200  ( FIG. 12 ) 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 too 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 . 
     LISTINGS OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     
         
         wall-mounted storage device  10   
         shaving razor  12 , 
         replacement cartridges  13   
         sealed packages  14   
         handle  15   
         base member  16   
         cover  18   
         bathroom tiles  20   
         wall  22   
         finger engagement lip  23   
         double-sided adhesive pads  24   
         flexible wings  26   
         opening  28   
         dividers  30   
         side walls  32   
         upper support  36   
         lower support  38   
         flat outer surface  40   
         retention member  42   
         lip  43   
         flat surface  44   
         projections  46   
         opening  48   
         ridge  52   
         edge  54   
         through-holes  56   
         drainage opening  57   
         surfaces  60 ,  62   
         flat portion  64   
         plastic container  68   
         cover sheet  70   
         gripping tab  72