Abstract:
A one-piece disposable razor having a blade edge protector molded integrally with the razor operable to latch releasably to the razor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to disposable razors and relates in particular to one-piece ultra low cost disposable razors. 
     The disposable razor market is highly competitive, and it is vital that manufacturing costs, particularly material handling costs, be held to an absolute minimum. 
     In addition, a continuing effort must be made to seek out cost reduction methods and procedures. 
     Molding a razor of plastic in one piece is a prime necessity in reducing expense of handling piece-parts. 
     The language &#34;one piece&#34; in this application is intended to refer to the initial molding of all elements of a razor as a single piece-part save the blade package. 
     &#34;Blade package&#34; is intended to denote a single or twin blade (with blade spacer if twin), all blades having a single cutting edge. 
     Razors of one-piece construction embracing inventions distinct from the present invention are disclosed and described in copending applications U.S. Ser. No. 615,604 filed May 31, 1984, U.S. Ser. No. 615,603 filed May 31, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 607,041 filed May 4, 1984. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the above background it is a principal feature of the present invention to provide a one-piece molded plastic razor which includes a blade edge protector connected to the main body of the razor by breakaway links where the protector is operable at the time of manufacture to be latched releasably to the razor body immediately following its being broken away from the one-piece molding. 
     A further feature of the invention is to provide a disposable razor with a blade edge protector which need not be molded in and transported from a molding machine or a separate molding die. 
     A disposable razor initially defining a one-piece molded plastic piece-part may comprise a head having a blade support for receiving a blade package and a face-engaging surface, a guard bar, a handle, and a blade edge protector operable to engage the head releasably. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a one-piece molding as it is ejected from the mold; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the razor of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 in the plane of line 4--4; and 
     FIG. 5 is a detail of the latching claw. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 11 indicates a one-piece molded plastic razor as it appears immediately after ejection from a mold comprising a handle 12, a guard bar 13, a head 14 having a blade package support surface 16, a face-engaging surface 17, and a blade edge protector 18 connected to the head 14 by breakaway links 19 and 21. 
     After securing a blade package 22 upon blade support surface 16, integral rivet or rivets 23 are upset to the dotted line configuration of FIG. 1. 
     The cutting edge 24 of the blade package is positioned between the guard bar 13 and the face-engaging surface 17 in accord with well-known principles of blade geometry. 
     Incidentally, the means of securing the blade package is not critical to the present invention and may take form and structure which security of blade package and assembly machine design configurations dictate. 
     The blade edge protector 18 is formed with a pair of latching means including claws 26 and 27 and cam followers 28 and 29 and the claws are free to flex outwardly and snap inwardly as the cam followers traverse mating cams, as will be apparent immediately. 
     Brackets 31 and 32 connecting the head 14 and the handle 12 and supporting the head are formed with indentations 33 and 34 having cam surfaces 36 and 37 which lead into said indentations. 
     As an assembly step in the course of manufacture of the razor, the blade edge protector is manipulated automatically to (1) break the links 19 and 21 and (2) snap the protector 18 releasably into latching engagement with the head as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. 
     During this occurrence, the followers 28 and 29 traverse their respective cams 36 and 37 and thereafter the claws 26 and 27 latch releasably with the mating indentations 33 and 34. 
     It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications may be devised in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 
     For example, the cam - cam follower arrangement can be reversed and the blade package may be attached frictionally with blade barbs engaging blade slots in the head 14.