Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5943781?dq=oakley+5,387,949
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Patent US5943781 - Safety razor blade tool - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA safety razor blade tool comprises a substantially rectangular, single-edged safety razor blade having a cutting edge and an opposing non-cutting edge and a thermoplastic protective cover fixedly attached to the non-cutting edge. The protective cover is substantially coextensive with the length of the...http://www.google.com/patents/US5943781?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5943781 - Safety razor blade toolAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5943781 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/954,692Publication dateAug 31, 1999Filing dateOct 20, 1997Priority dateJan 3, 1996Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS6237444, WO1999020439A1Publication number08954692, 954692, US 5943781 A, US 5943781A, US-A-5943781, US5943781 A, US5943781AInventorsJisu KimOriginal AssigneeViolex-Bic S.A.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Referenced by (6), Classifications (56), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSafety razor blade tool
US 5943781 AAbstract
1. A safety razor blade tool, comprising:a substantially rectangular, single-edged safety razor blade having a cutting edge and an opposing non-cutting edge; and a thermoplastic protective cover fixedly attached to the non-cutting edge, the protective cover comprising two substantially identical, complementary cover parts, each cover part comprising an injection-molded substantially rigid inner layer of thermoplastic material and a rubberized outer layer covering the rigid inner layer, the outer layer comprising a compatible, injection-molded thermoplastic rubber, the protective cover being substantially coextensive with the length of the non-cutting edge of the blade and having a resilient, slip-resistant surface. 2. The safety razor blade tool of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rigid inner layer comprises a polyolefin and the rubberized outer layer comprises an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber.
3. The safety razor blade tool of claim 2, wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.
4. The safety razor blade tool of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rigid inner layer comprises a polyvinyl chloride and the rubberized outer layer comprises a hydrogenated adduct of a styrene-butadiene block copolymer with maleic anhydride.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/582,388, filed on Jan. 3, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,589, which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention is directed to a disposable, single-edged safety razor blade of the type having a cutting edge and an opposing, blunt non-cutting edge and, more particularly, to an improved safety razor blade tool having a "rubberized," slip-resistant protective cover over the non-cutting edge to allow for a more comfortable and secure grip of the safety razor blade when used as a cutting tool.
Referring to FIG. 2, a safety razor blade according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a protective cover 20 fixedly attached to a safety razor blade 50. The protective cover 20 is substantially coextensive in length with the length of the blade 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the protective cover 20 comprises two cover parts, 22a and 22b. The two cover parts 22a and 22b are substantially identical, complementary parts, which hold the blade 50 between them. As shown in FIG. 2, the protective cover 20 preferably contains an inwardly curved outer surface for easier handling and holding of the safety razor blade tool by a user.
As shown in FIG. 5, the safety razor blade 50 contains a cutting edge 52 and a non-cutting edge 54. Holes 58 are located proximate to the non-cutting edge 54. The holes are arranged in size and location so that the projections 324 of cover parts 22a and 22b fit through them. The razor blade 50 also contains a notch 56 on each side which is disposed below the level of the blade that is covered by the cover parts 22a and 22b.
The cover parts 22a and 22b are produced by injection molding. Preferably, the rigid inner layer 30 and the rubberized outer layer 40 are produced by a multi-component injection molding process. As shown in FIG. 8, a multi-component molding press 70 contains a molding die 72 and multiple plasticizer injection units 74 and 76. The multi-component molding press 70 is of the type that is commercially available, such as model number ES330H sold by Engel of Schwertberg, Austria. To produce a cover part with the molding press 70, the plasticizer injection unit 74 injects a material for the rigid inner layer 30 into a cavity of the mold die 72. Next, the material for the rigid inner layer 30 is allowed to solidify. After solidification, a mechanism within the mold press 70 or the mold die 72 transports the rigid inner layer 30 and cavity to an alternate position. The mechanism may transport only the rigid inner layer 30 and cavity or may transport the entire mold die 72. In a preferred embodiment, the transport mechanism is built within the mold die 72 and transports the rigid inner layer 30 and cavity within the mold die 72. After transportation of the rigid inner layer 30 and cavity, the plasticizer injection unit 76 injects a material for the rubberized outer layer 40 into the mold die 72. Preferably, the operation of the plasticizer injection units 74 and 76 is simultaneous. Alternatively, however, the operation of the plasticizer injection units 74 and 76 may be sequential. After the material for the rubberized outer layer 40 solidifies, a cover part is ejected from the mold press 70.
Suitable thermoplastic materials for forming the rigid inner layer 30 include polyolefins (such as high density polyethelene and polypropylene) and polyvinyl chloride. Advantageously, the material for the rubberized outer layer 40 is chosen from thermoplastics that form a strong and stable adhesion with the thermoplastic material of the rigid inner layer 30. Compatible thermoplastic material combinations for the rubberized outer layer 40 and rigid inner layer 30 include an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber, such as Sarlink sold by DSM Thermoplastic Elastomers of Leominster, Mass., and a polypropylene, such as Stamylan sold by DSM Engineering Plastics of Evansville, Ind. In a preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic material for the rubberized outer layer 40 is Sarlink 3160, and the thermoplastic material for the rigid inner layer 30 is Stamylan 13E 10 having a melt flow index of 1.2 g/10 minutes. Another compatible thermoplastic combination for the outer and inner layers includes a hydrogenated adduct of a styrene-butadiene block copolymer with maleic anhydride, such as Craton sold by Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas (for the rubberized outer layer) and a polyvinyl chloride (for the rigid inner layer).
As shown in FIG. 5, a safety razor blade tool according to the present invention is formed by placing a razor blade 50 between two cover parts 22a and 22b, and aligning the holes 58 with the projections 324 and recesses 325 of the cover parts. The two cover parts 22a and 22b are then fixedly attached to each other and the blade 50.
Preferably, the two cover parts 22a and 22b are fixedly attached to each other by ultrasonic welding. To ultrasonically weld cover parts 22a and 22b, as shown schematically in FIG. 9, cover part 22a is placed in a holding fixture 80. The fixture 80 is a block typically made of steel or aluminum into which a cavity is machined. The shape of the cavity is such that it allows the exterior surfaces of cover part 22a to fit conformally within the cavity thus immobilizing the part without additional means. Ultrasonic energy in the range of about 20 to 40 kHz is then applied directly to cover part 22b by conventional means, such as a power supply and controller 82, a converter 84, a booster 86, and a horn 88. The energy is delivered in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of cover part 22b. This energy causes the cover part 22b to vibrate relative to the immobilized cover part 22a, which is held in place by the holding fixture 80. The heat of friction of the relative motion causes the surfaces of the cover parts in contact with each other to melt together.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS1799517 *Apr 22, 1926Apr 7, 1931American Safety Razor CorpRazor-blade-retaining elementUS3413720 *May 16, 1966Dec 3, 1968Rochester Razor IncDisposable plastic safety razorUS4059891 *Oct 20, 1975Nov 29, 1977Georgios PanagiotoulisBlade and improved holder for itUS4612707 *Mar 29, 1984Sep 23, 1986Shea Thomas MCutting and scraping deviceUS4619799 *Jul 19, 1985Oct 28, 1986Windmoller & HolscherPreheating of elastomer material to devolatalize before extrusion then pressurizationUS4969300 *Feb 12, 1990Nov 13, 1990Pope Ralph ERotatable buildingUS4979300 *Nov 16, 1989Dec 25, 1990Blank William JCutting and scraping tool using razor bladesUS5615597 *Aug 7, 1995Apr 1, 1997Aquatec Water Systems, Inc.Composite diaphragm for diaphragm pumps having two different shore-hardness materialsUS5666732 *Feb 12, 1996Sep 16, 1997Shea; Thomas M.Holder for use with a razor bladeUS5771589 *Jan 3, 1996Jun 30, 1998Tritec International CorporationSafety razor blade tool* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6237444 *Jun 18, 1999May 29, 2001Bic CorporationSafety razor blade toolUS6431389Jul 27, 2000Aug 13, 2002Wki Holding Company, Inc.Composite bowlUS8679141 *May 17, 2012Mar 25, 2014Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Cutting blade for medical devicesUS20120226298 *May 17, 2012Sep 6, 2012Boston Scientfic Scimed, Inc.Cutting blade for medical devicesUSRE39391Aug 15, 2003Nov 14, 2006Helen Of Troy LimitedComposite bowlEP1211031A1 *Nov 23, 2001Jun 5, 2002Mure &amp; PeyrotCutter with one piece holder for fixing and releasing the blade by pressure* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification30/346.58, 30/346.53International ClassificationB26B5/00, B26B21/06, B26B21/54Cooperative ClassificationY10S76/08, B26B5/006, B29C2793/0027, B29K2019/00, B29K2021/003, B29C47/026, B26B21/54, B26B21/06, B29C47/34, B29K2021/00, B29C65/7841, B23K2201/20, B29L2031/7186, B29K2023/065, B29C65/46, B29C45/1676, B29C65/08, B29K2023/00, B29C65/58, B29L2009/00, B29K2101/12, B29C66/54, B29C47/90, B29K2905/12, B29K2027/06, B29C66/1142, B29K2023/06, B29K2023/12, B29C45/1671, B29C47/0019, B29C47/56, B29C47/128, B29K2905/02, B29C2793/009, B23K20/10, B29C66/5414European ClassificationB29C47/12E, B23K20/10, B29C45/16L, B29C66/1142, B29C65/08, B29C65/78F, B29C66/54, B29C66/50, B29C45/16J, B26B5/00C, B26B21/06, B26B21/54, B29C65/58, B29C65/46, B29C47/02C2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 23, 2007FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20070831Aug 31, 2007LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesMar 21, 2007REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 27, 2003FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jun 16, 1999ASAssignmentOwner name: VIOLEX-BIC, S.A., GREECEFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TRITEC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:010026/0928Effective date: 19990614Mar 2, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: TRITEC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, NEW YORKFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KIM, JISU;REEL/FRAME:009017/0790Effective date: 19980206RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services