Abstract:
A razor blade holder can attach to structure at a site in order to provide blade storage and accessibility. The holder has a receptacle sized to hold at least one razor blade and to keep exposed and accessible an upper edge thereof. The receptacle has a back panel adapted to be attached to the structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to razor blade holders, and in particular to holders providing blade storage and accessibility.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    In many work environments it is useful to have a razor blade handy for periodic cutting projects. In some cases a razor blade may be mounted in a larger handle, which allows one to use one&#39;s entire hand to manipulate the razor&#39;s edge. A disadvantage with such cutting tools is its relative bulk. Also, the user will need a storage box or a relatively large holder to keep the cutter handy. Moreover, a large cutting tool may be inappropriate for small jobs performed in tight spaces, or situations where detail cutting must be performed with a blade held in the user&#39;s fingertips.  
           [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,624 a relatively small case can hold a razor blade for cutting open jewel boxes for CDs. This holder requires that the razor blade have notches on opposite edges to hold the blade in place. Furthermore, the holder restricts the use of the blade. For example, this holder would make impossible routine functions, such as scraping paint from a surface with the blade held at a relatively low angle of attack. This reference suggests securing the holder to a surface with a hook and loop fastener. This method of securing does not enhance safety by guarding the edge of the blade. Instead, this reference relies on fixed guard panels on the case that always surround the edge of the blade whether stored or in use.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,916 a razor blade is stored between two magnetic strips that are hinged to fold together and enclose the blade. This reference shows a key chain for holding the magnetic strips. The razor blade is not easily fetched from this holder, since the user must pry apart the magnetic strips.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there is need for an improved razor blade holder that allows one to quickly and easily seize a razor blade that can then be used in a variety of work environments.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a razor blade holder adapted to attach to structure at a site in order to provide blade storage and accessibility. The holder has a receptacle sized to hold at least one razor blade and to keep exposed and accessible an upper edge thereof. The receptacle has a back panel adapted to be attached to the structure.  
           [0009]    By employing apparatus of the foregoing type, an improved razor blade holder is achieved. In the preferred embodiment a razor blade can be stored in a molded plastic pocket or receptacle that is suspended from a horizontal branch of an L-shaped bracket. The horizontal branch acts as a shelf to provide clearance behind the upper exposed edge of the blade, making it easy to grasp and retract. Preferably, the pocket is tilted so the upper end of the blade is outwardly inclined, further increasing its accessibility. Also, the preferred pocket is tapered to converge slightly towards its bottom. This allows a number of blades to be placed inside the pocket so that the tips of the blades can be wedged into place.  
           [0010]    In the preferred embodiment a vertical branch of the L-shaped bracket can be secured to a surface existing at a work site. In some embodiments the vertical branch is a panel that is a adhesively backed to secure the holder to an existing surface at the work site. In some embodiments this vertical panel may have fastening holes allowing the holder to be secured in place by screws, nails, or the like. Other clip-like fastening means are disclosed as well. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a razor blade holder in accordance with principles of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a detailed, cross-sectional view of a portion of a fragment of the holder of FIG. 1, showing a plurality of razor blades stored therein;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 4A, 4B, and  4 C are cross-sectional views of a holder that is an alternate to that of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an end view of a holder it that is an alternate to that of FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a detailed, axonometric view of a fragment of the back panel of FIG. 1, but modified to show an alternate fastening hole;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded, axonometric view of a holder that is an alternate to that of FIG. 1, showing the holder adjacent to supporting structure, as well as a razor blade that can be stored in the holder;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a holder and that is an alternate to that of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , a razor blade holder is shown with a receptacle  10  having a forward wall  10 A, a rear wall  10 B, and two side walls  10 C. Receptacle  10  has an opening  12  leading to a region flanked by a forward face  14  and an opposite rear face  15 . Receptacle  10  is designed to receive a razor blade R, shown in FIG. 1 in phantom.  
         [0021]    The upper edge of wall  10 B is integrally connected to shelf  16  shown here in as a horizontal branch of an L-shaped member including a vertical branch herein referred to as back panel  18 . Back panel  18  can be mounted to the surface of a structure at a work site. In some embodiments the rear face of back panel  18  can have an adhesive backing to adhesively secure the holder to a surface. In this embodiment, back panel  18  is also shown with fastening holes  20  that may be used to secure the holder with screws, nails, or other fastening means.  
         [0022]    The front face of back panel  18  is shown marked with a commercial message  22 . In some embodiments the illustrative holder can be marked with an advertisement that subsidizes the manufacturing cost, so that the holder can be sold for a nominal price or can be distributed without charge. Alternatively, the holder may be bundled with a package of razor blades, in which case back panel  18  can be marked with the trademark of the manufacturer of the razor blades.  
         [0023]    Also, a reminder message  24  is marked on rear wall  10 B. In this case the user is reminded to replace the razor blade after use (“PUT IT BACK”). Other reminders or commercial messages are contemplated.  
         [0024]    The illustrated holder can be injection molded or can be made by folding stiff paper, sheet plastic, or cardboard, keeping the receptacle together by gluing, taping, etc. In still other embodiments, the holder can be formed as a plastic extrusion with the side walls  10 C being installed later. Alternatively, the holder can be formed of a number of separate components that are snapped together, or attached together by gluing, or other fastening means. In addition, the holder can be formed from a metal stamping that forms the illustrated three-dimensional structure, or by stamping a flat development that is then later folded to form the illustrated structure.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 2, faces  14  and  16  are shown downwardly converging at an acute angle A 1 . Angle A 1  may be in a range of 0° to 30°, and is preferably 10°. This angle is chosen to accommodate the number of razor blades one wishes to hold, and to establish a desired wedging action. As shown in this Figure, the chosen angle can accommodate three razor blades R. Blades R are shown as single edge razor blades having handles on the edge opposite the cutting-edge.  
         [0026]    The lower cutting-edges of the blades R will snugly fit at the bottom of opening  12 . For a larger number of blades the angle Al may be increased and the bottom of opening  12  can be expanded. Alternatively, the angle Al can be decreased and the bottom of opening  12  constricted to accommodate a lesser number, for example, one blade.  
         [0027]    Also, the opening  12  has a limited depth which allows blades R to extend outside the opening and enhance their accessibility. Moreover, shelf  16  spaces the handles of blades R away from back panel  18 . Therefore, the handles of blades R are accessible from above, from behind, and from the front. In addition, the receptacle  10  is tilted so that the handles of blades R extend upward and outward. This further enhances the accessibility of blades R. This tilt establishes an angle A 2  between the rear wall  10 B and shelf  16 . Angle A 2  may be in the range of 90° to 60°, and is preferably 80°.  
         [0028]    For the alternate holder of FIG. 4A, components corresponding to those previously illustrated are marked with the same reference numerals, but increased by  100 . Accordingly, an L-shaped bracket includes a vertical back panel  118  integrally connected to a horizontal shelf  116 . A receptacle  110  is suspended at an angle from shelf  116  and has a pair of side walls  110 C. Receptacle  110  also has a front wall  110 A and a real rear wall  110 B defining an opening  112  embraced by a forward face  114  and a parallel rear face  115 .  
         [0029]    The holder of FIG. 4A is substantially the same as that of FIG. 1 except that walls  110 A and  110 B are parallel. This provides an opening  112  where razor blades can be loosely deposited and without necessarily becoming wedged together at the bottom of the opening  112 .  
         [0030]    For the alternate holder of FIG. 4B, components corresponding to those previously illustrated in FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference numerals, but increased by  200 . Accordingly, an L-shaped bracket includes a vertical back panel  218  integrally connected to a horizontal shelf  216 . A receptacle  210  is suspended at an angle from shelf  216  and has a pair of side walls  210 C. Receptacle  210  also has a front wall  210 A and a real rear wall  210 B defining an opening  212  embraced by a forward face  214  and an overhanging face  215 .  
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the back panel  218  is extended to provide a back wall  226  connecting between the rear edge of shelf  216  and the bottom of rear wall  210 B to form a hollow body composed of elements  226 ,  216 ,  210 B. Elements  218  and  226  are contiguous and co-planar. In some embodiments the holder of FIG. 4B can be formed of an extrusion and capped at either end with side walls  210 C. Moreover, the hollow body composed of elements  226 ,  216 ,  210 B can also be capped at either end to form a closed volume, if desired. For the alternate holder of FIG. 4C, components corresponding to those previously illustrated in FIG. 4B are marked with the same reference numerals, but annotated with a prime (′). Essentially, this holder is identical to that of FIG. 4B, except that the previously mentioned upper portion of the back panel (panel  218 ) is eliminated. Under the circumstances, element  226 ′ serves as a back panel and may have an adhesive backing to secure the holder in place. Alternatively, panel  226 ′ may have several key hole-shaped fastening openings such as opening  228 , shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0032]    For the alternate holder of FIG. 5, components corresponding to those previously illustrated in FIG. 4B are marked with the same reference numerals, but annotated with a double prime (″). A rectangular back panel is formed of an upper portion  218 ″ and a lower portion  226 ″. As before, back panel  218 ″,  226 ″ can have an adhesive backing. A hollow body enclosing a parallelepiped cavity  230  is formed of a horizontal shelf  216 ″, a rear wall  210 B″ and a bottom wall  232 . Cavity  230  is designed to accept spare razor blades that can be stored in the cavity either loosely or in a separate container.  
         [0033]    A diverging front wall  210 A″ forms an opening  212 ″ for holding razor blades between front face  214 ″ and rear face  215 ″. As before, the opening  212 ″ can be closed on either end with side walls  210 C″.  
         [0034]    For the alternate holder of FIG. 7, components corresponding to those previously illustrated in FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference numerals, but increased by  300 . In particular, a receptacle  310  is formed with a front wall  310 A, rear wall  310 B, and side walls  310 C. The opening  312  is tilted so that when seated, razor blade R will tilt upwardly and outwardly for easy access. A horizontal shelf  316  is connected along the upper edge of wall  310 B. Depending from the rear edge of shelf  316  is a back panel  334  that converges on but does not touch rear wall  310 B.  
         [0035]    With this arrangement, back panel  334  can act as a clip so that the holder can be secured over the edge of structure S. Specifically, back panel  334  and back wall  310 B will straddle structure S. Alternatively, back panel  334  can have an adhesive backing, in which case the holder can be glued to the face of structure S. In still other embodiments, the back panel  334  can have a keyhole-shaped fastening hole as shown in FIG. 6 (hole  228 ) enabling the holder to be secured to a nail or screw head in structure S. It will be appreciated that the holder of FIG. 7 can therefore be mounted in a variety of ways either by means of clipping, gluing or other fastening means, such as screws and nails.  
         [0036]    For the alternate holder of FIG. 8, components corresponding to those previously illustrated in FIG. 7 are marked with the same reference numerals, but annotated with a prime (′) Essentially, this holder is identical to that of FIG. 7, except that the previously mentioned back panel (panel  334 ) is upwardly extended to form an enlarged back panel  336 ,  334 ′. The upper portion  336  of the back panel can serve as a site for advertising messages in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, elements  336  and  334 ′ may both have an adhesive backing to secure the holder in place.  
         [0037]    To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the foregoing apparatus, its operation will be briefly described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1; although the operation for the other embodiments will be similar. The back panel  18  can be secured to a wall, shelf edge, toolbox or other structure. In some embodiments adhesive backing on panel  18  will secure the holder. In other instances the holder can be secured by driving in nail, screw, or other fastener through holes  20 . Once in place, one or more razor blades R can be placed in the opening  12 .  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 2, the razor blades R tilt forwardly for easy access. Also, the blades R rise above shelf  16  so that the upper handle edge of the blades R are accessible from the front, top and back. The user may now grasp the razor blades to R by placing a thumb on the front blade and a forefinger over the top, resting on the shelf  16 . The thumb can then be lifted to pull out the first blade R, using a motion as if dealing cards.  
         [0039]    If all of the razor blades R were removed the message  24 , “PUT IT BACK,” becomes prominent. The user is then regularly reminded of the need to replace the razor blade. It will also be appreciated that the illustrated holder sheathes the cutting edge of the blades R and prevents injury. Furthermore, the blades R are free from any encumbrances and can therefore be used in tight spaces.  
         [0040]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.