This invention relates generally to advertising devices of a utilitarian nature and particularly to an inexpensive, disposable safety razor.

An object of the invention is to provide a very simple, yet highly practical, safety razor constructed as a molded plastic article having a razor blade embedded in the plastic material with its cutting edge exposed for use in shaving.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor having a molded plastic body or holder formed with a razor head at one end, the remaining portion of the body providing a handle by which the razor can be manipulated when shaving.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor, of the character referred to, in which said head is of a shape closely simulating one-half of the head of a conventional safety razor, the head having a convex face-engaging surface overlying the blade and a serrated or slotted guard portion underlying the blade edge and forming a guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable safety razor of the type indicated having a thin, tear-away strip of the plastic material molded over the cutting edge of the blade, said strip being separable from the head lengthwise of the blade edge to uncover the same and thus expose it for use, the strip thus providing a sanitary and safety seal for the cutting edge of the blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable safety razor of the type specified in which the blade preferably consists of one-half of a conventional, double-edged razor blade, the conventional thin, steel blade being broken in half lengthwise to provide two single-edged blades, each adapted as an insert in a molded razor body with its inner jagged, broken edge firmly anchored in the molded plastic.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor, of the class referred to, which is small and compact, of the general size and shape as that of a match book, so that the articles may be packaged in stacked relation and conveniently carried within the pocket of a coat or in a compartment of a suitcase, the article being particularly adaptable for the by traveling men, military personnel, etc., not wishing to carry the usual shaving equipment. In addition, the razor is of a size lending itself to dispensing from a vending machine and, due to its extremely low cost, the article may be provided free of charge to the guests of hotels and other establishments catering to transients, the back surface and the portion of the razor body beneath the head providing unobstructed surfaces upon which advertising matter may be applied by printing or by molding the same thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molded article of the character referred to above which preferably has a recess or cavity in its rearward side, said recess providing a shallow receptacle or compartment for containing a supply of lathering soap or shaving cream for applying to the face prior to using the razor, the lathering substance being either contained in a wad or cellular material held in the compartment, in a squeeze-type envelope retained in the compartment, or in an envelope formed integrally with the razor body.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a disposable advertising article of utility which is extremely simple in construction and adapted for mass production to minimize its cost of manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing which is for th purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged front view of the present safety razor;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the razor;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4—4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the razor;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the lower portion of the body of the razor, showing an alternative means for containing a supply of a dispensable material, such as a lathering substance; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a razor of further modified construction.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the present safety razor is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 as approximately one and one-half times its actual size, the razor thus being of substantially the same size as an ordinary match-book. The razor has a holder or body 10 which includes a rectangular central plate portion 11 and a lower, thicker, rectangular portion 12, these portions together providing a handle adapted to be held in a hand.

Above the plate portion 11, the razor body is provided with a forwardly projecting head portion 15 which extends throughout the width of the body. The head 15 has an upwardly and rearwardly extending curved surface 16 which, when the razor is applied to use, constitutes a convex skin-engaging surface. The lower surface 17 of the head 15 extends substantially normal to the plane of the plate portion 11.

A plurality of laterally-spaced lugs 18 project downwardly from the surface 17, these lugs together providing a guard along the projecting cutting edge 19 of a razor blade 20 embedded in the head 15.

Extending between the corresponding ends of the head 15 and lower portion 12 are side flanges or wings 22. Formed in the rear side of the lower portion 12 is a rectangular recess or compartment 23.

The holder or body 10 is molded from a thermo-setting plastic material so as to minimize the cost thereof. Prior to injection of the plastic into the cavity of the mold, the razor blade 20 is placed in the cavity and against a permanent magnet therein which retains the blade in place. When the plastic material is injected into the cavity of the mold, it flows around the blade 20 to provide the head 15 in which all but a small lower portion of the cutting edge 19 of the blade is embedded. The cavity is so formed as to cause the plastic material to extend across the cutting edge 19 in a very thin bead or strip 25 which encloses the cutting edge for sanitary and safety reasons. The razor blade 20 is preferably although not necessarily, made from a conventional double-edged razor blade, the latter being broken along its median line to divide it into a pair of single-edged blades.

To apply the razor to use, the user holds it in one hand and then grasps an end of the strip 25 between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. The strip is then pulled laterally across the razor to peel or tear the strip from across the cutting edge 19 of the blade, so as to expose the cutting edge, it being noted by reference to Fig. 4 that this edge projects slightly beyond the forward side of the head 15. The razor is then in condition for use.

After lathering the face, the user holds the razor in upright position, grasping the flanges 22 between the thumb and forefinger. The razor then may be drawn across the skin to shave the whiskers therefrom in the manner of an ordinary safety razor. During such shaving, the lather and whiskers will enter the shallow receptacle 26, defined by the central portion 11, lower portion 12, wings 22 and the guard 18, to be collected therein. Excess lather may be flushed from the receptacle at any time by simply subjecting the razor to the force of a stream of tap water.

After completing the shaving operation, the user deposits the entire razor in a waste basket or other receptacle to dispose of the razor which, as previously indicated, is a very inexpensive item adapted for a single use.

It is within the concept of the invention to provide a dispensable material within the receptacle or compartment 23. This material preferably is of a whisker-lathering nature, such as dry particles of shaving soap. A small wad 30 of cellular material may be impregnated with the soap particles, the wad being cemented or otherwise retained in the compartment 23. Prior to the actual shaving operation, the wad is moistened to create a lather which then may be applied to the skin of the face of a man, Or to the legs of a woman who may wish to shave hairs from the legs.

In lieu of the soap-impregnated wad 30, a flexible envelope 33, containing lathering cream 34, may be secured within the compartment 23. When it is desired to apply the cream 34, the envelope 33 may be easily punctured and squeezed or compressed to force the cream from the envelope.

Referring now to Fig. 7, it is also within the present concept to provide a disposable razor in which the body thereof is molded from a flexible, heat-sealable plastic material, such as polyethylene. In this embodiment, the body 10 is molded with an integral envelope portion 32 having thin walls and an open end arranged either at a side or at the lower end thereof. The envelope portion 32 provides a receptacle into which brushless or lather cream may be placed. The edges of the open end then may be sealed together, as indicated at 31, by the application of heat and pressure to seal the envelope. To prepare the whiskers for shaving, the envelope 30 is punctured to release the whisker-softening medium which is then applied to the face prior to the shaving operation.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a simple, yet highly efficient and practical safety razor of a disposable type adapted for a single use. The razor is molded with an integral head in which the blade is partly embedded, thus avoiding the necessity for inserting and clamping a blade at the time of shaving. The razor is of light weight, yet strong construction and may be mass produced at a very low cost. The razor, which is of substantially the same size and shape of a match book, provides an excellent advertising medium, the body of the razor having flat surfaces to which may be applied advertising decals or printing, or which may be embossed with advertising indicia during the molding of the razor.

We claim as our invention:

1. A disposable razor, comprising: a one-piece molded plastic holder having a body having a razor head integral with the body at the upper end thereof, said head being provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head, said body and head being of equal width, said body being provided with a shallow receptacle directly beneath said head and of a width substantially equal to the width of the head; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said head having a thin strip molded integrally therewith and overlying said projecting cutting end of said blade, said strip being peelable from said head to expose said cutting edge.

2. A disposable razor, comprising: a one-piece molded plastic holder having a body and a razor head integral with the body at the upper end thereof, said head being provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head, said body and head being of equal width; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said head having a thin strip molded integrally therewith and overlying said projecting cutting end of said blade, said strip being peelable from said head to expose said cutting edge, said holder having a plate portion, flanges projecting from the vertical edge portions of said plate portion, and a bottom portion, said plate portion, flanges, bottom portion and head together defining a receptacle directly beneath said head for receiving lather and whiskers during a shaving operation.

3. A disposable razor, comprising: a one-piece molded plastic holder having a body having a razor head integral with the body at the upper end thereof, said head being provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head, said body and head being of equal width, said body being provided with a shallow receptacle directly beneath said head and of a width substantially equal to the width of the head; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said head having a thin strip molded integrally therewith and overlying said projecting cutting end of said blade, said strip being peelable from said head to expose said cutting edge, said holder having a shallow receptacle at its lower end for containing a dispensible material, said receptacle extending throughout the width of the body.

4. A disposable razor, comprising: a one-piece molded plastic holder having a body having a razor head integral with the body at the upper end thereof, said head being provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said head having a thin strip molded integrally therewith and overlying said projecting cutting end of said blade, said strip being peelable from said head to expose said cutting edge, said holder having an intermediate plate portion, the plane of said blade being inclined with respect to the plane of said plate portion.

5. A disposable razor, comprising: a molded plastic holder having an integral razor head at its upper end provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said head having a thin strip molded integrally therewith and overlying said projecting cutting end of said blade, said strip being peelable from said head to expose said cutting edge, said holder having a shallow receptacle at its lower end adapted to carry a soap-impregnated material.

6. A disposable razor, comprising: a one-piece molded plastic holder having a body having a razor head integral with the body at the upper end thereof, said head being provided with an upper curved surface and guard lugs depending from the head; and a razor blade embedded in said head and having a cutting edge projecting therefrom at the intersection of said curved surface and said guard lugs, said holder having a first receptacle in the front face of the body immediately below said head to receive lather and whiskers shaved from the skin by said razor edge, and a second shallow receptacle in the rear face of said body at the lower end thereof adapted to carry puncturable envelope containing a leathering substance.

References Cited

United States Patents

1,824,753 Thompson Sept. 22, 1931

1,864,995 Frost June 28, 1932

1,991,290 McGirr et al. Feb. 12, 1935

2,019,957 England Nov. 5, 1935