Razor Drop

Abstract

The present invention is a sharps container with an integral device for the removal of disposable straight edge razor blades from the razor handle. The used blades are removed from the razor handle and deposited into a sharps container without the user having to physically touch the blade.

Claims

1. A device for the removal of used disposable straight edge razor blades from the razor handle and storage of the removed blades where said device is comprised of an outer housing with a base inside of which is a storage container for the used razor blades; the outer housing and storage container are covered by a plastic top which has an aperture for inserting the razor blades, a magnetic blade removal mechanism extends vertically downwards from the apex of the plastic top where said magnetic blade removal mechanism is comprised of plastic tube inside of which is a plunger with a magnet attached to one end.

2. The device of claim 1, where said outer housing is constructed of glass or plastic and where said housing base is constructed of stainless steel, plastic, word, or ceramic.

3. The device of claim 1, where said storage container is constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene thermoplastic.

4. The device of claim 1, where said plunger and tube are constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene thermoplastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0017] FIG. 1 is an overall view of the invention showing the outer housing (1), the inner storage container (2), the base (3) with storage location for the lid (4) for the storage container (2), a top (5) and the magnetic blade removal mechanism (6).

[0018] FIG. 2 is a view of the top (5) and the aperture (7) for the razor blades.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the top (5) showing the razor blade aperture (7) and the tube (10) for the magnetic blade removal mechanism (6).

[0020] FIG. 4 is a view of the magnetic blade removal mechanism consisting of a plunger (8) with a magnet (9) on the bottom end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention is a sharps container with an integral device for the removal of disposable straight edge razor blades from the razor handle. The used blades are removed from the razor handle and deposited into a sharps container without the user having to physically touch the blade.

[0022] The invention consists of an outer housing (1) inside of which is a sharps container (2). The outer housing (1) and sharps container (2) rest on a base (3). The outer housing (1) and sharps container (2) are covered by a top (5).

[0023] The top (5) has an aperture (7) through which the used razor blade is inserted. The blade becomes affixed to the magnetic blade removal mechanism (6) allowing the razor handle to be withdrawn from the invention top (5) detaching from the used blade. Extending vertically downwards from the apex of the top (5) is the magnetic blade removal mechanism (6).

[0024] The magnetic blade removal mechanism (6) consists of a plunger (8) with a magnetic (9) at its end and a plastic tube (10) in the top (5) through which the plunger (8) with magnet (9) are inserted. When a used blade is affixed to the magnet (9) and detached from the razor handle, the plunger (8) with the magnet (9) may be pulled upwards through the tube (10). The used blade being too large to fit through the plastic tube (10), detaches from the magnet (9) and falls into the sharps container (2) below.

[0025] When desired the sharps container (2) can be removed from the outer housing (1) and the container (2) with the used blades disposed of and a new container (2) inserted into the outer housing (1).

[0026] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer housing (1) is constructed of glass and may be covered with a decorative wrap made from high density polyethylene film. Such decorative wrap may be striped like a barber pole, display the brand logo of the razors, or display the name and logo of the barber shop where the invention is being utilized. Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer housing (1) is constructed of glass, it could be made from other materials such as plastic.

[0027] The sharps container (2) inside the outer housing (1) should be a container cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or meet the FDA guidelines for such a container which include construction from heavy duty plastic that is leak resistant and has an available tight-fitting and puncture resistant lid. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a container (2) made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic polymer with a lid (4) made from the same material.

[0028] The base (3) is constructed of stainless steel but may be constructed of other materials such as plastic, wood, or ceramic. The top (5) is constructed from ABS thermoplastic but may be constructed from other materials.

[0029] The plunger (8) and tube (10) of the magnetic blade removal mechanism (6) are preferably constructed from ABS thermoplastic although another plastic material could be utilized.

[0030] Although FIGS. 1 through 4 and the above description represent the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be recognized that the invention is not limited to the exact configuration and materials described above.

[0031] Potential CPC patent classification for this invention: [0032] A616 50/3001: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposal of . . . sharps.

[0033] The present invention described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 is visualized as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is envisioned that this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention is not limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein but falls within the scope of the appended claims.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

[0036] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on, attached to, connected to, coupled with, contacting, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, directly on, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled with or directly contacting another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a stricture or feature that is disposed adjacent another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.