Blade container for removing a blade

Abstract

A blade container comprises a housing and a lid. The housing contains a recycling chamber, a separating slot connected to the recycling chamber, a storage chamber adjacent to the recycling chamber, and an opening connected to the storage chamber and parallel to the separating slot. The lid can be attached to the housing, thereby closing the opening and the separating slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a blade container and, more particularly, to a blade container used for separating a blade. 2. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A conventional utility cutter (or "box cutter") includes a blade with grooves on at least one side, dividing the blade into sections. Each of the blade sections contains a point for cutting paper, wood, or another suitable object. A leading section of the blade is separated from the remaining sections of the blade when its point becomes dull after a period of use.

[0003] CN 2 16 071 230 U discloses a blade container comprising a housing 1 and a lid 2. The housing 1 contains a space 11 for receiving blades 3. The lid 2 contains a portion 21 that can be inserted into the space 11 of the housing 1 to hold the blades 3 in the housing 1. However, this blade container does not contain an element for separating the front part of each blade 3 from the remaining parts thereof.

[0004] CN 2 16 574 820 U discloses a blade container comprising a housing 1 and a lid 2. The housing 1 has a groove 3 at a lower end. A leading portion of a blade is inserted into the groove 3, and the housing 1 is actuated to separate the leading portion of the blade from the remaining portions of the blade. Each time a portion is severed from the blade, the severed portion of the blade must be disposed of immediately to prevent it from damaging something or injuring someone. However, such immediate disposal is sometimes impractical.

[0005] Document US 6 000 590 A also describes a conventional holster assembly for use with a handheld utility knife with a segmented blade. Document JP 2021-0 24 013 A relates to another conventional blade container for storing spare blades, and document US 2005 / 0 279 787 A1 shows another holster and belt clip assembly for a carpet knife. Document CN 2 15 958 694 U further describes yet another embodiment of a conventional blade storage box according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is the main object of the present invention to provide a practical blade container.

[0008] To achieve the aforementioned objective, a blade container is provided having the features of claim 1. The blade container comprises a housing and a lid. The housing contains a recycling chamber, a separating slot communicating with the recycling chamber, a storage chamber adjacent to the recycling chamber, and an opening communicating with the storage chamber and parallel to the separating slot. The lid can be attached to the housing, thereby closing the opening and the separating slot.

[0009] Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will be described by means of a detailed representation of three embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a blade container according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 an exploded view of the Fig. 1 shown blade container; Fig. 3 a partial view of the Fig. 1 shown blade container; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blade container in a different position than in Fig. 1 shown; Fig. 5 a side view of the Fig. 3 shown blade container; Fig. 6 a perspective view of the Fig. 1 shown blade container used with a suspendable sheath assembly; Fig. 7 is a side view of a blade container according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 8 is a side view of a blade container according to the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, a blade container 10 comprises a housing 11, a lid 26, and a liner 30 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The housing 11 includes a partition 22 that divides the interior of the housing 11 into an opening 18, a partition slot 19, a recycling chamber 23, and a storage chamber 24. The partition slot 19 becomes wider the further it extends toward the recycling chamber 23. The storage chamber 24 becomes wider the further it extends toward the opening 18. The partition 22 extends between the recycling chamber 23 and the storage chamber 24 such that the chambers 23 and 24 are parallel to each other. The recycling chamber 23 is the same width as the storage chamber 24. The partition wall 22 extends between the opening 18 and the separation slot 19. The separation slot 19 is narrower than the recycling chamber 23. The opening 18 is wider than the storage chamber 24.The opening 18 allows the user to remove a blade 40 from the storage chamber 24 with his or her finger and process it, or to place the blade 40 into the storage chamber 24. The blade 40 is provided with weak points in the form of grooves that divide the blade 40 into sections 41, which can be successively separated from the blade 40.

[0012] The liner 30 includes a connecting portion 31 extending between two plates 32. The liner 30 is inserted into the separation slot 19. The plates 32 together form a narrow passage 33 that is narrower than the separation slot 19. A blunt portion 41 of a blade 40 is inserted into the narrow passage 33 and severed from the blade 40 to enable the use of a sharp portion 41 of the blade 40. The severed portion 41 of the blade 40 falls into the recycling chamber 23, from which the severed portion 41 of the blade 40 can be recycled. The plates 32 can bend and separate the blunt portion 41 from the blade 40. The plates 32 are harder than the housing 11 to withstand a torque for bending the blade 40. Referring to Fig. 3, the partition wall 22 includes a bore 25 communicating with the separation slot 19. A selected one of the plates 32 is cut with a recess 34, whereby a portion of the selected plate 32 becomes a resilient tab 35 extending from the remaining one of the plates 32. The resilient tab 35 extends into the bore 25 and abuts an inner portion of the lid 26 so that the liner 30 cannot exit the lid 26 through the separation slot 19.

[0013] The housing 11 includes a disassembly bore 16 in a front part 12, a rear part 50, and two side walls (not numbered). The disassembly bore 16 communicates with the bore 25. Thus, a flat element, such as the flat head of a screwdriver, can be inserted into the bore 25 via the disassembly bore 16 to make the elastic tab 35 coplanar with the selected plate 32. That is, the elastic tab 35 is detached from the inner part of the cover 26 so that the liner 30 can be pulled out of the cover 26 via the separation slot 19. The recycling chamber 23 includes a tapered portion extending toward the separation slot 19 to facilitate the removal of the individual severed sections 41 from the recycling chamber 23 via the separation slot 19.

[0014] Referring to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the front part 12 contains a window 13 that communicates with both the recycling chamber 23 and the storage chamber 24. The window 13 is located between the side walls of the housing 11. A lens 20 covers the window 13 to keep the blade 40 in the storage chamber 24 and the severed section(s) 41 in the recycling chamber 23. The user can see through the lens 20 and determine how many blades 40 are in the storage chamber 24 to decide whether to add more blades 40 to the storage chamber 24. The user can also see through the lens 20 how many severed sections 41 are in the recycling chamber 23 to decide whether to empty the recycling chamber 23.

[0015] To connect the lens 20 to the housing 11, two groups of ribs 21 and two groups of grooves 15 are used. Each of the rib groups 21 extends from an edge of the lens 20 (or a corresponding side wall of the housing 11). Each of the groups of grooves 15 is formed in a corresponding side wall of the housing 11 (or an edge of the lens 20). The ribs 21 are inserted into the grooves 15, thus connecting the lens 20 to the housing 11. Preferably, each of the side walls of the housing 11 is provided with a stepped portion 14 in which a group of grooves 15 is formed. Referring to the Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, a flexible, elastic, foldable, or bendable connecting portion 28 is formed between the housing 11 and the cover 26, which allows the cover 26 to be removed from the housing 11 without the risk of it being lost. The cover 26 can be attached to the housing 11 to cover the opening 18 and the separation slot 19. The cover 26 has a hook 27 that can be engaged with a wedge 17 formed on the front part 12 of the housing 11 to hold the cover 26 over the housing 11. The hook 27 can be released from the wedge 17 to allow the cover 26 to be removed from the housing 11. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the housing 11 includes a neck 44 at the rear portion 50 of the housing 11 and a head 45 at the neck 44. Preferably, the neck 44 is a circular stem. Preferably, the head 45 is a substantially rectangular flat section with two ends extending beyond the neck 44. However, in another embodiment, the head 45 may be a disc having a diameter larger than that of the neck 44.

[0016] The blade container 10 can be connected to a hanging case 42. The hanging case 42 includes a slot 43 for receiving the neck 44 so that the housing 11 can be easily moved into the hanging case 42. The head 45 is located outside the hanging case 42, while the housing 11 is located inside the hanging case 42. The blade container 10 can be easily removed from the hanging case 42 for use. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 7, a blade container 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The second embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment except that instead of combining the neck 44 with the head 45, a clip 46 is provided. The clip 46 is connectable to a belt 47 worn by the user, allowing the user to easily carry the blade container 10. The blade container 10 is located on an outer side of the belt 47, while the clip 46 is arranged on an inner side of the belt 47. The clip 46 is preferably in the shape of a hook. Referring to the Fig. 1 and Fig.8, a blade container 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment except that it includes a magnet 48 instead of the clip 46. The magnet 48 magnetically attracts an accessory 49, which is ferromagnetic. The present invention has been described by illustrating the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

[1] Blade container, comprising a housing (11) comprising a recycling chamber (23), a separating slot (19) communicating with the recycling chamber (23), a storage chamber (24) adjacent to the recycling chamber (23) and an opening (18) communicating with the storage chamber (24) and running parallel to the separating slot (19); a cover (26) which can be fastened to the housing (11), thereby closing the opening (18) and the separating slot (19); and a lining (30) arranged in the separating slot (19) and formed with two plates (32) extending on two opposite sides of the separating slot (19); characterized by , that the housing (11) further comprises a bore (25) in communication with the separating slot (19), thereby forming a shoulder, wherein one of the plates (32) of the liner (30) comprises a resilient tab (35) engageable with the shoulder so that the liner (30) cannot exit the housing (11) through the separating slot (19). [2] The blade container according to claim 1, wherein the housing (11) further comprises a partition wall (22) between the recycling chamber (23) and the storage chamber (24), the partition wall (22) extending such that the recycling chamber (23) is tapered towards the separating slot (19) and that the storage chamber (24) widens towards the opening (18). [3] The blade container according to claim 1, further comprising a disassembly bore (16) communicating with the bore (25) to allow a flat member to protrude into the bore (25) via the disassembly bore (16) to pivot the resilient tab (35) to allow movement of the liner (30) out of the bore (25) via the separation slot (19). [4] The blade container of claim 1, wherein the housing (11) further comprises a wedge (17), the lid (26) comprising a hook (27) engageable with the wedge (17) to hold the lid (26) on the housing (11). [5] Blade container according to claim 1, wherein the housing (11) further comprises: a window (13) communicating with the recycling chamber (23) and the storage chamber (24); and a lens (20) for covering the window (13) so that a user can see through the lens (20) and into the recycling chamber (23) and the storage chamber (24). [6] A blade container according to claim 5, wherein the housing (11) further comprises two stepped portions (14) on two opposite sides of the window (13) and two groups of grooves (15), each of the groups of grooves (15) being formed in a corresponding one of the stepped portions (14), the lens (20) comprising two groups of ribs (20) fitted into the groups of grooves (15). [7] Blade container according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion (28) formed between the housing (11) and the lid (26). [8] Blade container according to claim 1, further comprising a suspendable sleeve (42) for receiving the housing (11). [9] The blade container of claim 8, wherein the housing (11) further comprises a neck (44) on a rear portion (50) and a head (45) on the neck (44), the head (45) including portions extending beyond the neck (44), the suspendable sleeve (42) having a slot (43) for receiving the neck (44), the head (45) being disposed outside the suspendable sleeve (42) while the housing (11) is disposed within the suspendable sleeve (42). [10] Blade container according to claim 1, further comprising a clip (46) connected to the housing (11) and usable for engagement with a belt (47). [11] The blade container of claim 1, further comprising a magnet (48) connected to the housing (11) and operable to magnetically attract a ferromagnetic accessory (49).

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