Packaging structure for a fixed blade shaver and an improved apparatus and method for prolonging blade sharpness

Abstract

A package for a shaver with a blade portion and handle portion. The package includes a display card made of non-magnetically conductive material. A pyramid-shaped housing having a base and an apex extends from the display card and is also made of a non-magnetically conductive material. An aperture is provided to allow the insertion of at least part of the blade portion into the pyramid-shaped housing. A permanent magnet resides on the base within the housing so as to position the blade portion in close proximity too the permanent magnet. An apparatus, and corresponding method, for prolonging the sharpness of a blade is also disclosed which includes positioning the blade and a permanent magnet in close proximity to each other on the base of, and within, the pyramid-shaped housing.

1 . A packaging structure for a fixed-blade shaver, the structure including: 
 a backing/display card;    a pyramid-shaped housing having a base contiguous with the card or as part of the card and an apex spaced from one side of the card;    a permanent magnet fixed to the base of the pyramid-shaped housing within the pyramid-shaped housing;    a shaver blade portion positioned on the housing with at least part of the blade portion in the interior of the pyramid-shaped housing so as to position the blade portion in close proximity to the permanent magnet.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the magnet is fixed to the base of the pyramid-shaped housing in front of the blade portion.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the magnet is fixed to the base of the pyramid-shaped housing behind the blade portion.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein the shaver includes a handle portion and the blade portion and the pyramid-shaped housing has an aperture in its base and the shaver is positioned on the card with the handle portion alongside the card on the side of the card that is remote the pyramid-shaped housing and at least part of the blade portion extends through the aperture into the interior of the pyramid-shaped housing.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the blade portion and the handle portion are integrally formed.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the blade portion is releasably detachable from the handle portion.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is contiguous with the card.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the  claims 4  to  6  wherein the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is part of the card and the aperture extends through that part of the card.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the packaging is shrink-wrapped in see-through plastics material.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is made of a magnetically non-conductive material such as cardboard, paper or plastics.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base of the housing is square.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the length of each side of the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is preferably π/2 times the perpendicular height of the apex of the pyramid-shaped housing from the base.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 11  or  12  wherein the sharp edge(s) of the blade portion are positioned in the centre of the base.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 11 ,  12  or  13 , wherein the sharp edge(s) of the blade portion are positioned parallel to two opposed sides of the base.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the card has a hanging aperture spaced from the housing by which the packaging structure can be suspended for display purposes.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for prolonging the sharpness of a blade, the apparatus including: 
 a pyramid-shaped housing having a base, the pyramid-shaped housing sized to allow positioning of the blade on the base within the pyramid-shaped housing; and    a permanent magnet fixed to the base within the pyramid-shaped housing;    wherein the blade and the magnet are positioned in close proximity to each other magnet within the pyramid-shaped housing.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the housing is made of a magnetically non-conductive material such as cardboard, paper or plastics.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  or  17  wherein the base of the housing is square.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the length of each side of the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is preferably π/2 times the perpendicular height of the apex of the pyramid-shaped housing from the base.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  or  19  wherein the sharp edge(s) of the blade are positioned in the centre of the base.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 ,  19  or  20 , wherein the sharp edge(s) of the blade are positioned parallel to two opposed sides of the base.  
     
     
         22 . A method of prolonging blade sharpness, the method including positioning a blade in close proximity to a permanent magnet within a pyramid-shaped housing, wherein the blade is positioned adjacent, and the magnet is positioned on, the base of the pyramid-shaped housing.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the blade is maintained in close proximity to the permanent magnet within a pyramid-shaped housing for a continuous period of at least about one week.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the blade is maintained in close proximity to the permanent magnet within a pyramid-shaped housing for a continuous period of more than about two weeks.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,  23  or  24  wherein the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is square and oriented with its four sides facing North, South, East and West with the sharp edge of the blade facing East or West.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,  23  or  24  wherein the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is square and the sharp edge(s) of the blade are positioned in the centre of the base.  
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,  23  or  24  wherein the base of the pyramid-shaped housing is square and the sharp edge(s) of the blade are positioned parallel to two opposed sides of the base.  
     
     
         28 . A packaging structure for a fixed-blade shaver, said structure substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5  or FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus of prolonging blade sharpness, said apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5  or FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         30 . A method of prolonging blade sharpness, said method substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5  or FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings.