Razor Blade Sharpening Device and Method

Abstract

A sharpening device is provided for sharpening the multiple parallel blades engaged in the head of a safety razor. The device employs a paddled wheel which spins within an interior cavity of a housing. The distal ends of each paddle slidably contact each blade in the blade head to sharpen and straighten them.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A sharpening apparatus for safety razors having a plurality of parallel blades engaged in a blade head, comprising:
 a housing having sidewalls defining an interior cavity;   an opening in said housing, said opening configured to contact a blade head having a plurality of razor bladed engaged therewith;   said opening in said contact with said blade head, positioning said blades to a sharpening position, with each projecting past an interior surface of said interior cavity surrounding said opening, and into said interior cavity;   a wheel engaged within said interior cavity;   a plurality of paddles engaged at respective first ends with said wheel;   each of said paddles having a distal end and a mid portion in-between said distal end and said first end;   said paddles formed of flexible material;   a rotation of said wheel imparting a rotation to said paddles; and   each said distal end of each said paddle, contacting said blades in sequential sliding contact during said rotation of said wheel with said blades in said sharpening position, whereby said blades are sharpened by said sequential sliding contact of said distal end of each paddle.   
     
     
         2 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 1  wherein each respective said distal end of each said paddle has a curved shape; and
 each said curved shape defining a respective curved sharpening pathway for said sequential sliding contact with said blades. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 1  wherein said distal end is formed of leather. 
     
     
         4 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 2  wherein said distal end is formed of leather. 
     
     
         5 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 4  wherein said distal mid portion of each respective paddle is formed of flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 5  wherein said mid portion is formed of leather. 
     
     
         7 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 1  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening. 
 
     
     
         8 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 2  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 3  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening. 
 
     
     
         10 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 4  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 5  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sharpening apparatus for safety razors of  claim 6  wherein each said paddle extends to said distal end a length; and
 said length being equal to or more than a distance from said wheel to said interior surface of said cavity surrounding said opening.