Razor blade and method of manufacture
An elongated stock material for use in manufacturing shaving razor blades, the material including an elongated, flat strip of metal having a front edge and back edge extending along its length, a sharpened cutting edge portion extending along the front edge, a weakened portion between the front edge and the back edge, a blade portion between the cutting edge portion and the weakened portion, and a removable portion between the weakened portion and the back edge. Also disclosed are blades and cartridges made from the material, and methods and apparatus making and using the material.
1 . An elongated stock material for use in manufacturing shaving razor blades, said material comprising
an elongated, flat strip of metal having a front edge and back edge extending along its length,
a sharpened cutting edge portion extending along said front edge,
a weakened portion between said front edge and said back edge,
a blade portion between said cutting edge portion and said weakened portion,
a removable portion between said weakened portion and said back edge, and
wherein said removable portion is offset from said blade portion along a plane extending backwards from said sharpened cutting edge centrally through said blade portion.
2 . The material of claim 1 wherein said weakened portion has a reduced thickness compared to said blade portion and said removable portion.
3 . The material of claim 1 wherein said weakened portion has a first notch portion on one side.
4 . The material of claim 3 wherein said weakened portion has a second notch portion on the other side.
5 . The material of claim 3 wherein said notch portions are offset with respect to each other.
6 . The material of claim 5 wherein each said notch portion has a steep surface and a gradually deflecting surface.
7 . The material of claim 1 wherein said weakened portion is located between ¼ and ¾ of the distance from said front edge to said back edge.
8 - 29 . (canceled)