All US patents in the B26B21 classification group up to 1959

This page is for hardcore razor patent nerds!

B26B21? What is that all about?

There is an official way to classify patents called the Cooperative Patent Classification or “CPC” for short.
Within this CPC classification there is a group with the symbol “B26B21”. The group contains patents for — quote:

Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor

The “B26B21” group should contain most of the patents I'm interested in.
I have managed to make a list of all US patents in the “B26B21” group, and made one page per decade for those patents.
The pages contain information and links for each patent, as well as a small image of the first page of drawings if available.
Some of the pages are very large and might take a long time to load.

Here is an overview of the CPC group B2621 hierarchy, with links to pages showing lists of patents where to given classification is the most specific:

  • 21/00 Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor   (47 patents)
  • 21/02 . involving unchangeable blades   (38 patents)
  • 21/04 . . Razors of the knife type   (1 patent)
  • 21/06 . . Safety razors with fixed blade, e.g. with moulded in blade   (53 patents)
  • 21/08 . involving changeable blades   (4 patents)
  • 21/10 . . Safety razors with one or more blades arranged longitudinally to the handle   (51 patents)
  • 21/12 . . . combined with combs or other means for hair trimming   (13 patents)
  • 21/125 . . . . {Razor blades attached to ordinary combs}
  • 21/14 . . Safety razors with one or more blades arranged transversely to the handle   (3 patents)
  • 21/16 . . . involving blades with only one cutting edge (B26B 21/22 - B26B 21/38 take precedence)   (103 patents)
  • 21/165 . . . . {with the blade moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit}   (2 patents)
  • 21/18 . . . involving blades with two cutting edges (B26B 21/22 - B26B 21/38 take precedence)   (61 patents)
  • 21/185 . . . . {with adjustable guard clearance; with variable angle of rake}   (2 patents)
  • 21/20 . . . involving blades with more than two cutting edges; involving disc blades (B26B 21/22 - B26B 21/38 take precedence)   (33 patents)
  • 21/22 . . . involving several blades to be used simultaneously   (16 patents)
  • 21/222 . . . . {with the blades moulded into, or attached to, a changeable unit (B26B 21/4006 takes precedence)}
  • 21/225 . . . . . {the changeable unit being resiliently mounted on the handle}   (3 patents)
  • 21/227 . . . . . {with blades being resiliently mounted in the changeable unit}
  • 21/24 . . . of the magazine type; of the injector type (containers for storing razor-blades A45D 27/24)   (93 patents)
  • 21/26 . . . of the continuous ribbon type   (11 patents)
  • 21/28 . . . of the drawing cut type, i.e. with the cutting edge of the blade arranged obliquely {or curved} to the handle   (22 patents)
  • 21/30 . . . of the type carrying pivotally-mounted caps   (36 patents)
  • 21/32 . . . . in razors involving double-edged blades   (10 patents)
  • 21/34 . . . of the type carrying rollers   (2 patents)
  • 21/36 . . . . with provision for reciprocating the blade (reciprocating the cutting elements of clippers or dry shavers B26B 19/00)   (6 patents)
  • 21/38 . . . with provision for reciprocating the blade by means other than rollers (reciprocating the cutting elements of clippers or dry shavers B26B 19/00)   (12 patents)
  • 21/40 . Details or accessories   (9 patents)
  • 21/4006 . . {Blades or blade units with discontinuous cutting edges, e.g. wire-wrapped, notches}   (2 patents)
  • 21/4012 . . {Housing details, e.g. for cartridges}
  • 21/4018 . . . {Guard elements}
  • 21/4025 . . . {Cap elements}
  • 21/4031 . . . {characterised by special geometric shaving parameters, e.g. blade span or exposure}
  • 21/4037 . . {Details or parts covering the blades, e.g. caps for storage; Attachments}   (1 patent)
  • 21/4043 . . {Contour trimming}
  • 21/405 . . {Electric features; Charging; Computing devices}
  • 21/4056 . . . {Sensors or controlling means}
  • 21/4062 . . {Actuating members, e.g. switches or control knobs; Adjustments}
  • 21/4068 . . {Mounting devices; Manufacture of razors or cartridges (B26B 21/528 takes precedence)}
  • 21/4075 . . . {Mounting devices}
  • 21/4081 . . {Shaving methods; Usage or wear indication; Testing methods}
  • 21/4087 . . . {Usage or wear indication}
  • 21/4093 . . . {Testing of shaving razors or components thereof}
  • 21/42 . . for cutting hair of preselected or variable length (combs, stencils or guides specially adapted for hair trimming devices A45D 24/36)   (1 patent)
  • 21/44 . . Means integral with, or attached to, the razor for storing shaving-cream, styptic, or the like
  • 21/443 . . . {Lubricating strips attached to the razor head}
  • 21/446 . . . {Shaving aid stored in the razor handle}   (14 patents)
  • 21/46 . . for illuminating the skin (B26B 19/46 takes precedence)   (11 patents)
  • 21/48 . . Heating means   (5 patents)
  • 21/50 . . Means integral with, or attached to, the razor for stropping the blade   (21 patents)
  • 21/52 . . Handles, e.g. tiltable, flexible {(handles and attaching handles in general B25G)}   (36 patents)
  • 21/521 . . . {Connection details, e.g. connection to razor heads}   (1 patent)
  • 21/522 . . . {Ergonomic details, e.g. shape, ribs or rubber parts}
  • 21/523 . . . {Extendible or foldable handles; Extensions}   (4 patents)
  • 21/525 . . . {for longitudinally arranged cutting edges}   (4 patents)
  • 21/526 . . . {Electric features}
  • 21/527 . . . {attachable to fingers or to the human hand}   (6 patents)
  • 21/528 . . . {Manufacture of razor handles}
  • 21/54 . Razor-blades {(B26B 21/4006 takes precedence)}   (3 patents)
  • 21/56 . . characterised by the shape   (12 patents)
  • 21/565 . . . {Bent razor blades; Razor blades with bent carriers}
  • 21/58 . . characterised by the material
  • 21/60 . . . by the coating material

For official information see the CPC web site