To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Frederick D. Stitt, a citizen of the United States, residing in Carson, in Pottawattamie county, in the State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razors, and have described the same in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to that class of razors, sometimes called automatic, which individually comprise an electromagnet having a vibrating armature actuating the blade.

It is the object of the invention to render a razor of this class adjustable according to varying conditions and positions of the work to which it is applied; to vibrate the blade either transversely, or in any desired oblique direction relative to the direction in which the blade advances over the face or other skin surface to which it is applied; to bring the apparatus into active operation by merely applying the same to the work; to economize the consumption of current; and in genera] to increase the efficiency of razors of the specified class. To accomplish this object I incorporate in my improved razor, as parts thereof, an adjustable rigid connection between the reciprocating blade and the armature by which it is driven, and a circuit-breaker whose movable member is actuated to close the circuit by the reaction of the work.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the best manner in which I have contemplated applying the principles of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the operative parts of a razor which is constructed in accordance with these principles, and a sectional view of the inclosing case. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operative parts of the same razor, a sectional view of the same case and a conventional representation of a connected battery. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same razor. Fig. 4 is a plan of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of part of Fig. 2.

In the illustrated specimen of my invention, a one-piece iron frame, comprising the parallel top and bottom plates 1 and 2 and the connecting rear plate 3, is detachably fastened within an incasing handle, the shell 4, by the screws 5. An electromagnet comprising a plurality of spools or magnets 6, arranged in line side by side, between the plates 1 and 2, is fastened rigidly to the plate 3; while their common armature, the lever 7, is pivoted to the frame by means of the transverse pin 8, which is journaled in the bearings 9 formed on the anterior margin of the plate 1. The binding posts 10 and 11, set in the plate 2 and insulated therefrom, are respectively connected with the poles of the stationary battery 12 by flexible conductors of indefinite length. The post 10 is connected with the magnets and the plate 1 in series by the conductive wire 13; while the post 11 is fixed in contact with the insulated block 14 carrying the adjustable screw 15 for electrical contact with the conductive spring 16 carried by the free end of the armature. On the upper end of the armature, beyond the pivot, is carried the internally threaded socket-piece 17. The head 18, having the teeth 19, holds the adjustable blade 20, as in safety razors in general, and is rigidly mounted in the usual manner on one end of the screw stem 21; while the other end of that stem is screwed firmly into this socket-piece, and is held therein by the lock-nut 22, in any desirable position of rotative adjustment.

When the instrument is not in operation, the circuit breaker is normally open as shown, and is held open by the position of the armature as affected by the residual attraction of the magnets. When by manipulation of the handle 4 the razor is pressed forward against the surface to be shaved, the reacting pressure, causing a pivotal movement of the armature, and thereby closing the circuit through the magnets, returns the armature to its original position and opens the circuit. By continued reaction of the work and repeated energizing of the magnets, as described, the armature is swung on its pivot to and from the magnets and maintained in rapid and continual vibration, so long as the blade is pressed forward against any resistance and no longer. The resulting vibration of the blade is regulated in direction, relatively to the directional position of its cutting edge, according to the requirements of the work in hand, by setting the stem of the blade-holder rotatively as above described. When adjusted in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the blade has in action a transverse or chopping movement, and severs the hair by shearing only; when adjusted at less than ninety degrees from that position, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4, it has an oblique motion producing a sawing effect combined with a chopping shear. The current from the generator is admitted to the electromagnet by the mere act of using the razor, and without the aid of any switch other than the circuit breaker; and is consumed only during the actual vibration of the razor blade as described, and only during the forward strokes of that vibration.

By this construction and mode of operation the specified object of the invention is accomplished in all its branches.

I claim as my invention—

1. A razor of the specified class, comprising an electromagnet having an armature vibrating forward and backward; a blade-holder having a screw stem adjustably seated in the armature, means for adjusting the stem rotarily in its seat, and a circuit-breaker located in the circuit of the electromagnet and operated by the armature through the backward reaction of the work upon the blade-holder to close the circuit, and through the intermittent excitation of the electromagnet to open the circuit, in continual automatic alternation.

2. A razor of the specified class, comprising an electromagnet having an armature vibrating forward and backward; a blade-holder having a screw stem adjustably seated in the armature, means for adjusting the stem rotarily in its seat; a lock-nut on the screw stem, and a circuit-breaker located in the circuit of the electromagnet, and adapted to be opened by the action of the magnet and closed by the backward reaction of the work, in continual alternation.

3. A razor of the specified class, comprising an electric circuit, an electromagnet and a circuit-closer in the circuit, a vibrating blade-holder, and a pivoted armature actuating the circuit-closer and the blade-holder, and actuated by the blade-holder and by the electromagnet in continual alternation.

4. A razor of the specified class, comprising an electromagnet having a vibrating armature, a blade-holder having a rotarily adjustable stem carried by the armature, means for locking the stem to the armature in different positions of rotative adjustment, and a circuit-breaker operated by the movements of the armature to control the excitation of the electromagnet.

Witness my signature at Carson, Iowa, June 26th, 1915.

Frederick D. Stitt.