To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John H. Cowan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination Hair-Trimmers and Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to hair-trimmers of the type described in Patent No, 1,224,444, granted May 1, 1917, to William H. Burns.

The primary object is to provide an improved hair-trimmer of the type referred to, which is also adapted to be used as a safety-razor.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which—

Figure 1 represents a broken rear side elevational view of a combination hair-trimmer and safety-razor embodying the invention; Fig. 2, an edge elevational view of the same; Fig. 3, a front side elevational view of the device; Fig. 4, a front side perspective view of the winged guard-plate employed; Fig. 5, a rear side elevational view of a comb-plate employed; Fig. 6, a plan view of the blade; Fig. 7, a sectional view showing the elements of the device separated, and illustrating the manner in which they go together; and Fig. 8, a view of an auxiliary handle which serves, in lieu of the thumb-screw shown in Fig. 7, to connect the elements together, and which is used when the device is employed as a safety-razor.

In the construction illustrated, A represents a main supporting plate which is provided at its upper portion with a forwardly-inclined dished handle A′, adapted to serve when the device is used as a hair-trimmer; B, a winged guard-plate with which the plate A is adjustably connected; C, a comb-plate adapted to interlockingly engage the guard-plate B; D, a blade interposed between the member C and the member A; E, a thumb-screw adapted to clamp the parts together; and E′, an auxiliary handle, which serves also as a clamping screw in lieu of the thumb-screw E when the device is to be employed as a safety-razor.

The plate A is of flat form and has its upper portion bent at an angle to afford the handle A′, which is dished as indicated at 1, to enable the handle to be securely grasped between the thumb and fingers. The lower edge of the plate is deeply serrated to afford guard-teeth 2, which are preferably curved rearwardly at their lower end-portions. The plate A is provided with a central slot 3, which extends parallel with the lateral edges of the plate; and the plate is further provided with slots 3^a which flank the central slot 3.

The winged guard-plate B comprises a clamping wing 4, which is parallel with the plate A and an outstanding inclined guard-wing, or rest-member, 4^a, which is adapted to bear against the scalp in the hair-trimming operation, it being noted that the pressure of the instrument against the scalp will be borne by the wing, or shoe, 4^a, and the extremities of the guard-teeth with which the plate A is provided. The member B is preferably formed by bending a piece of sheet-metal into approximately V-form to provide the wings 4 and 4^a, the apex, or angle, 4^b, of the bent member being disposed, when the device is assembled, some distance above the points of the teeth 2. The clamping wing 4 is provided with forwardly or outwardly-turned lateral flanges 4^c, which are adapted to freely embrace the lateral edges of the members C, D and A. The clamping wing is further provided with forwardly-extending lugs 4^d which are adapted to extend freely through openings in the members C, D and A. The upper or free edge of the clamping wing 4 is provided intermediately with a forwardly or outwardly-turned flange 4^e. The lugs 4^d may be formed by partially severing the metal of the wing 4 and bending the metal outward, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The flanges 4^c and 4^e may be formed by providing suitable projections at the edges of the wing 4 and bending them forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The wing 4 is provided centrally with a threaded perforation, affording a threaded socket for the clamping screw. This may be provided, if desired, by perforating the sheet-metal member 4 and welding or soldering a nut 4^f to the rear side of the wing; or the wall may be thickened in any desired manner to provide sufficient stock for the thread.

The comb-plate C is preferably formed of metal. It is provided centrally with a perforation 5; and flanking the perforation 5 are rectangular perforations 6. The lower edge of the member C is provided with teeth 7; and the upper edge is provided near its ends with rearwardly-turned flanges 8 which are adapted to freely embrace the upper edge of the wing 4 of the guard B at points flanking the intermediate flange 4^e. The rectangular perforations 6 are adapted to receive the lugs 4^d freely; and the flanges 4^e and 8 are adapted to interlock freely and to freely embrace the respective edge-portions of the companion member, in each case.

The blade D is provided near its upper edge with a central perforation 9; and at points flanking the perforation 9, the blade is provided with rectagular perforations 10 which are ‘adapted to freely embrace the lugs 4^d.

The clamping screw E is provided with a screw-portion 11, which is adapted to enter the threaded socket of the clamping wing 4; and the member E is further provided with a shoulder, or flange, 11^a, which is adapted to clampingly engage the front or outer surface of the plate A.

The member E′ is provided with a screw-portion 11^b adapted to fit the threaded socket of the clamping wing 4; and said member E′ is further provided with a shoulder 11^c adapted to clampingly engage the front or outer surface of the plate A. The member E′ has the elongated shaft, or handle-portion, 12, as shown.

As a hair-trimmer, the parts are assembled as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3; the elements being secured together by the clamping screw E. In the assembled condition, the interlock lugs 4^d extend through the perforations 6 of the comb-plate C, through the perforations 10 of the blade D, and through the slots 3^a of the main supporting plate A.

When the device is used as a hair-trimmer, the main plate A is so adjusted with relation to the other elements of the device as to permit the teeth 2 to project a desired distance below the cutting edge of the blade, depending upon the closeness of trim desired. As shown in Fig. 1, the teeth 7 of the comb-plate C do not project quite flush with the cutting edge of the blade. The plate A, as stated, is adjusted according to the closeness of the trim of the hair which is desired. If it be moved upwardly relative to the other elements of the device, the result will be to enable a closer trim of the hair to be secured. As has been indicated, the slots 10 of the blade are purposely made somewhat large relative to the interlock lugs 4^d. This permits the parts to go together freely and obviates the necessity of nicety of fitting of the parts; and it also provides for a certain slight adjustment of the blade, which is desired. The interlock portions of the various elements have a sufficiently free fit to enable them to go together readily, and, indeed, to permit a very slight adjustment. In the case of the blade, the freedom of fit of the interlock parts enables the blade to be sharpened several times without causing it to become too small. Also, the blade is capable of a slight longitudinal adjustment, so that it can be caused to project slightly at one edge or the other of the device, to enable a shaving effect to be attained in curves about the ears, very much as the point of an ordinary razor is employed by a barber for the same purpose.

Ordinarily, the hair-trimmer is used by a combing operation, the blade serving to trim the hair with a certain degree of closeness, depending upon the adjustment of the plate A and the consequent distance which the teeth 2 project below tine edge of the blade. It is sometimes desirable, however, to reverse the direction of operation of the instrument, or, in other words, to operate “against the grain,” or partially so, as in trimming the hair about the neck and ears. In this operation, the comb-plate C is particularly useful, as it provides an additional safety feature, especially when the plate A is so adjusted as to enable a close cropping of the hair to be attained.

In Fig. 2, the dotted line 13 may be assumed to indicate the outline of the head, illustrating how the instrument may bear against the head in the hair-trimming operation.

When the device is to be used as a safety-razor, the clamping screw E is removed, and the handle E′ is substituted. For shaving purposes, the plate A is moved upwardly until the points of the teeth 2 are adjacent the cutting edge of the blade. The device may then be used as an ordinary razor, and unless a very close shave is desired, the comb-plate C may be allowed to remain in use. This enables the device to be used with the utmost freedom, and with perfect safety. If desired, however, the comb-plate C may be removed from the instrument, enabling a closer shave to be secured.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character set forth, comprising a main plate provided with guard-teeth and with a central vertical slot and having a forwardly-inclined upward extension serving as a handle, a V-form guard disposed at the rear side of said plate and having a clamping wing equipped with a threaded socket, an interposed blade provided with a central opening, and a clamping-member having a shoulder clampingly engaging said main plate, and having also a screw-portion extending through the slot in said plate and through said blade and screwed into said threaded socket.

2. A convertible device of the character set forth, comprising a main plate provided with guard-teeth and with a central vertical slot and having a forwardly-inclined upward extension serving as a handle, a V-form guard disposed at the rear side of said plate and having a clamping wing equipped with a threaded socket, an interposed blade provided with a central opening, and a clamping-member comprising a forwardly-extending handle provided at its inner end with a shoulder clampingly engaging said plate and with a screw-portion extending through the slot in said plate and through said blade and screwed into said threaded socket.

3. A device of the character set, forth, comprising a main plate equipped with a handle and provided with guard-teeth and having an intermediate slot, a V-form guard having a clamping wing with a central threaded socket, a comb-plate adjacent said guard and having teeth projecting below the angular portion of the guard and having also a central perforation, a blade disposed between said comb-plate and said main plate and having a central perforation, and a clamping member having a threaded stud extending through the slot in said main plate and through the perforations in said blade and comb-plate and into said threaded socket, said clamping-member serving to clampingly secure said elements together.

4. A device of the character set forth, comprising a V-form guard-plate having a clamping wing provided with a threaded socket and provided also with forwardly-projecting interlock lugs, a comb-plate provided with a central perforation and with interlock perforations receiving said lugs, a blade provided with a central perforation and with interlock perforations receiving said lugs, a main plate equipped with a handle and provided with guard-teeth and provided also with a central slot corresponding with said perforations and with interlock slots receiving said lugs, and a clamping member having a threaded stud extending through said central slot and perforations and engaging said socket, said clamping member having a shoulder clampingly engaging said main plate.

5. A device of the character set forth, comprising a V-form guard having a clamping wing provided with a threaded perforation and provided also with forwardly-projecting interlock lugs, a blade provided with a registering central perforation and provided also with interlock perforations receiving said lugs, a main plate equipped with a forwardly-inclined handle and provided with guard-teeth and having a central slot registering with said perforations and interlock slots receiving said lugs, and a clamping member having a shoulder bearing against said main plate and having a threaded stud extending through said slot and the perforations in said blade and engaging said threaded socket.

6. A device of the character set forth, comprising a V-form guard having a clamping wing provided with a threaded central socket and at points flanking said socket with forwardly projecting interlock lugs, said clamping wing having forwardly-projecting lateral flanges and a forwardly-projecting upper flange, a comb-plate having a central perforation and interlock perforations flanking said central perforation and receiving said lugs, said comb-plate having a rearwardly-turned flange embracing the upper edge of said clamping wing, a blade having a central perforation and interlock perforations flanking the same and receiving said lugs, a main plate provided with a forwardly-inclined handle and with guard-teeth and having a central slot registering with said central perforations and having flanking slots receiving said lugs, and a clamping member having a shoulder clampingly engaging said main plate and a threaded stud extending through the central slot of said main plate and through said central perforations and engaging said threaded socket.

7. A device of the character set forth, comprising a V-form guard-plate having a clamping wing provided with a central threaded socket and provided also with forwardly-projecting interlock lugs, a blade provided with a central perforation and with interlock perforations receiving said lugs, said interlock perforations being slightly larger than said lugs, a main plate provided at its upper portion with a handle and at its lower portion with guard-teeth, said main plate having a central slot registering with said central perforation and having flanking interlock slots receiving said lugs, and a clamping member having a threaded stud extending freely through said central slot and perforation and engaging said threaded socket, said clamping member having a shoulder clampingly engaging said main plate.

John H. Cowan.