To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John A. Williamson, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Safety Razor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a finger-tip grasping interchangeable safety razor blade holder.

And the objects of my invention are:

First. To provide a thin, short plate of metal that is bent into a shape at one end to fit the contour of, and can be securely grasped by the tip ends of the fingers of a user when shaving, and that is provided at its opposite end with means for receiving, holding, securing and releasing interchangeable flat, thin, naked razor blades.

Second. To provide a finger-tip grasping razor blade supporting razor, which comprises means for receiving, holding and releasing interchangeable razor blades and a thin, short plate so curved as to allow only the tips of the fingers to grasp it and hold the razor while shaving, and

Third. To provide a finger tip grasping safety razor that is arranged to receive flat, thin interchangeable razor blades of a special design; and is provided with a movable razor blade receiving, positioning and locking mechanism that holds the razor blades against accidental movement or displacement when shaving, and that will release and eject the razor blade whenever it is desired to replace the one in the holder by another one.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved finger tip grasping razor blade holder, showing the same held as when shaving the side of the face downward.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the same,

Figure 3 is a side view of the device in a reverse position to that shown in Figure 2, the tumbler being in position to release or receive the razor blade.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device, the tumbler being removed.

Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the tumbler removed from the blade holder, and

Figure 8 is a side view of the razor blade.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a short, thin blade of metal that is composed of flat and curved members; this plate is preferably about one inch and three quarters of an inch in width by a little less than a thirty-second of an inch in thickness and is about two and a half inches in length. The body portion 2, of this blade is flat, but its outer end portion 3, is curved to fit the curve of the inside of the thumb as shown in Figure 1.

At the inner end of the flat portion 2, the blade is bent into a curve 4 that extends in an opposite direction from the flat portion 2 and also from the curve 3. This curve 4 forms an abutment for the fingers of the hand, as shown also in Figure 1. This curve 4, blends into a reverse outwardly extending curve 5, and blends into a flat, narrow bottom plate 6, that stands substantially parallel with the body 2, of the finger-tip grasping plate 1, and this bottom plate 6, forms the base plate down into and against which the heel edge 7, of the flat, thin razor blade 8, rests. The outer end of this bottom plate blends into an outer wall plate 9, that is bent at right angles to the bottom plate. This front wall member 9, stands about parallel with the straightest part 10, that occurs between the two reverse curves 4 and 5, and the space between the inside surface of this outside wall plate 9, and the straight portion 10, and the inner curved surface of the curve 5, forms a channel or pocket 11, in which a cylindrical form of an open-sided razor blade locking and releasing tumbler 12, is seated.

The inside surface of the curved portion 5, of the finger grasping plate, I term the journal bearing of the semicircular cylindrical razor blade tumbler 12, and it is perfectly smooth and extends across the entire finger grasping plate as does the flat bottom plate portion 6, and the outer wall plate 9. The opposite edges of the outer wall plate are provided with a recess 13, which is made deep enough to enable the fingers to grasp the opposite ends of the razor blade 8. The bottom of the flat plate portion 6, of the finger grasping blade is provided with a T shaped slot 15, the narrowest part 15^A, of which extends into the curved portion 5.

The razor locking and releasing tumbler is provided with a curved back portion that fits closely but slidably against the inside curved surface of the curve 5, and when a razor blade is not in the channel against the back, it stands as shown in Figure 3, in which position its curved outer end lies parallel to but does not touch the wall plate, and the cylindrical tumbler is held in that position by a resilient tongue member 16, that is cut loose at one end from the outer side 17, of the tumbler. The tongue member of the cylindrical tumbler consists of the springing blade portion 16, and a head or finger grasping portion 19, and between the head portion and between the springing portion there is a neck portion 20. The head end or finger grasping portion of this tongue 16, extends loosely through the wider and narrower part 15^A, of the T slot 15, in the bottom plate 6. This head part of the tongue is only passed through the slot 15, when the tumbler is to be inserted in or removed from the channel space in the finger tip grasping blade 1, and after it is inserted through this slot 15, which is when the tumbler is inserted in the channeled space in the plate 1, in which it fits loosely when not clamped to the bottom plate 6, by the spring tongue 16, the head 19, is then moved so that its neck portion 20, fits slidably in the narrow part 15^A, of the slot 15, in the bottom part 6, of the plate 1, while the free end of the wider part 16, of the spring tongue laps loosely over the slot 15^A, and lies on the inside surface of the bottom plate 6, and the curve 5, loosely as the under edges of the finger grasping head 19, lap over the slot, 15^A, and bear on the outside surface of the bottom plate 6, and the curved back 5, with a resilient pulling pressure that draws the under side of the tumbler down tight and holds it firmly against the inside surface of the bottom plate 6, and against the inside surface of the curved back 5, when the finger grasping head is moved to the curved part of the slot 15^A, in the curve 5. In order to prevent the finger grasping head from being moved into the slot 15, through which it is moved when removing the tumbler from the channeled space in the plate 2, I place two stop lugs 22, on the bottom of the plate 6, one on each side of the slot 15^A, at the edge of the slot 15, and when the finger grasping head is moved to turn the edge 23, of the tumbler upward so that a razor blade may be inserted between this edge side of the tumbler and the wall 9, of the plate 1, the edges 24, of the head strike against these stop lugs 22, and prevent it from being moved into the slot 15, and it is only by applying considerably more pressure to the head than is necessary to turn the tumbler to receive, clamp or release and move out of the channeled space and from the outer wall 9, the razor blade.

In order that the edges 24, of the head may stay at the lugs when moved against them, I form two recesses 25, across the bottom of the plate 6, close to them, into which the edges of the head spring when it is pushed against the lugs.

I preferably bend this spring tongue of the tumbler so that it stands slightly normally depressed inwardly at its free end from the outside surface of the tumbler. I preferably provide or knurl the opposite sides of this finger grasping head with a narrow recess or with cross checks, as desired, in order to provide it with a frictional surface.

I also provide the finger tip grasping portion of the plate 1, with cross recesses 26, in order to provide frictional surfaces on its opposite sides.

My invention contemplates the use in the channeled razor blade holding space 11, of the plate 1, between the side 23, of the tumbler 12, and the wall 9, of the plate 1, any shape or thickness of flat, thin razor blades that are of the same length as the wall 9, and the tumbler which is preferably of the same length as the wall 9, and the widest part of the finger tip grasping plate 1. I preferably use, however a razor blade that is provided with a slot 27, at its center portion or with two holes, one of each of which is placed near its opposite ends, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, and the bottom edge portion of the razor blade is made perfectly straight across it so that it will fit down against the bottom of the channel. I preferably slightly recess the lower edge of the razor blade at its center so that its opposite end portions will bear against the bottom of the channel, so that there will be no danger of its bearing at the central portion of its length rather than at its middle part. I preferably form a rectangular shaped hole through the razor blade and the tumbler is provided with an outwardly projecting curved portion 28, at the center of its length, where only one hole is formed through the razor blade and with two lugs 29, where the razor blade has two holes through it, and these lugs are positioned on the tumbler to enter the holes after a razor blade is placed in the channel between the side of the tumbler and the wall 9, against the bottom of the channel, with its lower edge resting on the plate 6, at the corner of it and the wall plate 9, and as the tumbler is turned by sliding the head of the spring of the tumbler along the outside surface of the plate 6, and the neck of the spring through the slot 15^A, the projecting edge of the curved lug, 29, engage the edge 30, of the hole 27, and press the razor blade with a resilient clamping pressure of the tumbler down against the bottom plate 6, and also against the inside surface of the wall plate 9, thus securing the razor blade firmly in the finger tip grasping plate.

The operation of inserting, clamping and releasing the razor blade of my finger tip grasping razor blade holder is as follows:

The holder is turned over from the position shown in Figure 1, and as shown in Figure ³, in which position its tumbler is moved by the head of its spring to stand upright and with the open space between it and the wall 9, and the razor blade is placed down into the space between the tumbler and the wall and centrally in it; that is, with its ends even with the opposite ends of the wall and tumbler. The head of the spring of the tumbler is then moved to turn the tumbler towards the razor blade, which it engages, and its lug or lugs move into the hole or holes in it and bear on the lower edge of the hole or holes and clamp the blade tightly down against the bottom plate and against the wall 9.

In order to release and remove and release the razor blade, move the head of the spring of the tumbler to turn the tumbler upward, as shown in this Figure 3, and as the tumbler turns upward in its curved bearing in the back curve 5, the upper part of its lug 28, will engage the upper edge of the hole in the razor and will lift it up out of its channel far enough to be easily grasped by the fingers of the user and lifted entirely out of it.

The tumbler is provided with a safety plate portion 31, which is preferably provided with a row of holes 32, to allow the soap froth to escape easily through it, and its free edge is arranged to extend close enough to the cutting edge of the razor when it is clamped in the holder to so guard it as to enable a user to handle it without danger of cutting himself with it.

This safety razor edge guarding edge flattens and draws and stretches the skin out smoothly between its edge and the cutting edge of the razor, as the razor is moved in shaving contact with and movement over the face, and the guard bends the hairs of the beard down under it as it engages them when moved against them, and then lets the hairs raise up just in front of the cutting edge of the razor which lies down flat and evenly on the stretched-out skin of the face.

My invention provides a simple, easily and firmly handled interchangeable razor blade holder that positively locks the razor blade to it against accidental displacement and that guards the user against cutting himself, and it permits a user to shave himself in less time than with razors In general use. While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction and arrangement of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to it, as changes may be made in it without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A finger tip grasping safety razor, comprising a reversely curved finger tip grasping plate arranged to be held by the tips of the fingers in shaving position, said plate being provided with a support for interchangeable razor blades, provided with an aperture, means for releasably securing said razor blade in said support, and a movable safety guard for said razor blade, including a housing, for securing the razor blade against displacement therefrom; said support having a wall member, and means for releasably but positively clamping said razor blades against said wall member; said support consisting of a channeled member provided with a flat bottom member arranged to receive said razor blades against the inside portion wall of its outer side, and a tilting and turning member secured in said channeled member, provided with free ends, one of which is arranged to clamp said razor blades against said channeled members outer side wall and the other is arranged to form a safety guard for the cutting edge of said razor blades.

2. The combination of a finger tip grasping safety razor, comprising a single finger grasping plate arranged to be held by the fingers in shaving position, said plate being provided with a channeled form of support for interchangeable razor blades, with razor blades provided with one or more apertures, means including a lug or lug members for releasably securing said razor blade in said support and a movable safety guard for said razor blade; said support having a wall member, and means, including said lug or lugs, for clamping said razor blades against said wall member; said clamping means comprising a partially turning tumbler having a curved base portion, a curved bearing in said plate in which the curved base of said tumbler is journaled; said tumbler having a resilient yielding tongue member and means for turning said tumbler to cause its resiliently yielding side member to clamp a razor blade against the said wall of its supporting member; said tumbler being provided with a straight, smooth edge portion, arranged to form a safety guard to the cutting edge of a razor blade clamped in its supporting member.

3. In a finger tip grasping safety razor, the combination of the finger tip grasping plate and its razor blade support, provided with a slot; the razor blade clamping and safety guard tumbler; and means, including a spring tongue formed in the tumbler, and extending through said slot, and having a head member arranged to secure said tumbler in said plate and to turn it to clamp a razor blade in its support or to release a razor blade from it; stops arranged to define the razor blade releasing movement of said tumbler.

4. In a finger tip grasping safety razor, the combination of the finger tip grasping plate and its razor blade support, provided with a slot: and with recesses in the opposite ends of the support to enable the razor blade to be grasped at either end of it by the user; the razor blade clamping and safety tumbler; and means, including the spring tongue formed in said tumbler and extending through said slot, and provided with a head arranged to bear on the outside of said plate, for securing said tumbler and turning it in said razor blade support, a channeled form of recess formed in the outer end of said finger tip grasping plate, a curved journal bearing in said plate: a curved journal bearing surface fitting rotatively in the journal bearing of said plate; said headed tongue being arranged to turn said tumbler in its supporting channel to clamp a razor blade in its support or to release a razor blade from it; a T-shaped slot through the bottom of the channel part of said plate; said tumbler being provided with a resilient tongue portion arranged to extend through said slot; a finger grasping head portion formed on said tongue outside of said razor blade's support; the said finger grasping head being arranged to be moved to turn said tumbler to lockingly clamp a razor blade in said support and to safely guard its cutting edge when moved in one direction, and to release the said razor blade when moved in the opposite direction.

5. The combination of a finger tip grasping safety razor, and a razor blade provided with a hole through it; of a finger tip grasping plate provided with the finger fitting curves, and its razor blade receiving channeled portion provided with a T-shaped slot through its bottom; the razor blade clamping and locking the razor guard tumbler, and means, including the springing tongue formed in said tumbler, extending through said slot, for securing said tumbler in said razor blade's supporting channel, said tongue being provided with a head arranged outside of said plate and adapted to be moved to clamp and lock or to release a razor blade from it, and a stop on said plate; arranged to define the razor releasing movement of said tumbler.

6. In a razor blade holder, a metal plate bent to form a vertical abutment wall and a horizontal wall, the latter wall terminating in a curved wall which faces the vertical wall, and forms with the vertical and horizontal wall, a three-sided body; the remainder of the plate being in the form of a compound curve having a generally downward direction; a divided barrel-like member connected to the curved side of the body to have a partial rotation thereon, one free edge of said barrel-like member forming a resilient clamp, and a razor blade which is held against said abutment wall by said resilient clamp in one position of the barrel and released when the barrel is given a partial rotation.

7. In a razor blade holder, a metal plate bent to form a vertical abutment wall and a horizontal wall, the latter wall terminating in a curved wall which faces the vertical wall and forms with the vertical and horizontal wall a three-sided body, the remainder of the plate being in the form of a compound curve, having a generally downward direction; a divided barrel member fitting in the curved side of the body to have a partial rotation therein, a slot in said curved wall and a shouldered thumb piece on said barrel which extends through said slot and overlaps the marginal edges of the same, whereby the barrel is held in the curved wall, and may be given a partial rotation therein, one edge portion of said barrel forming a resilient clamp; a razor blade which is held between said abutment wall and said resilient clamp in one position of the barrel, the other edge portion of the barrel lying adjacent the edge of the razor blade to form a guard, said blade being released upon a reverse rotation of the barrel.

8. In a razor blade holder, a metal strip bent to form a body having an abutment wall and a wall at right angles thereto, the latter wall terminating in a curved wall facing the abutment wall, the remainder of the plate being given a compound curve of a generally downward direction to form a grasping member; a razor blade adapted to lie against said abutment wall, and a member having a partial rotation in said body and secured to the curved wall thereof; said member having a resilient portion adapted to clamp said razor blade to the abutment wall, in one position of the member, and a portion acting as a guard in conjunction with the razor edge.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

John. A. Williamson.

Witnesses:

G. Sargent Elliott,

Elizabeth Smith.