This invention relates to self sharpening safety razors and particularly to razors of that type using double edged blades. My principal object is to provide a razor of this character constructed so that both edges of the blade on both sides will be sharpened at one operation and without removing the blade from the holder plates between which it is mounted for shaving purposes. The holder plates themselves form the sharpening members and are so mounted that if unclamped or loosened from the blade and reciprocated lengthwise by a motion imparted to the handle, they will move with a diagonal sweeping action over the opposite edges of the blade alternately and will effectively strop or sharpen the same. The plates may be readily alined with each other after a sharpening operation by a simple finger movement, and when they are again clamped to the blade, also by a simple hand movement, the razor is again ready for shaving. Sharpening or stropping of the blade may therefore be repeated if necessary at various times during a shave without any appreciable loss of time.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan of my improved razor showing the handle in section.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the guard plate removed and exposing the blade.

Figure 3 is a similar view with the blade removed.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the head of the razor.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the razor with the plates in a sharpening position.

Figure 7 is an end view of the razor showing the blade in its shaving position.

Figure 8 is a cross section of the razor with the blade in a sharpening position.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the head of the razor is in the form of a bar 1 having a central tapped opening 2 for the screw stem 3 which projects from a handle 4 of relatively large diameter, as usual. Pins 5 project from the bar 1 in alinement with-the opening 2 and equal distances on opposite sides of the same. Slidably engaging the under side of the head 1 is the clamping plate 6 which is concaved on its under surface. This plate has a central diagonal slot 7 through which the stem 3 freely projects and other slots 8 parallel to the slot 1 through which the pins 5 project.

The blade 9 which is slightly wider than the clamping plate is of standard character, being provided with a longitudinal slot 10 as usual and through the center of which the stem 3 projects. Rigid with the pins 5 intermediate their ends are bars 11 which project through the blade slot 10 to hold the same in centralized relation with the head 1 and preventing either longitudinal or lateral movement of the blade.

Engaging the blade on the face thereof opposite from the clamping plate is the guard plate 13. This plate also has a central slot 14 for the stem 3 and other slots 15 for the portions of the pins 5 beyond the bars 11. These slots however extend at an angle opposite to the slots 7 and 8.

The plate 13 is provided with guard fingers 16 along its side edges, which project outwardly beyond the edges of the blade as usual. The guard plate between the fingers is longitudinally concave in facing relation to the blade, the side edges of the concavity forming flat peaks or ridges with the adjacent portions of the plate, and said ridges being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the clamping plate 6, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. By reason of this arrangement the pressure of the guard plate against the normally flat but flexible blade engages the latter adjacent its edges, and causes it to assume a curved shape following the curvature of the clamping plate 6, as shown in Figure 7. The blade will thus be firmly held in place immediately adjacent its edges so that the latter do not have any tendency to give when being used, while at the same time said edges are disposed at the desired slant relative to the razor as a whole as has been found best for efficient shaving purposes.

Such pressure is imparted to the guard plate by turning the handle. A washer 17 about the stem 3 and larger than the adjacent slot 14 engages the guard plate, there being a compression spring 18 about the stem between the washer and handle and countersunk in a recess 19 formed in said handle about the stem. When the handle is screwed up tight the adjacent end of the handle engages the washer and holds the blade tightly clamped between the clamping and guard plates. When the handle is unscrewed a certain amount the clamping pressure is relieved so that the blade may reassume its normal flat shape. At the same time the spring 18 then functions and holding the washer against the guard plate, exerts just sufficient pressure to maintain the blade in light frictional contact with the clamp and guard plates.

To assure a proper snug engagement of the stem with the tapped head opening 2 regardless of long use, I cut a slot in the stem from its outer end and drive in a metal strip 20 arranged to spread the stem somewhat at its outer end, as shown in Figure 8, while allowing it to yield inwardly. The outer portion of the stem therefore always yieldably presses the threads in the opening 2, so that a snug fit is always maintained.

To sharpen the blade the blade engaging plates are loosened as above described and a motion is imparted to the handle to reciprocate said plates lengthwise. Owing to the oppositely cut diagonal slots in the plates, the latter will be shifted longitudinally in a common direction but in opposite directions laterally, so that the side edges of the plate 6 and those of the concavity of the guard plate move with a wiping action over the opposite edges of the blade alternately, thus giving an efficient sharpening or stropping action.

To again place the plates in a shaving position relative to the blade the head 1 and the plates are merely pressed together at their opposed ends by the fingers. This restores them to a centrally alined position relative to each other and to the blade and the head 1, and upon again tightening up the handle the plates will be clamped to the blade.

The diagonal sliding of the plates on the blade also exerts an efficient cleaning action on the blade, scraping off any layer of soap and hair which may have been deposited thereon along the edges, as frequently occurs.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims,

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

1. A self sharpening razor comprising separate blade guard and clamping plates also forming sharpening elements, means to mount a blade between the plates, and means mounting the plates for reciprocating movement relative to the blade in a common longitudinal direction and opposed lateral directions simultaneously to cause the side edges of the plates to pass over the side edges of the blade in sharpening engagement therewith.

2. A self sharpening razor comprising a head bar, longitudinally spaced pins projecting from the under face of said bar, a clamping plate engaging said face and having diagonally extending slots through which the pins project, a guard plate also having diagonally extending slots through which the pins project, said plates also forming blade sharpening elements, means to mount a blade between the plates in substantially non-movable relation thereto, and a handle adjustably connected to the head and engaging the guard plate to selectively clamp a blade between the plates and to also clamp the clamping plate against the head, or to release the plates from such clamping pressure; the direction of angularity of the diagonal slots in the two plates being opposed relative to each other and to the central longitudinal axis of the head bar.

3. A self sharpening razor comprising a head bar, longitudinally spaced pins projecting from the under face of said bar, a rigid clamping plate engaging said face and having lateral slots through which the pins project, a rigid guard plate also having lateral slots through which the pins project, said plates also forming blade sharpening elements, means to mount a blade between the plates in substantially nonmovable relation thereto, a handle projecting from the under side of the guard plate separate therefrom, a reduced screw stem on the handle adjustably threaded into the head; the plates having lateral slots parallel to the first named slots and through which the stem projects and a compression spring acting to exert a yielding pressure against the guard plate and completely countersunk in the handle when the latter is engaging the guard plate to clamp a blade between the plates.

4. A self sharpening razor comprising a head bar, longitudinally spaced pins projecting from the under face of said bar, a clamping plate engaging said face and having diagonally extending slots through which the pins project, a guard plate also having diagonally extending slots through which the pins project, said plates also forming blade sharpening elements, a blade having a longitudinal slot adapted to be disposed between the plates, bars rigid with the pins intermediate their ends and projecting into the blade slot to centrally locate the blade relative to the head, and a handle adjustably connected to the head and engaging the guard plate to selectively clamp the plates, blade and head together as a rigid unit or release them from such clamping engagement.

5. A self sharpening safety razor comprising clamping and guard plates, also forming blade sharpening elements and adapted to receive a blade therebetween, a relatively stationary head bar, and means between the bar and the plates and blade to maintain the blade in substantially non-movable relation to the bar while allowing the plates to reciprocate relative to the blade in opposed lateral directions, but in common longitudinal direction, simultaneously.

6. A self sharpening safety razor comprising clamping and guard plates, also forming blade sharpening elements, said plates having lateral diagonal slots cut therethrough and which extend at opposite angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the plates, a blade adapted to be disposed between the plates and having a longitudinal slot therein parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade, a relatively stationary head bar and means on the head bar engaging the slots in the blade and plates and arranged so that the blade is held immovable with the bar, while the plates are guided for reciprocating movement in opposed lateral directions but in a common longitudinal direction, simultaneously.

Homer A. Mead.