To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josiah L. Young, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Razors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in razors in which the ordinary handle of an ordinary or common razor is used, by adjustment, to form a guard or shield for the edge of the razor, so that the common razor may be used as a safety-razor at will or may be used in the ordinary or usual way. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is a view of razor partly opened. Fig. 2 is a view of razor partly closed. Fig. 3 is a section across closed razor through line a b; Fig. 4, a section through Y Z.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

G represents the razor-blade, which should be provided with a bearing or retaining surface or part—as, for example, a pin or post A—secured to the back of the razor-blade at its outer end.

H represents the handle, both edges of which are shaped alike.

My razor-blade always shuts or closes into the case or handle from the lower side. The upper surface or edges of the handle (marked E E, Fig. 3) are bent or beveled in toward the edge of the razor-blade, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper edges of the handle H H have the same shape as the edge line of the razor-blade. The blade G, as usual in all common razors, is pivoted or hinged at point C, Fig. 1.

B is a set-screw fixed at the lower edge on one side of handle H, as better shown in Fig. 3.

A is a post or pin fixed in the back of the razor. When the razor is closed, this set-screw B is turned down tightly upon the post A, thus holding the razor-blade in handle H in the position required.

F F are slots through which the lather escapes from the interior of the handle.

D represents a slot, and C′ a screw, which together form a hinge for the blade G. The screw passes through the handle and through the blade G. This screw C′ is fixed firmly in the blade and has a nut C on each end, which projects through the handle H H, as shown at C C, Fig. 4.

J J are soft-rubber or spring washers, which yield to the pressure of either of the nuts C C, forcing the blade G to one side or the other of the handle between points E E. The slot D permits the upward or downward movement of the pin or screw C when the blade G is raised or lowered in adjustment. This razor has all the advantages of a common or ordinary razor by slightly loosening the nuts C C, Fig. 4, and B B, Fig. 3. When used as a safety-razor, the blade is closed into the handle H and set or adjusted at the proper elevation or position with reference to the thin edges of handle E E, Fig. 3. These edges are shown flush in Fig. 3; but by means of a set-screw b′, uniting the two halves of the handle H H through the slot a′, one of these edges E, Fig. 3, may be either raised and lowered or adjusted relative to the other, as required. The razor-blade is held in position by the set screws or nuts B B, Fig. 3, and the set screws or nuts C C.

I am aware that prior to my invention safety-razors have been used and that attachments have been placed on them and on common or ordinary razors; but my invention retains the forms and freedom of the common razor without changing its form, utilizing the handle to accomplish the result of a safety-razor.

It will be understood that the edges of the handle E E maybe so adjusted in relation to the blade that one of said edges only shall cooperate with the blade to serve as a guard therefor, and also that the bearing-surface upon the blade by pressure against which the blade is held in adjustable position may be varied from the precise form shown in the drawings, and also the position of the said screws modified and the edge or edges of the handle of the blade adjusted relatively to each other and secured in operative cutting position without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following, viz:

1. A safety-razor consisting of the combination with a razor-blade of the usual conventional type of a handle provided with a longitudinal slot or opening having one or more beveled edges to guard the edge of the blade, a bearing-surface on said blade and set-screws operating thereon to adjust and hold said edge relative to said slot, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the razor-blade G, provided with bearing-surface A and pin C′, the handle H, the nuts C C, washers J J, set-screws B B, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the razor-blade G, a handle H, having beveled edges E E, slotted pivot-joint D, pin C′, nuts C C, post A, set-screws B B, slots F F, washers J J, screw b′ and slot a′, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A razor and handle, the latter provided on its back side with a longitudinal aperture having an edge or edges conforming in contour to the shape of the blade and means for adjusting said blade and retaining it permanently in relation to said edge or edges, substantially as and for the purposes described.

Josiah L. Young.

Witnesses:

Thos. Cooper Byrnes,

William Pettit.