To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gouverneur Carr, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razors for Shaving; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which—

Figure 1 is a plan view of the razor-blade in its casing, ready for use.

Figure 2, a cross-section thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view of the razor-blade opened out and the case closed to be used as a handle in strapping or otherwise sharpening the edge; and

Figure 4 a cross, and

Figure 5 a longitudinal section thereof.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

The object of my said invention is to mount a razor-blade in a stock that any one, however unskilled, may shave himself with greater ease and without danger of ever cutting the skin.

And my said invention consists in combining a razor-blade with a smoothing, guiding, and protecting gauge forward of the cutting-edge, by means of which a person, however unskilled, can shave himself with greater ease; which gauge will smooth and stretch the skin forward of the cutting-edge the better to present the beard to the action of the cutting-edge, guide the blade at the proper angle for effective cutting, and at the same time prevent the skin from being cut.

And my said invention also consists in combining the razor-blade with the gauge by means of a hinge joint and holding mechanism, so that the cutting-edge may be set at any desired distance from the said gauge.

And my said invention also consists of a two-part case combined with the razor-blade, the two parts of the case and the blade being connected by means of a hinged joint so that the blade can be reversed at pleasure and set to be used for shaving with either of the two gauges.

And my said invention also consists in combining the razor-blade with the hinge of the case by means of a stock, to which it is connected at the heel end by a pin-joint, the said stock being so formed that when set for shaving the back of the blade shall be within and held by the said stock, and when turned out and the two-part case closed that the whole length of the cutting-edge of the blade shall project beyond the end of the case, so that when closed the case may be used as a handle for strapping or otherwise sharpening the blade.

In the accompanying drawings, a represents a razor-blade of any suitable form, but by preference of the form represented. The heel end is connected by a pin, b, with a hollow stock, e, so that when turned on the pin-joint in one direction the back will fit into the hollow of the said stock and be held by it with the cutting-edge outward, as represented in figs. 1 and 2, and when turned in the opposite direction, the whole of the blade will be opened out and project beyond the end of the said case, as represented in figs. 3 and 5. The back edge of the stock e is firmly attached to one, two, or more knuckles, d, of a hinge, e, and the said hinge is made in three parts, the other two parts, e′ e′ of the said hinge being attached, one to each half of a case, f f, so that the said two parts of the case and the stock c, with the blade a, can be turned each independently of the others. The pin or fulcrum-rod g of the hinge has a head at one end, and the other end extends beyond the hinge and is there threaded to receive a nut, h, by means of which the three parts, that is, the blade and the two parts of the case, when set in the required relative positions, can be secured and held firmly. The case f f, as before stated, is made in two parts, connected with each other and with the stock of the blade by means of the three-part hinge. The two parts are formed alike, but reversed. Their inner faces are recessed, as at i, to form a passage for the cut beard, &c., and the outer edges are made to conform to the shape of the cutting-edge of the blade and to project beyond it, and the part so projecting beyond the cutting-edge is rounded or bevelled and made smooth, so that when borne against and drawn over the surface of the face it will not scratch or abrade the skin, but lay it smooth forward of the cutting-edge. When the blade is set to the guiding-edge of the gauge on one-half of the case, the other half is thrown back, as represented in figs. 1 and 2, and there fastened that it may be used as a handle in shaving. And when it is desired to strap the blade it is turned out and the case is closed, as represented in figs. 3, 4, and 5, and the parts secured so that the case may be used as a handle. If desired, the two parts of the case or the stock of the blade may be connected with the hinge by an adjustable connection of any known kind, so that as the blade is worn away by grinding, &c., it can be properly adjusted to the guide and gauge-edges of the case.

I have thus described the nature of my said invention, and the mode of construction which I have tried, and found to answer a good purpose, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the mode of construction herein specified, as this may be varied within the range of my said invention by the substitution of equivalent devices. Nor do I wish to be understood as limiting my claim of invention to the use of all my said improvements in connection, as it will be obvious good results may be obtained by the use of some of them without the others.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. The combination of a razor-blade with the guiding-gauge, substantially as and for the-purpose specified.

2. The combination of the razor-blade and guiding-gauge by moans of a hinge joint and holding mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the two guiding-gauges, or two-part case, with the razor-blade, by means of a three-part hinge, or the equivalent thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the razor-blade, the stock to which it is hinged, the guiding-gauge, the connecting hinge, and the holding mechanism, substantially as and for, the purpose specified.

Gouverneur Carr.

Witnesses:

W. H. Bishop,

Andrew De Lacy.