To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, August William Scheuber, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors or Razor-Guards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in safety-razors or razor-guards, and particularly to a guard which may be employed upon a razor of the ordinary or conventional type. In practice I prefer to use a blade-holder adapted to hold tangless blades, such as are used in the ordinary or basket type of safety-razors; but it will be understood that the guard itself can be readily applied to and used upon ordinary razors.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the razor complete with the guard in place thereon; Fig. 2, a similar view, but showing the opposite side of the razor and guard. Fig. 3 is a similar one to Fig. 1, but showing the guard-plates reversed. Fig. 4 is a view of the guard in its open position; Fig. 5, an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is a view of the blade-holder with the blade inserted; Fig. 7, an end view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 an end view of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 shows a modified form of my invention containing an adjusting device; and Fig. 10 an end view, partly in section, taken through the center of Fig. 9.

In the drawings, 1 is the blade-holder, which may be integral with the blade itself or consist, as shown, of a cylindrical portion 2, Fig. 7, formed to receive the removable blade 3, which is preferably of the ordinary tangless type used in basket-shaped safety-razors. I prefer to use removable blades, as by so doing the blade may be removed for sharpening or stropping and easily replaced in case of nicking or other injury occurring thereto. In the form shown the cylindrical holder has a slot along its length, within which the blade is adapted to slide until it contacts with the end of the holder 1, as will be readily understood. The guard, which may be used with this holder, or, as stated, with an ordinary type of razor, consists of a base-plate 4, preferably rounded or made to conform to the shape of the back of the blade or blade-holder, and to this base­plate I pivot in the usual manner the guard-plates 5 and 6 by means of pins 7. Portions of the guard-plates, preferably at the ends thereof, I form into lugs 8, and a spring 9, secured to the back of the base-plate, has its ends normally in contact with said lugs and serves to maintain them either in the position shown in Fig. 5 or in one of the operative positions shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In using the guard it is first opened, as in Figs. 4 and 5, and placed over the back of the blade, and pressure being applied to one of the guard-plates the lugs thereon move under the spring 9, and the guard is snapped in place, as is shown at 5 in Fig. 7, the other guard-plate being then in operative position, as shown at 6 in Fig. 7. When it is desired to bring the opposite guard into operation, it is merely necessary to turn the guard around the back of the blade, when the parts will be brought into the position shown in Fig. 8. I find it desirable to have the guard retained in a definite position on the blade and blade-holder when it is to be used in shaving, and I therefore provide small lugs 10, which are adapted to enter the recess 11 on the blade-holder and maintain the guard firmly in place. It is likewise desirable to be able to adjust the extent of forward movement of the guard-plates, and thereby regulate the closeness of the shave obtained, and in Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a structure wherein this is accomplished. In this form I have provided the guard-plates 5 and 6, pivoted in the usual manner, and have for convenience formed the guard portion as a corrugated strip, cutting away the intermediate and useless material. A small extension 12, projecting to the guard edge, is provided, which conforms to the shape of the blade-holder, and in this projection is inserted a regulating-screw 13, which can be turned by suitable means and the end of which is adapted to abut against the blade-holder, as shown in Fig. 9. By turning this screw it is possible to regulate the degree to which the guard 5 may be retracted, and thereby the degree to which the guard 6 may be advanced, and by this means I can regulate the position of the guard, which is in operative position with respect to the cutting edge of the blade.

The operation of my invention will be readily apparent and its advantages easily appreciated. With it the shaver can use the razor with either hand and upon either side of the face, it being merely necessary to shift the guards backward or forward as one or the other side of the blade is desired to be used. It is evident that many modifications and changes can be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not limit myself to the particular forms shown and described; but

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is—

1. In combination with a razor-blade, a guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto, and so connected that as one of said guard-plates is moved into operative position the opposite guard-plate is automatically withdrawn from such position, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a razor-blade, a razor-guard having a base portion and spring-actuated plates movably secured to said base portion and adapted to be moved reciprocally into operative position, one of said guard-plates being withdrawn from such operative position by the advancement of the opposite plate to such position, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a razor-blade, a razor-guard having a base portion, guard-plates pivoted to said base portion and movable relative thereto and adapted to be alternately moved into operative position, the opposite plate being at the same time automatically withdrawn from such position, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a razor-blade, a razor-guard having a base portion, spring-operated guard-plates pivoted to said base portion and adapted as one of said plates is moved into operative position for the opposite plate to be withdrawn from such position, substantially as described.

5. A razor-guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured to said base portion and connected so that the movement of one plate automatically moves the opposite plate and spring means for controlling the movement of said guard-plates, substantially as described.

6. A razor-guard having a base portion, guard-plates movably secured to the edges of said portion, a spring secured to said base portion and lugs on said guard-plates in contact with portions of said spring, substantially as described.

7. A razor-guard having a base portion conformed in shape to the back of the blade or holder, guard-plates pivoted to the sides of said base portion, lugs formed integral with said guard-plates and a spring on said base portion and contacting with said lugs for controlling the motion of said guard-plates, substantially as described.

8. In combination a blade-holder, a blade and a guard movably secured to said blade-holder and removable therefore and having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto, and adapted to be moved one at a time into operative position, the opposite plate being simultaneously withdrawn, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a blade-holder, a removable blade, a removable guard having a base portion and spring-actuated guard-plates movably secured to said base portion and adapted to be reciprocally moved into operative position, the opposite plate at the same time being automatically withdrawn from such position, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a blade-holder, a removable blade, and a removable guard movably secured to said blade-holder and having a base portion, and a pair of guard-plates pivoted to said base portion and adapted to be alternately advanced to operative position, the advancement of one plate automatically effecting the withdrawal of the opposite plate, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a blade-holder, a removable blade and a removable guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured to said base-plate and connected so that the movement of one automatically moves the other, and spring means for controlling the movement of said guard-plates, substantially as described.

12. A razor-guard having a base portion, guard-plates pivotally secured to said base portion, lugs on said guard-plates and a single spring centrally secured to the base portion, the ends of said spring contacting with said lugs and controlling the movement of said guard-plates, substantially as described.

13. In combination with a razor-blade, a razor-guard movably secured to the back of said razor-blade and removable therefrom and having a base portion, spring-operated guard-plates movably secured to said base portion and adapted to reciprocally move into and recede from operative position, the movement of one of said plates automatically effecting the movement of the opposite plate, and means for holding the guard in the proper position upon the blade, substantially as described.

14. In combination, a blade-holder, a removable blade, and a removable guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto and adapted to be reciprocally moved into and withdrawn from operative position the movement of one of said plates automatically effecting the movement of the other, and means for maintaining the guard in its proper position on the blade and blade-holder, substantially as described.

15. In combination with a blade-holder a removable blade, and a removable guard having a base portion, a plurality of guard-plates movably secured to said base portion, lugs on said guard-plates and a spring on said base portion contacting with said lugs for controlling the motion of the guard-plates and means for maintaining the guard in operative position upon the blade and blade-holder, substantially as described.

16. In combination, a blade-holder, a removable blade and a removable guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto and adapted to be brought reciprocally into operative position, a recess on said blade-holder and lugs on said guard adapted to coact with said recess and maintain the guard in operative position on the blade-holder, substantially as described.

17. In combination a blade-holder, a removable blade and a removable guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto, lugs on said guard-plates and a spring on said base portion contacting with said lugs for controlling the movement of the said guard-plates, a recess on said blade-holder and lugs on said guard coacting therewith, for maintaining the guard in proper position on the blade and blade-holder, substantially as described.

18. A razor-blade provided with guards on each side, and means for advancing one guard longitudinally to operative position and at the same time withdrawing the opposite guard from operative position, substantially as described.

19. A razor-blade provided with a plurality of oppositely-disposed guards adapted to be moved longitudinally, the guard on one side being retracted as the guard on the opposite side is advanced, substantially as described.

20. In combination with a razor-blade, a guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto and adapted to be moved only one at a time into operative position, the opposite plate at the same time being automatically withdrawn from such position, and means for adjusting the guards with respect to the edge of the blade, substantially as described.

21. A razor-guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured to said base portion, spring means for controlling the movement of said guard-plates, and means for simultaneously adjusting both the guards with respect to the edge of the blade, the adjustment of one of said plates automatically effecting the adjustment of the other, substantially as described.

22. A razor-guard having a base portion conformed in shape to the back of the blade or holder, guard-plates pivoted to the sides of said base-plate, lugs formed integral with said guard-plates, a spring on said base portion and contacting with said lugs for controlling the motion of said guard-plates, and means for adjusting the guard with respect to the edge of the blade, substantially as described.

23. A razor-guard having a base portion, guard-plates pivotally secured to said base portion, lugs on said guard-plates, a single spring centrally secured to the base portion, the end of said spring contacting with said lugs and controlling the movement of said, guard-plates, and means for adjusting the guard with respect to the edge of the blade, substantially as described.

24. In combination a blade-holder, a removable blade and a removable guard having a base portion and a plurality of guard-plates movably secured thereto, lugs on said guard-plates and a spring on said base portion contacting with said lugs for controlling the movement of the said guard-plates, a recess on said blade-holder and lugs on said guard coacting therewith, for maintaining the guard in proper position on the blade and blade-holder, and means for adjusting the guard with respect to the edge of the blade, substantially as described.

25. A razor-blade provided with a plurality of oppositely-disposed guards, the guard on one side being retracted as the guard on the opposite side is advanced, and means for adjusting the guards with respect to the edge of the blade, substantially as described.

26. In a safety-razor, a plurality of guard-plates and sliding connections between such plates mounted upon the back of the razor and movable transversely thereof whereby as one of said plates is advanced to operative position the opposite plate is simultaneously withdrawn, substantially as described.

27. In a safety-razor, a guard-plate adapted to be advanced to operative position by the withdrawal from such position of a guard-plate on the opposite side of the razor, and a connection between such plates adapted to slide over the back of the blade, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

August William Scheuber.

Witnesses:

Adolph F. Dinse,

A. C. Fischer.