To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John J. Meehan, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-razors, my object being to provide a device of this class which be simple in construction, economical in cost, and reliable, durable, and efficient in use; and to these ends the invention consists of the features, elements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my invention, showing the guard and half of the handle in place, the devices for connecting the handle parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the device complete or with all the parts assembled. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the blade. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the backing-plate. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the backing-plate, showing the thumb-nut detached. Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 2. In Figs. 3, 4, and 8 the parts are shown on a larger scale than in the other views.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the guard of the device, which consists of two similar parts 6, having teeth 7 on their opposite edges for a distance equal or approximately equal to the length of the blade 8, employed in connection with the guard. These guard members are also provided with extensions 9, projecting beyond the toothed parts and connected by means of a screw 10 and two sets of links 12 and 13. The inner extremities of these links are pivotally connected with the screw, while their opposite extremities are pivotally connected with the respective members of the guard, thus forming two toggle-joints for adjusting the guard members. The screw 10 is provided with threads engaging a nut 14, located in a recess formed in the handle members 15 and 16 and protruding from opposite sides of the handle, whereby it is accessible for the purpose of manipulating the screw, whereby the latter is made to travel in the one direction or the other, according as it is necessary to bring the guard members nearer to each other or separate them transversely.

The blade 8 is sharpened on two opposite edges and is provided with an extension 8^a, provided with an opening 8^c, through which passes a threaded stud 17^a, fast on the backing-plate 17.

Assuming that the guard and one-half of the handle are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the other half of the handle is applied and a fastening device 18 passed through registering openings formed in the handle members. A nut 18^a (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2) may be employed, or the device located at this point may be riveted, whereby the two handle members are locked securely in place on opposite sides of the extensions of the guard members. The handle member 15 is provided with an opening adapted to receive the blade extensions 8^a and the backing-plate extension 17^c. Hence after the handle members are suitably connected the: blade is placed in position on the guard, after which the backing-plate 17 is put in place, the threaded stud 17^a passing between the extensions of the guard and through an opening in the opposite handle member, the said stud protruding sufficiently to receive a thumb-nut 19, whereby the blade and backing-plate are secured in place and properly fastened to the handle.

The backing-plate 17 is of less width than the blade 8, whereby the sharpened edges 8^d of the blade protrude beyond the edges of the said plate on opposite sides. The teeth of the guard project beyond the cutting edges of the blade, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

Now assuming that all the parts are assembled, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, if the nut 14 is rotated in the handle the screw 10 is moved in the one direction or the other, as may be desired. If it is moved toward the right, (referring to Figs. 1 and 2,) the guard members will be separated, whereby the teeth 7 will be made to project farther beyond the edges of the blade, while if the screw 10 is moved in the opposite direction, or toward the left, the two guard members will be drawn closer together, thus exposing to a greater degree the opposite edges of the cutting-blade. Attention is called to the fact that the extensions 9 of the guard members are recessed on opposite sides of the screw 10 to receive the nut. The recesses in these guard-member extensions, together with the recesses in the handle members, prevent the nut 14 from moving on the screw 10, since the nut fits quite closely in these recesses. Hence as the nut cannot move upon the screw the turning of the nut moves the screw in the one direction or the other, as heretofore explained.

After using the razor it may be cleaned by unscrewing the thumb-nut 19, removing the guard-plate 17, and then taking out the blade. If it is desired to clean or inspect the devices located within the handle, the nut 18^a is also removed and the fastening-screw 18 taken out, when the handle members may be detached. Attention is called to the fact that the handle members are longitudinally recessed on opposite sides of the guard-member extensions, thus forming a sort of chamber within the handle, which permits the unobstructed movement of the parts inclosed by the hollow handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is—

1. A razor-guard composed of two members, a toggle-joint connection between the members, and a screw for operating the toggle whereby the two members are caused to approach or recede from each other transversely.

2. A razor-guard composed of two members, a toggle-joint connection between the members, a screw for actuating the toggle, and a nut applied to the screw, the guard being recessed to receive the nut whereby the latter is prevented from moving longitudinally on the screw.

3. A razor-guard composed of two members, a screw interposed between the members, two pairs of links pivotally connected with the screw and with the two members forming a toggle-joint connection between the latter, and a nut applied to the screw between the two pairs of links, the guard members being recessed to receive the nut whereby the latter is prevented from moving longitudinally on the screw but is allowed to rotate freely.

4. A razor-guard composed of two twin members provided with toothed edges extending a portion of their length, the guard having extensions beyond the toothed pacts, a toggle-joint connection between the extensions of the members, a screw for actuating the toggle, and a nut mounted on the screw and engaging a recess formed in the guard for the purpose set forth.

5. In a razor, the combination of a guard composed of two members, means for connecting the members whereby they may be made to approach each other or recede from each other as may be desired, a hollow handle adapted to receive a portion of the guard, the other part of the guard being toothed on opposite edges, a blade applied to the guard, and a backing-plate applied to the blade, the blade and backing part having extensions engaging a recess formed in one side of the handle, and suitable means for securing the blade and backing-plate to the handle.

6. In a razor, the combination of a guard composed of two similar members having toothed opposite edges a portion of their length, the said members being reduced beyond the toothed portions, a hollow handle adapted to receive the reduced parts of the guard, means mounted in the handle and connected with the guard members for adjusting the said members transversely, a backing-plate a blade interposed between the guard and backing-plate, and means for connecting the guard and blade with the handle.

7. The combination with a double-edged razor-blade, of a guard adjacent the blade and in a different but parallel plane, the guard being composed of two similar members, and means for connecting the members whereby they may be made to approach each other or recede from each other to expose more or less of the opposite edges of the blade.

8. In a safety-razor, the combination with a holder, of a blade, a guard, one of the two last-named elements being composed of two laterally-movable members, and the other element being stationary, the two members of the one element being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the holder, and means whereby the movable members of the one element are laterally adjustable with reference to the stationary element.

9. In a safety-razor, a handle, a pair of blade members, and a pair of guard members therefor carried by and disposed one on each side of the longitudinal axis of said handle, one of said pairs of members being laterally adjustable, and means for laterally adjusting said members relative to each other.

10. In a safety-razor, a holder, two blade members, two guard members, one pair of members being laterally adjustable, relative to the other and having its members disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the holder, and means for effecting the lateral adjustment.

11. In a safety-razor, a holder, two blade members, and two guard members, one pair of members being laterally adjustable relative to the other and having its members disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the holder.

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

John J. Meehan.

Witnesses:

A. J. O'Brien,

Dena Nelson.