To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rollin B. Tuller, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Razors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to safety-razors; and my primary object is to provide a razor of this character which, while thoroughly effective for its purpose, shall be exceedingly compact in form, simple in construction, and handy in use.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the razor in its closed condition; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the same with the handle-leaf thrown back to the operative position;

Fig. 3, a transverse section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a similar section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a broken section taken as indicated at line 5 of of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a broken section taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a plan view of the razor with the handle-leaf thrown back one hundred and eighty degrees from the closed position, and Fig. 8 a similar view with the clamping-leaf raised and the blade broken.

In the preferred construction the razor comprises a guard-leaf A, a blade B, a clamping-leaf C, and a handle-leaf D, the leaves being provided, respectively, with pivotal lugs a, c, d, connected by a pivotal bolt f, equipped at its ends with nuts f′.

The leaves A, C, and D are substantially flat, and the blade may be a thin flat blade. The operative edge (the free longitudinal edge) of the guard-leaf A is curved somewhat away from the adjacent edge of the blade and is fluted upon the surface adjacent to the blade. The corresponding edge of the handle-leaf D is correspondingly curved, and the central portion d′ projects in the closed condition slightly beyond the edge of the leaf A, thereby affording means for readily opening the handle-leaf. The hinge construction is such as to permit the handle-leaf to swing open through an arc of between one hundred and eighty degrees and two hundred and seventy degrees, the preferred limit being shown in Fig. 4, in which the handle is shown forming a somewhat obtuse angle with the outer surface of the leaf A.

As shown in Fig. 8, the blade B is provided at its ends with notches b, which fit upon upturned lugs a′, carried by spring portions a², formed at the ends of the leaf A by cutting therein curved slots a³. The portions a² are struck down slightly, as indicated by the shading in Fig. 8. The notches b of the blade are of slightly greater width than the lugs a′, enabling the blade to be adjusted for either close or ordinary shaving, the shoulders of the notch forming stops corresponding with the two positions of the blade. The clamping-leaf C has its ends provided near the free longitudinal edge of the leaf with lugs c′, turned toward the leaf A, whose end edges the lugs clampingly engage. The leaf is cut adjacent to the lugs, providing for spring action, it being understood that the metal used in the leaves A and C is of a springy nature.

The manner of assembling the parts and using the razor will be readily understood. The blade may be inserted and pressed into place, so that the lugs a′ will firmly grip the bottom walls of the slots in the ends of the blade, the portions a² being in the meantime held or pressed up into the plane of the body of the leaf A, whereupon the resiliency of the spring portions a² will draw the blade tightly down upon the upper surface of the leaf, it being understood that the blade is of sufficient length to slightly spring the lugs a′ apart. This in itself would form a fairly secure clamp for a blade possessing considerable stiffness. However, when the clamping-leaf C is pressed down the blade is securely clamped throughout, being firmly held regardless of the stiffness of the blade itself. In use the handle-leaf is open to the limit of its movement, and in carrying the handle-leaf and guard-leaf completely house the blade and clamping-leaf. The outer leaves may be as ornamental as desired, and the whole razor may be conveniently carried in the vest-pocket. The device is thoroughly sanitary, permitting thorough cleansing and drying of the parts, and the blades are of insignificant cost and may be discarded when, dull or reground, as desired. The pivot-lugs of the leaves are in close frictional contact, insuring the leaves staying closed or open, as desired. Lying between the leaves, as they do in the closed position, they form a guard for the fingers, as will be understood from Fig. 4, preventing the fingers from coining in contact with face or lather.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. A safety-razor, comprising a guard-leaf and handle-leaf pivotally joined together and lying in close parallel relation to form a casing in the closed condition of the razor, and a blade clampingly secured against the inner surface of the guard-leaf with its cutting edge adjacent to the free edge of the guard-leaf, said blade lying in parallel relation to and inclosed between the guard-leaf and handle-leaf in the closed condition of the razor, for the purpose set forth.

2. A safety-razor, comprising a guard-leaf, a handle-leaf, and an interposed clamping-leaf pivotally connected, and a blade interposed between the guard-leaf and clamping-leaf and clamped to the guard-leaf by the clamping-leaf, for the purpose set forth.

3. A safety-razor, comprising a guard-leaf, a handle-leaf and an interposed clamping-leaf pivotally joined together at one longitudinal edge, and means clampingly connecting the guard-leaf and clamping-leaf together at the end edges thereof, for the purpose set forth.

4. A safety-razor, comprising a guard-leaf, a handle pivotally joined to a longitudinal edge and having limited opening movement with relation thereto, an interposed pivoted clamping-leaf having its end edges equipped with means for clampingly engaging the end edges of the guard-leaf, and a blade confined between the clamping-leaf and guard-leaf, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a safety-razor, the combination of a guard-leaf, a handle-leaf and a clamping-leaf having alined pivot-lugs, a common pivot for the leaves joining said lugs together, a blade interposed between the guard-leaf and clamping-leaf, and means clampingly securing the ends of the guard-leaf and clamping-leaf together, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a safety-razor, the combination of a handle-leaf and guard-leaf pivotally joined together at one longitudinal edge, a blade, and blade-clamping means carried by the end portions of the guard-leaf, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a safety-razor, the combination of a handle-leaf, guard-leaf and interposed clamping-leaf having alined pivot-lugs at one longitudinal edge, a common connecting-pivot for the leaves, a blade interposed between the clamping-leaf and guard-leaf, blades clamping means carried by the end portions of the guard-leaf, and clamping means carried by the end portions of the clamping-leaf and engaging the ends of the guard-leaf.

8. The combinaton of a guard-leaf, clamping-leaf and handle-leaf having common pivotal connection at one longitudinal edge, a blade, and lug-and-notch connection between one of said two first-named leaves and the ends of the blade, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of a guard-leaf, clamping-leaf and handle-leaf having common pivotal connection at one longitudinal edge, a blade, lugs carried by the end portions of the guard-leaf received by notches in the ends of the blade, and lugs carried by the end portions of the clamping-leaf clampingly engaging the ends of the guard-leaf, for the purpose set forth.

Rollin B. Tuller.

In presence of—

A. U. Thorien,

J. H. Landes.