To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross Martin, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Fairmont, in the county of Marion and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cutlery and particularly to razors and more particularly to that class known as safety razors.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel retaining device for the blade whereby the edges of the blade are caused to cut on lines parallel with the handle thereby affording a reciprocal movement of the blade which reciprocal movement is more effective than the ordinary scraping action of the safety razor now in common use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide ea guard having tapered edges, the said guard having the usual teeth over a portion of which the cutting edges of the blade extend.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a blade which coacts with the guard of said blade and being provided with means for causing it to be guided to its seat where it is in proper operative relation to the guard, novel means being also provided for holding the blade at its end, said retaining means comprising a hook, lug or other device for contacting with the blade at one end, and a spring adapted to bear on the surface of the blade to produce sufficient friction and to prevent displacement of the blade except when manipulated; it is furthermore an object of the invention to provide the blade with suitable guides which are adapted to contact with the spring and cause said blade to pass under the spring to a sufficient extent to be engaged by the said spring.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for strengthening the guard and at the same time producing a socket for the handle of the razor and an extension rib which may be turned in to form the engaging member at one end of the blade.

Finally an object of this invention is to produce a device of the character noted which will possess advantages in points of simplicity, efficiency, and durability, proving at the same time comparatively inexpensive to produce.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, in which—

Figure 1, is a perspective view of a razor embodying the invention. Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of the device. Fig. 4, is a fragmentary perspective view of the guard; and Fig. 5, is a top plan view of the blade.

In these drawings 1, denotes the body of the razor which has a series of teeth 2, thereon forming a guard, the said body being tapered at its outer end and terminating in a hook or lug 3, adapted to embrace and engage the end of the blade 4. In constructing the guard I have found it desirable to corrugate it centrally for by such means the said guard is made more rigid with a small amount of metal. The central groove or corrugation thus formed terminates in the inner end in a socket 5, which is designed to receive a handle 6, the said handle being secured therein in any approved manner. At the junction of the handle-socket and I provide a spring 7, which overlies the inner end of the guard but in such close proximity thereto as to require elevation for the purpose of inserting the blade between the spring and the guard, and it is by reason of the displacement of the spring necessary to insert the blade, that pressure is obtained for frictionally retaining the blade in place.

The blades which are now used in connection with the guard heretofore described are double edged plates which taper toward the outer end, said outer ends being provided with recesses or notches in which the outer retaining device is seated when the blade is in operative position. The said retaining device effectually prevents any transverse movement of the blade while it is being manipulated in the act of shaving. The inner end of the blade has a V-shaped notch 8 with its edges turned up to form flanges. The flanges terminate a suitable distance from the center to provide a space between the ends of said flanges through which the spring projects. In applying the blade to the guard, the inner end of said blade where it is notched is pushed into engagement with the end of the spring and as the said flanges contact with the end of the spring, further push on the blade results in a clamping action between the flange and the end of the spring and the blade is thus caused to travel transversely of the spring and said end of the spring comes into registry with the space between the flanges and further movement of the blade results in the said blade riding under the spring until the outer end passes the engaging device thereon when by a slight outward movement of the blade, the edge of the blade is brought into engagement with the retaining device owing to the notch in the end of the blade. As heretofore stated, transverse movement of the blade is prevented except the blade be given a slight longitudinal movement to disengage the walls of the notch from the retaining device.

A razor of this construction having a double cutting edge may be used right or left handed and it is especially desirable for shaving the neck from either side as it permits the operation without liability of injury. Owing to the fact that the guard and blade taper to a point a clear view is obtainable and consequently the user can trim closer. As the handle is placed longitudinally with relation to the guard and blade a compact structure results which can easily be carried in a case without disconnecting the handle from the guard.

As shown in the drawings, the spring 7, is made integral with a collar, which collar surrounds the socket 5. If desired that collar may be stationary on the socket, or it may be permitted to slide thereon, so that the spring can be reciprocated with respect to the blade, and caused to slide into contact with the blade or it may slide out of contact with the blade.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. A safety razor consisting of a guard plate, a spring overlying the guard plate and a blade lying between the spring and guard plate, said blade having a notch in its end adjacent the spring and flanges carried by the blade positioned along the edges of the notch.

2. A safety razor consisting of a guard plate, a spring overlying the guard plate, a blade lying between the spring and guard plate, said blade having a V-shaped notch in its end adjacent the spring and flanges carried by the blade positioned along the edges of the notch, said flanges being separated at the apex of the notch.

3. In a safety razor, a guard plate having a longitudinal corrugation terminating in a socket, a handle in the socket, a collar on the handle, a spring integral with the collar and adapted to overlie the guard plate, the said guard plate terminating at its outer end in a lug overlying the guard plate and a blade having a notch to receive the lug, said blade being engaged by the spring to retain the blade in engagement with the lug.

4. In a safety razor, a guard plate having a corrugation terminating in a socket, a handle in the socket, a blade, and means for holding the blade to the guard plate.

5. In a safety razor, a guard plate, a handle carried thereby, a collar on the handle, a spring carried by the collar and adapted to overlie the guard plate, said plate being provided with a lug, and a blade having a notch to receive the lug, said blade being also engaged by the spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 22 day of October, 1906.

Ross Martin.

Witnesses:

C. Richard Hall,

L. A. Sands.