To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Walter J. Smart, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention resides in certain novel features of construction set forth in the following specification and claim and illustrated in the annexed drawing in which

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of a clamp for a safety razor embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a safety razor embodying this invention. Fig. 3 is a section along x x Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1.

By means of this invention a safety razor can be provided with a blade that can be made of narrow and thin material. A narrow blade or one that does not require much material can be furnished at a cheap price and at the same time of superior quality. A narrow or small blade or strip of steel on account of its cheapness can also be thrown away after having been used and replaced without much cost, so that honing or stropping can be dispensed with.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, of the drawing is shown a frame a with handle b and means for holding a narrow blade c in proximity to the comb or guard d of the device. In the present razor the transversely slotted edge of the frame constitutes the guard. A clamp composed of jaws e and e′ is shown engaging the blade. The clamp is held in closed or engaging position by one or more springs f which cause the clamp jaws to swing or close about pivot g. The jaws or clamp sections are shown with lugs or bent parts forming bearings for pivots g or these pivots can be formed on one section and caused to extend into lugs or bearing parts on the opposite section. Such constructions are familiar in metal working. These lugs can also act as a gage so that the blade will be properly inserted or gaged or be prevented from entering too far in the clamp by butting or stopping against the pivot lugs or laps. Such lugs or stops prevent the blade slipping backward or out of position when the parts are assembled or the device is being used. The clips h and the spring piece i as also the blade stops k can be of the usual construction familiar in safety razors. The clamp or holder as seen in Fig. 1 can be removed from the frame. On the piece i being swung or snapped back the clamp and blade can be withdrawn or removed from the frame. On opening the jaws the blade can be released and replaced in the spring closed clamp.

The position of the cutting edge of the blade when the latter is in its assembled position (determined by the stops k), the nearness of said edge to the surface of the guard (determined by stops k, clips h and the angle of the lower jaw e′ interposed between the blade and the surface of the frame rearward of the guard), and the inclination of the guard-surface between the extreme edge of the guard and the edge of the assembled blade, are such as to cause the proper functioning of the blade and the guard in the well known manner during the operation of shaving. Obviously, the clamp can be variously constructed. The frame shown forms a lather cup or receptacle or its lower portion retains lather or prevents lather from running down on to the handle.

It will be noted that all the constructions illustrated embody a blade which is slidable or adjustable to its assembled position (either in one direction or the other) over the surface of the guard in a line extending between the front and rear of the latter. Such a character of positioning movement is of utility with respect to the ease and readiness with which the blade etc. may be assembled. It may, furthermore, be utilized to vary the distance of the blade-edge from the extreme edge of the guard, when, for instance, it is desired to adjust the razor for ordinary, medium “close” or “close” shaving. Furthermore the razor in all of its various forms, embraces a clamping member which preferably has a length (measured in line with the cutting edge of the blade) which is substantially equal to the length of said blade, a feature of practical utility, since with the use of thin and narrow plate blades, such as the present razor is adapted to employ, it is practically necessary to support the blade throughout its length as otherwise it would tend to spring away from the guard at such portions of the blade as are not backed by a clamping pressure, thus interfering with the proper functioning of the blade.

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

1. A safety razor having a frame provided with clips adapted to engage a blade, a spring-pressed pivotal clamp removably mounted on the frame and adapted to hold the blade in position.

2. A safety razor having a frame provided with a guard, and a spring-pressed pivotal clamp removably mounted on the frame and adapted to hold the blade in position.

3. A safety razor having a frame provided with clips adapted to hold a blade, and a spring-pressed clamp consisting of a pair of clamping members detachably connected with said frame, and adapted to hold the blade in position.

4. A safety razor having a frame provided with a guard, a spring-pressed pivotal clamp removably mounted on the frame and adapted to hold the blade in position, and a sprmg piece connected with the frame and adapted to contact with the removable clamp for holding the same in position.

5. A safety razor having a frame provided with a guard, a spring-pressed pivotal clamp removably mounted on the frame, and comprising a pair of clamping members adapted to hold the blade in position, and a spring piece mounted on the frame and contacting with the removable clamp for holding the same in position.

6. A safety razor having a frame provided with clips adapted to engage a blade, a spring-pressed pivotal clamp removably mounted on the frame and comprising a pair of clamping members adapted to engage the blade, and a spring piece connected with the frame and engaging the removable clamp for holding the same in position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Walter J. Smart

Witnesses:

Louis Wolfgang,

W. C. Hauff.