To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Richard H. Reed, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the special forms of razors known as safety razors, that are provided with a guard portion in the nature of teeth, or a comb, adjacent the cutting edge; which devices are usually provided with a readily removable blade so that when dull it can be removed for sharpening or substituted by another blade.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device in which the blade can be very easily and quickly inserted and removed. This is accomplished by the simple operation of supporting the holder member in one hand and grasping the blade between two fingers of the other hand, inserting one end portion of the blade underneath an overhanging lip portion, which portion is made resilient on the holder to spring back by the pressure put on the blade, when the other end of the blade is pressed down on the holder and inserted under a lip portion at the other end of the holder; whereupon the reaction of the resilient portion will lock the blade on the holder between the lip portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby when the blade is locked in position its cutting edges will be differently positioned or removed from the respective coöperative guard portions.

In the accompanying drawing representing an embodiment of my invention Figure 1 shows the device in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section. Fig. 4 shows the holder member separate from the handle. Fig. 5 shows the blade; Figs. 6 to 10 show separately the construction of the handle and its securing means, and Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section through the holder with the intermediate portion removed.

The device is shown as comprising a holder, denoted generally by 12, a blade 13, and a handle member 14. The holder member 12 is shown as comprising a trough shaped portion 15 having the end portions 16 and 17. The holder is provided with opposite guard portions 18 and 19. At the top the end members are provided with inwardly extending lip portions, that engage the end portions of the blade 13 which is shown as provided with cutting edges 20 and 21 on two opposite sides thereof. In the construction illustrated the end member 17 is provided with the lip portion removed at the intermediate part, forming two lip portions 23 and 24 extending inward, forming an intermediate space or recess 25.

At the other end of the holder a similar two-part overhanging lip member is provided, which in the construction shown, is formed of a U-shaped spring 26 secured at its intermediate part at the lower portion of the end member 16, by rivets or other suitable means. The end portions 27 and 28 of the spring lip member overhang the end member 16 and have a recess 29 between them. The object of these recess portions 25 and 29 is to permit engagement of the blade at the middle portions of each end by the thumb and finger of the operator and the blade is preferably provided with extensions 30 and 31 at the end portions of a size to snugly fit in the recesses 25 and 29 respectively, and project therebeyond, as indicated in Fig. 1. When so formed, the blade is grasped between the thumb and finger by these extensions, and the end 31 is placed in the recess at 29 between the spring lip portions, with the other end of the blade resting on top of the lip portions 23 and 24. The end portion of the blade on the opposite sides of the extension 31 is caused to engage beneath the overhanging portions of the spring lips, and then pressure is brought to bear endwise on the extension 30, whereby the blade engaging the spring lip will bend it outward, until the end of the blade adjacent the projection 30 passes beyond the end of the lips 23 and 24, whereupon a downward pressure is exerted on the extension 30, that will bring this extension to engage in the recess 25, and the end portions of the blade on each side will then be in position to be passed underneath the lip portions 23 and 24. The blade will be pressed underneath these lip portions by the resiliency of the spring lip portions at the other end that have been flexed, and the blade will be thereby engaged by the lips 23 and 24 at this end, and will still be held by the overhanging spring lip portions 27 and 28 at the other end. At the same time the blade will be supported on the upper edges of the end members 16 and 17. By this means the blade is securely locked in position, with its edges 20 and 21 positioned properly with regard to the guard portions 18 and 19 respectively. The blade is prevented from sidewise movement when pressure is brought to bear on the cutting edges in the act of shaving, by the engagement of the side walls of the projections 30 and 31, with the side walls of the recess 25 and 29, that is, with the opposite sides of the four lip portions, which are arranged to snugly engage the blade projections and prevent any lateral movement thereof.

The guard portions 18 and 19 are formed relative to the blade when so positioned, that one of the cutting edges, as the cutting edge 20, is offset or spaced from its guard portion 18, a greater distance than the cutting edge 21 is spaced or offset from its coöperating guard 19. By this arrangement the necessity for adjustment of the blade relative to the guard portions is obviated, as one edge can be used for an ordinary shave, and the opposite edge can be employed for a closer shave. The blade and the holder being symmetrically arranged, it is obvious that the blade can be removed and turned end for end end again positioned, so that either edge can be brought to the position of ordinary or close adjustment as desired.

The handle 14 can be secured to the holder, in any suitable manner, and preferably is adjustably attached so that the angle of the cutting edge relative to the handle can be varied as desired. In the form illustrated the handle is shown as adjustable in any position between certain angular limits, in a plane perpendicular to the cutting edges of the blade. The trough portion 15 of the holder is provided with a slot 32 at its middle portion that extends transversely to the guard portions. The handle member 14 is provided with a threaded member that screws into a nut member carried in the trough and is slidable in the opening. The nut member is permanently attached to the trough member and the handle member can be screwed into and removed from the nut member. When screwed up tight the handle member is locked in position, but to adjust the handle member it is only necessary to loosen it, then swing the handle and connected nut member to the desired angle, and then screw the handle up tight again. In the construction illustrated, the tubular handle member 33 has a screw portion 34 permanently connected therewith, that comprises a screw 35 and a sleeve 36. The nut member as shown comprises an apertured curved block 37 having the convex side curved to fit the bottom of the trough portion 15; a collar 38 having a face 29 curved to engage the outer side of the trough member 15; and an internally threaded sleeve 40 having a flange 41. The sleeve is passed through collar 38 and its flange loosely engages a shoulder 42 therein. The sleeve is passed through the opening 32 and locked in the block 37 by flaring its end portion. The collar 38 is loosely carried on the outer flange portion of the sleeve, whereby it is freely movable in the opening 32, yet cannot be removed from the holder. The handle member is attached by its screw 35 being screwed into the threaded bore of the sleeve 40, and when screwed up tight the end of the screw portion 34 will engage the collar 38 loosely carried by the sleeve 40, and cause this collar to be pressed between the screw portion 34 and the trough member 15, whereby the handle is securely locked in position.

From this construction it will be seen that the lather and hair not only can readily pass through the guard portion, but between the guard portion and the blade, directly into the trough portion of the holder. And such matter can be readily removed therefrom by holding it under a spigot or passing it through water that will pass in one side through the guard portion and force the lather and hair out the opposite side. Hence there is no possibility of the lather and hair clogging the blade. It will also be seen that there are no cavities to collect the lather and which would be difficult to clean. By removal of the blade every part is readily accessible, and can be at once cleaned by the application of water. The only movable part for securing the blade is the spring lip, and this is normally held adjacent the end member of the trough. Furthermore, the device is very simple and economical of construction, consisting practically of the trough member comprising a curved plate with two end plates rigidly secured thereto, one of these having overhanging lip portions at opposite sides and a spring lip that is a single member permanently secured on the outside of one of the end members, for engaging the blade. The blade for use in this razor does not require any opening therein, but is a rectangular member with a projection or ear at the middle portion of each end.

The form of handle herein shown and described is not claimed herein, but is claimed in a separate application for safety razor filed by me May 27th, 1907, Serial No. 375,810.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a safety razor, a substantially trough shaped holder having guard portions on two opposite sides and a transverse member at each end, the transverse members having inwardly projecting lip members, one of the lip members being resilient, a blade having cutting edges on opposite sides arranged to cooperate with the guard portions of the holder and having its end portions secured by the lip members of the holder, the holder being organized to permit endwise movement of the blade with its end engaged by the resilient lip member to thereby bend the latter away from the other lip member to allow engagement of the latter member with the other end of the blade, the holder having a transverse opening in its trough portion, and a handle member having adjustable securing means passing through said opening, whereby the handle can be adjusted in a plane perpendicular to the cutting edges of the blade.

2. In a safety razor, the holder having one or more guard portions, a blade, two opposite locking members on the holder for securing the blade thereto with its cutting edges adjacent the guard portions, one of the locking members comprising a U-shaped spring secured to the holder at its middle portion and having lips at its end portions engaging the end portion of the blade.

3. In a safety razor, the holder having one or more guard portions, a blade, two opposite locking members on the holder for securing the blade thereto with its cutting edges adjacent the guard portions, one of the locking members comprising a U-shaped spring secured to the holder at its middle portion and having lips at its end portions engaging the end portion of the blade, the opposite locking member comprising overhanging lips on each side at the end of the holder.

4. In a safety razor, the holder having one or more guard portions, a blade, two opposite locking members on the holder for securing the blade thereto with its cutting edges adjacent the guard portions, one of the locking members comprising a U-shaped spring secured to the holder at its middle portion and having lips at its end portions engaging the end portion of the blade, the opposite locking member comprising overhanging lips on each side at the end of the holder, the blade having projecting portions at the end fitting between the respective parts of the locking members and projecting beyond the holder forming grasping means for the blade.

5. In a safety razor, a blade, a substantially trough-shaped holder having guard portions on two opposite sides and a transverse member at each end, one of the transverse members having one or more inwardly projecting lip members, a U-shaped spring secured to the other end member of the holder by its intermediate portion, and having inwardly projecting lips at its ends overhanging the upper edge of the transverse end member to engage the blade between the lips and the upper edge of the end member.

6. In a safety razor, a blade, a substantially trough-shaped holder having guard portions on opposite sides and a transverse member at each end, the transverse member at one end extending above the guard portions and having a transverse slot on its inner face, and having a recess at the middle part of its slotted portion, a U-shaped spring secured to the other transverse member by its lower portion, and having inwardly extending lips at its two ends overhanging the upper edge of the transverse member, and a blade having cutting edges on opposite sides and arranged to have its end portions engaged by the spring member at one end and locked between the lips and the edge of the end member, with the other end of the blade secured in the slotted portion of the other end member.

7. In a safety razor, a blade, a substantially trough-shaped holder having guard portions on opposite sides and a transverse member at each end, the transverse member at one end extending above the guard portions and having a transverse slot on its inner face, and having a recess at the middle part of its slotted portion, a U-shaped spring secured to the other transverse member by its lower portion, and having inwardly extending lips at its two ends overhanging the upper edge of the transverse member, and a blade having cutting edges on opposite sides and arranged to have its end portions engaged by the spring member at one end and locked between the lips and the edge of the end member, with the other end of the blade secured in the slotted portion of the other end member, the blade having projecting portions at each end, fitting between the spring members at one end, and between the slotted portions at the other ends, and projecting beyond the holder at each end.

8. In a safety razor, the holder having a guard portion, a blade, two opposite locking members on the holder for securing the blade thereto: with its cutting edges adjacent the guard portion, one of the locking members comprising a spring secured to the holder and provided with spaced overhanging lips engaging the end portion of the blade.

9. In a safety razor, the holder having a guard portion, a blade, two opposite locking members on the holder for securing the blade thereto with its cutting edges adjacent the guard portion, one of the locking members comprising a spring secured to the holder and provided with spaced overhanging lips engaging the end portion of the blade, the opposite locking member comprising overhanging lips on each side at the end of the holder, the blade having projecting portions at the end fitting between the respective parts of the locking members and projecting beyond the holder forming grasping means for the blade.

10. In a safety razor, a blade, a substantially trough-shaped holder having guard portions on opposite sides and a transverse member at each end, the transverse member at one end extending above the guard portions and having a transverse slot on its inner face, and having a recess at the middle-part of its slotted portion, a spring secured to the other transverse member and having spaced inwardly extending lips overhanging the upper edge of the transverse member, and a blade having cutting edges on opposite sides and arranged to have its end portions engaged by the spring member at one end and locked between the lips and the edge of the end member, with the other end of the blade secured in the slotted portion of the other end member.

Signed at Nos. 9–15 Murray street, New York, N. Y., this 8th day of April, 1907.

Richard H. Reed.

Witnesses:

William H. Reid,

Fred. J. Dole.