To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William H. Crichton-Clarke, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type adapted to be used with flexible and detachable blades.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple, durable, and inexpensive safety razor which is small and compact in construction, so that it can be carried conveniently in a vest pocket or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a safety razor constructed in accordance with the invention, the handles being folded flat against the guard. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing one of the handles raised. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing both of the handles raised, Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the flexible blade. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the guard. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the lap.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The reference numeral 1 indicates a guard, which is provided along its side edges with teeth 2. One face of the guard 1 is convex, as indicated at 3. The guard 1, as shown particularly in Fig. 6, is provided with a centrally-disposed slot 4, a pair of perforations 5, and a pair of handles 6, which are pivotally connected in any suitable manner with the guard, as indicated at 7, and are provided with laterally extending projections 8, to limit their movement toward each other and to permit them to be folded flat against the guard 1, as shown in Fig. 1, when the razor is not in use. In using the razor, one of the handles 6 is engaged with the thumb, and the other handle with one of the fingers, as will be readily understood. The outer faces of the handles are roughened or dished in any suitable manner to afford a firm grip. Pivotally mounted upon the guard 1, as indicated at 10, is a locking device or latch 11, having a wedge-shape portion or head 12. The locking device 11 is movable in a plane parallel with the plane of the guard 1. In addition to the guard 1, the improved safety razor includes a cap 15, which is formed with a concave face 16. As shown in Fig. 7, the cap 15 is also provided with a keeper for the latch 11 consisting of a longitudinally-extending perforated ear or staple 17 which, when the cap and guard are fitted together, is adapted to project through the slot 4 in the guard 1, and to be engaged by the wedge-shape head 12 of the locking device 11 for adjustably locking the cap and guard together.

The blade 20, which is shown in Fig. 5 is formed preferably of thin flexible steel provided with two cutting edges, and has therein a pair of perforations 21 and a slot 22. When the blade 20 is placed between the guard 1 and cap 15, the perforated ear or staple 17 on the cap projects through the slot 22 in the blade, and through the slot 4 in the guard. A pair of pins 25 connected with the cap 15 also project through the openings 21 in the blade 20, and through the openings 5 in the guard 1. As will be readily understood, the cap 15 serves to support the cutting edges of the thin blade 20, and by moving the wedge-shape head 12 of the locking device 11 a greater or lesser distance through the perforated ear or staple 17 of the cap, the blade 20 can be flexed to a greater or lesser extent so as to adjust the relation of the cutting edges to the guard 1, whereby to secure a coarse or a close shave. When the blade 20 is in place its edges are so disposed that either edge may be used for shaving without readjustment.

When the handles 6 are folded flat against the guard 1, as shown in Fig. 1, the entire razor can be slipped into a small flat case, together with one or more extra blades. The entire package will be very compact and small, so that it can be carried in the ticket or vest pocket of a traveling man.

The improved safety razor is simple, durable, and inexpensive in construction, as well as thoroughly efficient in operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety razor having a guard, a cap, and a pivotally-mounted locking device having a wedge-shape portion for adjustably locking the guard and cap together.

2. A safety razor having a guard, a cap, and a wedge-shape locking device pivotally mounted upon one of said parts and movable in a plane parallel with the guard for locking the guard and cap together.

3. A safety razor having a guard, a cap provided with a perforated ear adapted to project through the guard, and a pivotally-mounted locking device having a wedge-shape portion adapted to engage the perforated ear.

4. A safety razor having a guard, a foldable handle connected with the guard, a cap adapted to support the cutting edge of a thin blade, a perforated ear connected with the cap, and a locking device adapted to cooperate with the perforated ear for locking the guard and cap together.

5. A safety razor comprising a guard having a convex face, a cap having a concave face, a flexible blade arranged between the convex and concave faces of the guard and cap, a perforated ear connected with the cap and extending through the blade and guard, a pivotally-mounted locking device movable in a plane parallel with the guard and cap, and having a wedge-shape portion to engage the perforated ear of the cap, and a pair of foldable handles pivotally connected with the guard.

6. A safety razor comprising a double-edged blade, a guard, and a separable cap, the said guard and cap so disposed as simultaneously to expose both edges of the blade, means for locking said parts together, and folding handles attached to one of said plates.

7. A safety razor comprising a guard and a removable cap, a latch pivotally mounted upon one of said parts and a keeper on the other part for securing them together, and folding handles attached to one of said plates.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

William H. Crichton-Clarke.

Witnesses:

Adolphe Dinse,

Mary A. Dolan.