US1798449A - Safety razor - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1931. M. B. BEHRMAN SAFETY RAZOR Filed Dec. 23, 1927 Pat ented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARCUS B. IBEHRMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AS SIGNOR T AMERICA N SAFETY RAZOR CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA SAFETY RAZOR Application filed December 23, 1927. Serial No. 242,073.

My present invention relates generally to razors and to blades therefor, and is directed to an arrangement whereby the blade can be associated with the razor so as to have the shaving edge always in that predetermined positional relationship with reference to the guards at which the maximum eflicient shaving action is obtainable, and more particularly to such an arrangement in connection with a double-edge blade of the wafer type.

It is a well-recognized fact that where a razor is constructed to have the cutting edge positioned along a certain line across the guard, that any deviation from this position will affect the shaving operation. For example, if the edge of the blade is too far forward the safety factor of the razor will be minimized, if not eliminated, and cutting and slashing of the face result, and, on the other hand, if the shaving edge is positioned to the rear of this line the shaving efliciency will be materially reduced and the shaving action not effective. In fact, I have found by actual experiment that a positional error which results in the cutting edge being as little as .002 inches to the rear of the line along which maximum efficiency is obtainable, will cause the blade to be defective in its operation, regardless of how perfect a cutting edge may have been given to that blade. Where complaints by users are made that one blade of a given manufacturer shaves well, whereas a second blade by the same manufacturer shaves poorly, it will be found that the inefficiency of certain blades is due not to the character of the shaving edge but to the fact that this edge is not at the predetermined line intended for that particular razor.

In a razor of-the type wherein a doubleedged wafer type blade is employed, and

wherein the relation of the cutting edges with reference 'to the guards is predetermined by means of pins on the razor saddle, these pins engaging through holes in the blade intermediate the cutting edges, the following sources of error will necessarily arise: 1)

The stamping operation may create an error in the dimension of the blade from edge to edge, or in the position of the holes which 59 should be exactly equidistant between .these two edges. (2) Even if the punching and stamping operations of the blanks are as sumed tobe entirely accurate, so as to provide absolutely uniform blanks provided with holes absolutely uniformly punched and positioned, it is a wellknown fact that in the processing of the edges to convert them into cutting edges, errors will necessarily arise. That is, the amount of material taken off one edge in the processing may not be the same as the amount of material taken off the opposite edge; and the amount of material taken off an edge of one blank may not be the same as the amount of material taken off the edge of a different blank. Even assuming, there-- fore,"that in the punching operation the holes are accurately positioned, there is no assurance thatthe cutting edges of the completed blade will position themselves along the pre-' determined line of maximum efficiency. In fact, actual tests of blades on the market show a variation between the position of edges of different blades with reference to this predetermined line of maximum efficiency as high as .011 inches; and it'is to be noted that a cutting edge'which falls short of this line of maximum efliciency by a. factor only as high as .008inches will be found to be absolutely inefficient for shaving purposes.

In single-edged razors of the type illustrated by the Eveready and the Gemi, these errors of manufacture are eliminated as factors in the proper location of the blade by providing blade stops in association with the guard edge which predetermine the proper positioning of the cutting edge along that line which results in maximum shaving efficiency. Patent No. 1,488,907 exemplifies this arrangement, wherein springs or similar elements engaging the unsharpened rear edge of the blade serve to hold the extreme outer portions of the cutting edge in contact with these blade stops.

While an arrangement of the foregoing character results in perfect location of the single-edged blade when the razor is first used, I have found that continual use frequently results in the tendency-of the cutting edge, when forced against the blade stops, to cut into these stops, and therefore to some extent permits the blade to advance slightly beyond the aforementioned line of maximum efliciency. -Furthermore, the employment .of what I might term the Eveready principle, i. e., the engagement of the cutting edge by front blade stops and the engagement of the unsharpened edge by blade-advancing members, presents new problems where it is desired to employ a doubleedged blade, for the reason that the engagement by spring members or the like with a sharpened edge, as in Patent No. 1,488,907 will necessarily affect that cutting edge adversely.

Furthermore, in the employment of the socalled Eveready principle, there are other important factors which must be considered, among which are the following: (1) The effective length of the shaving edge must not be materially reduced. (2) The shaving edge when brought up against the front blade stops must be properly aligned so as to be parallel to and in fact coincident with the aforementioned theoretical line of maximum efficiency. (3) The blade must be properly centered.

Among the more important objects of my invention therefore are; the provision in a razor adapted to receive a double-edge blade, of blade positioning means which eliminates as factorsany errors arising in the manufacture of the blade; the provision'of front stop blade-positioning means of a character which minimizes the tendency of the sharpened edge to affect such means; the provision of a front stop for the blade which reduces the effective length of the cutting edge to a lesser degree than hitherto; the provision of an arrangement whereby the so-called Eveready principle may be efliciently employed 'with a double-edged blade; and the provision of means in a razor wherein the blade is automatically forced forward against stops, for properly positioning and centering the blade.

It is another object of my invention to provide means for centering the blade as it is moved into engagement with the front stops,,ancl in the embodiment herein disclosed I accomplish this result by making the front stops in the form of angularly positioned members, one portion of which engages the shaving edge and the other portion of which is arranged so as to be adjacent to, although it need not necessarily engage, portions of the sides adjacent said shaving edge. This arrangement accomplishes the further result of enabling me to use shorter front stops.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an arrangement for preliminarily locating the blade, i'. e., of an arrangement by which the blade'when preliminarily dropped on the seat will be in that approximate position which lends itself to a ready and final adjustment of the blade to its final position against the stops. In the specific embodiseat.

ment of the invention herein illustrated, this takes the form of pins on the blade seat to engage through openings in the razor blade, the pins and the openings being so dimensioned and related that the blade can be given a movement toward the front stops without the presence of the pins interfering with such movement.

The front stop arrangement, i. e., the predetermined positioning of a blade by the engagement of its shaving edge with front stops, in the embodiment herein illustrated only serves merely as a front stop and does not assist directly in holding the blade down upon its seat and against upward movement from its seat, and it is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement whereby there is associated with the front stops means tending to prevent the blade from accidentally rising from the seat. In the embodiment herein illustrated, I accomplish this result by undercutting the pins which preliminarily locate the blade so that after the blade has been dropped over the pins, the blade as it moves down toward the front stops will engage this undercut part of the ins and will thus be prevented from rising rom the More particularly, it is an object to provide a device embodying the features exemplified hereinbefore in combination with a razor device'of the general character and advantages characteristic of that disclosed by me in my copending application Serial No. 219,207.

In accordance with the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, the blade which I employ has opposite cutting edges and side edges which converge toward each cutting edge, the blade being symmetrical about an axis parallel to the cutting edges, thereby rendering it reversible. The blade is provided with holes therethrough.

The razor of the embodiment illustrated comprises a base or saddle member having a guard at one edge. Positioned at each extreme end of the guard are upstanding portions which serve as front stops, as in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,488,907. Extending angularly from each of these front stops and substantially in parallelism with the adjacent converging side edges of the blade are extensions of Y the front stops. These extensions not only cooperate in some respects with the front stops in their function as such, but also serve additionally to buttress or reinforce-these front stops and thus permit of the length of these front stops being reduced to a minimum.' One of the primary functions, however, of these angular portions is to assist in assembling the blade.

Extending upwardly from the base or saddle of the razor are pins adapted to cooperate with the holes or openings in. the blade,

and which pins serve as preliminary locatingmeans. The pins and the openings are so dimensioned and constructed that the pins will not interfere with the free movement of the blade to engagement with the front stops. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. In the embodiment illustrated herein, it is shown as being accomplished by making the hole larger than the pin. By undercutting the pin I further accomplish the result not only of permitting an increased movement of the blade with reference to the pins but also permitting of the blade being caught in the undercut as it moves down toward the front stops, so as to assist in holding the blade down upon its seat. The razor is further provided with a clamping member which is illustrated as pivoted to the base or seat. This clamping or cover member is provided with members or flanges arranged and constructed so as to engage those diverging side edges which are remote from the shaving edge in position against the front stops and which are adjacent/the shaving edge which is inactive to apply a forward centering push upon the blade in the direction of and against the stop. The clamp ng member is held in clamping engagement with the blade on its seat by means of a threaded member which engages through the base and is threaded into the clamping member.

While the razor holder and the razor blade herein to be fully illustrated and described each presents certain inherent advantages of its own, yet the efficiency of the razor will be at its maximum when a blade is used therewith which is of a character intended to be associated therewith and herein disclosed. It is accordingly one of the objects of the pressent invention, in order that the razor may be used most efiectively, to construct the razor in such a manner that only that type of blade is usable therewith which is herein disclosed and which results in that efiiciency.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have constructed a device embodying the features of my invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a complete razor device embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the upper portion thereof showing the cover thrown ofi the blade seat;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the same direction as Figure 2 with the cover closed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Figure 2: and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the cover closed and a portion thereof broken away to disclose the blade upon the seat.

The razor holder illustrated is of the same general character as that illustrated and described by me in my co-pending application Serial No. 219,207; Briefly, it comprises a handle 10, a blade seat 11, a base 12, a cover 13, and a sleeve 14 serving to'retain the handle 10 in permanent association with the base 12 while still permitting adjustment thereof.

More particularly, it will be noted that the rear edge 15 of the blade seat 11 is positioned toward one side of the axis of the handle 10, that the upper surface 16 of the base 12 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rear edge 15 of the seat 11, and that a recess 17 is provided in the surface 16, said recess having an opening through its base in axial alignment with the handle 10. The cover 13 is pivoted to the base 12 along an axis 18 at the bottom of the surface 16. The cover is adapted to swing from the rearward position of Figure 2 upwardly onto the seat 11 as shown in Figure 3; and the cover is provided with an internally threaded lug 19 which po sitions itself in the recess 17 when the cover is closed. The handle 10 is adjustable up and down in the sleeve 14 asis clearly indicated by a comparision of Figures 1 and 2. The handle 10 is freely rotatable in the sleeve 14, and is provided at its upper end with an externally threaded portion 20 adapted to engagewithin the threaded lug 19 when the cover is closed. I

The construction which permits this adjustment of the handle 10 is shown most clearly in Figure 3 wherein it will be noted that 20 and of a diameter substantially equal to i that of the bore 22 a portion 28 underneath the portion 27 and substantially equal in diameter to that of the bore 23; and a portion 29 immediately beneath the portion 28 and substantially equal in diameter to the bore.

24. The length of the bore 28 is such that the handle ders 25 and 26.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it will I be noted that the cover comprises a lower portion 30 adapted to overlie the surface 16 when the cover is closed; and a main portion 31 adapted to overlie the seat 11 when the cover is closed. Flanges 32 extend along the opposite edges of the cover and are adapted to enclose the opposite edges of the seat 11 and the surface 16 when the cover is closed so as to complete the enclosure of the accommodated blade and also to enhance the general appearance of the device.

may be moved up and down in' the sleeve 14 between limits set by the shoullit! The seat 11 is provided with the usual front guard edge 33 and at opposite ends thereof I have provided blade stops which define the proper predetermined line which the cutting edge of a blade must assume with respect to the guard edge 33 in order to achieve maximum shaving efficiency. Each blade stop comprises a portion 34 substantially parallel to the cutting edge of a blade and an obliquely rearwardly extending portion 35. Vhen the cover is closed, the portion 35 aligns itself with the forward portion of the flange 32 as shown in Figure 5.

The blade 36 which I have shown in association with the holder is a wafer-type blade of comparatively small width. It includes the opposite cutting edges 37 and 38, the edge 37 being shown in operative relationship with respect to the guard edge 33. The side edges .39 of the blade are beveled to provide the side portions 40 which converge toward the cutting edge 38 and the side portions 41 which converge toward the cutting edge 37. The stops 34 and 35 are designed to cooperate with the forward portion of the blade 36 so as to limit its advance over the guard edge 33. More particularly, the blade steps 34 serve as abutments for the extreme ends of the edge 37, and the portions 35 are engageable by the bevels 41 adjacent to the edge 37.

The provision of blade stops in combination with a blade of the character illustrated results in an extremely efficient construction. Not only may the portions 34 be made considerably smaller than they would have to be made if the portions 35 were absent, but any cutting into the portions 34 after continued use of the device is rendered high- 1y improbable. On the other hand, the portions 35 have their utility enhanced b the provision at the ends thereof of the aligned portions 34. In other words, although the portions 34 and 35 may well serve their functions independently of one another, nevertheless it will be understood that they mutually serve to increase each others utility and efficiency.

The opposed surfaces 42 of the flanges 32 at the rear of the cover portion 31 are shaped to provide shoulders which serve as bladeadvancing members when the cover is closed. More particularly, the shoulders 42 are obliquely arranged with respect to each other, so that when the cover is closed, they will bear directly against the beveled sides 40 and thereby force the blade forwardly against the stops. Vhen this is accomplished, the

blade is held in a firm and secure manner as clearly shown in Figure 5. Not only do the shoulders 42 serve to advance the blade, but they serve to center it, and this centering of the blade is enhanced by the centering effect of the stops 35.

To further increase the facility with which the device may be used I have provided means for preliminarily locating the blade upon the seat in approximate position. More particularly, I have provided a pair of pins 43 arranged in upstanding position upon the seat 11, and preferably along a line substantially parallel to the guard edge 33. In the illustrated pins, that portion of each pin which is directed toward the rear is provided with an undercut 44, although this is not necessarily essential. The blade 36 is provided with a set of apertures or openings 45 which are slightly larger than the pins 43. By applying the blade to the seat with the openings 45 passed over the pins 43, the blade is preliminarily located upon the seat in the approximate position shown in Figure 4, and it is also partially secured to the seat. Accordingly, there is hardly any likelihood of the blade slipping off the seat, for if the seat is inclined, the walls of the openings 45 will encounter the walls of the pins 43. This is particularly true if the seat is inclined forwardly, i. e., toward the guard edge 33, for in such an event, the walls of the openings 45 will slip into the undercuts in the pins 43.

It will be clearly understood that the engagement between the pins 43 and the openings 45 is a loose engagement. It serves merely to retain the blade in approximate preliminary position and serves no function from the standpoint of positioning the cutting edge 37 along the proper theoretical line with respect to the guard edge 33. Nor does the engagement between the pins 43 and the openings 45 interfere with the proper functioning of the device in accordance with the Eveready principle. When the cover is closed and the blade advanced along the seat so as to force the cutting ed e against the stops, the pins 43 offer no inter erence. For this reason, it will be obvious that the efficiency of operation is wholly independent of the accurate location of the openings 45 in the blade blank.

In view of the foregoing reference to the pin-opening engagement, it will be understood that the pins may be variably positioned, and also variably constructed. For example, they may be set at an incline, they may be undercut around their entire peripheries, or they may be made to fit snugly into the openings 45 but at the same time freely movable with respect to the seat 11.

The operation of the device need hardly be described in detail. The cover is retained in closed position by the engagement of the threaded portion 20 and the lug 19. When in this position, the inoperative edge 38 of the blade is wholly enclosed and efficiently protected. When the cover is thrown back, the entire seat is exposed, and the application or removal therefrom of a blade is an extremely simple operation. Blades which are symmetrical about an axis parallel to the cutting edges are preferably employed although certain of the phases of my invention lid do not necessitate such symmetry. Where the blade is symmetrical, as illustrated, it may be reversed so as to employ the edge 38 instead of the edge 37 Upon such reversal, the bladeadvancing means 42 will engage the bowels 41, and the bevels 40 will cooperate with the stops 35. In any and every event, the selected cutting edge will be properly positioned so that maximum shaving efl'iciency will be obtained.

It will thus be seen that I have in a simple manner solved the numerous problems hereinbefore referred to, and have provided a device which is not only simple to manufacture and use but uniformly eflicient in fulfillin its shaving functions.

t will be obvious that changes may be made in the details herein described and illus trated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope oi. the invention as expressed in the appended claims. it is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. lln combination with a double-edged water type blade, a razor having a blade seat provided with a guard edge, blade stops associated with said guard edge and defining a predetermined proper positional relationship of the blade with respect to said edge, means co-operable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, and means for advancing the blade against the stops.

2. lln combination with a double-edged water type blade, a razor having a blade seat provided with a guard edge, blade stops asso ciated with said guard edge and defining a predetermined proper positional relationship of the blade with respect to said edge, means co-operable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, and means (lo-operable with an unsharpened portion of the blade for advancing the blade against said stops;

3. lln combination with an apertured wafer type blade, a razor having a blade seat provided with a ard edge and stops defining a predetermined proper positional relationship of the blade with respect to said edge, a pin loosely extending through said aperture for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, and means for advancing the blade with respect to said guard edge and said pin and against said stops.

1-. ln combination with an apertured double-ed ed wafer type blade, amazor hav ing a blad e seat provided with a guard edge, blade stops associated with said guard edge and defining a predetermined proper positional relationshi of the blade with respect to said edge, a pin extending through said aperture for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, and means operable upon an unsharpened portion of the blade for advancing the latter against said stops.

5. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, means for advancing the blade along said seat, and beveled portions ,associated with the guard edge and co-operable with said beveled side edges to center the blade, and blade stops encounterable by the extreme ends of said front blade edge.

6. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, means cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, means for advancing the blade along said seat after it has been preliminarily located and partially secured thereto, and beveled portions associated with the guard edge to center the blade.

7. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, means cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, blade stops associated with the guard edge to limit the advancement of the front blade edge over the guard edge, and means engaging said beveled side edges toward the rear thereof for advancing the blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon.

8. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, means cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily loeating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, blade stops associated with the guard edge to limit the advancement of the front blade edge over the guard edge, and means engaging said beveled side edges toward the rear thereof for advancing the blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon; said blade being symmetrical about an axis parallel to said front blade edge so as to render the blade reversible, and said preliminary locating means being so arranged and constructed as to function in predetermined manner even when the blade is reversed.

9. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, a pivotal cover for the seat, means associated with the seat and cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, means carried by the cover and cooperable with said beveled side edges when the cover is closed for advancing the blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon, and blade stops associated with the guard edge and cooperable with said beveled side edges to limit the advancement of the front blade edge over the guard edge and thereby assure proper predetermined positioning of said front blade edge.

10. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a I guard edge, a pivotal cover for the seat, means associated with the seat and cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, means carried by the cover and cooperable with said beveled side edges when the cover is closed for advancing the blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon, and blade stops associated with the guard edge and cooperable with said beveled side edges to limit the advancement of the front blade edge over the guard edge and thereby secure proper predetermined positioning of said front blade edge; said blade-advancing means comprising angularly disposed shoulders integrally formed upon the interior of the cover.

11. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, a pivotal cover for the seat, means associated with the seat and cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, means carried by the cover and cooperable with said beveled side ed es when the cover is closed for advancing t e blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon, and means associated with the guard edge and cooperable with said beveled side edges for centering the blade thereby assuring proper predetermined positionin of said front blade edge; said preliminary locating means comprising a pin carried by the seat and extendible through the blade.

12. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a guard edge, a-pivotal cover for the seat, means associated with the seat and cooperable with a midportion of the blade for preliminarily locating and partially securing the blade in approximate position upon the seat, means carried by the cover and cooperable with said beveled side edges when the cover is closed for advancing the blade along the seat after it has been preliminarily located thereon, and means associated with the guard edge and cooperable with said beveled side edges to center the blade and thereby assure proper predetermined positioning of said front blade edge; and blade stops each comprising an abutment so shaped and positioned as to cooperate with the extreme ends of the front blade edge.

13. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising an unperforated blade seat, a blade cover having a portion adapted to overlie the seated blade and a portion beneath the plane of said seat, a handle engaging the latter portion, and angularly disposed shoulders carried by the cover and cooperable with the beveled side edges when the cover is closed to advance the blade along said seat.

14:. In combination with a wafer type razor blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat with a guard edge, a blade cover pivotally associated with the holder to the rear of and beneath the plane of the seat, said cover being adapted to swing forwardly onto or rearwardly clear of the seat, said cover having an attaching lug arranged to swing beneath the rear edge of the seat when the cover is swung forwardly, and said cover being provided with shoulders which enga e said beveled side edges of the blade to a Vance the latter over the guard edge when the cover is swung forwar ly.

15. In combination with a double-edged wafer type blade having beveled side edges, a razor blade holder comprising a blade seat having a forward guard edge, blade stops associated with the ard edge and shaped to cooperate with sai beveled side edges, and a blade cover pivotally associated with the holder to permit covering or uncovering of the blade, said cover being so formed as to enclose without contacting the rear edge of the blade when it is moved to cover the latter, and said cover being provided with shoulders which cooperate with said beveled side edges to advance the blade when the cover is so moved.

16. In a razor assembly, the combination with a blade seat having blade engaging front stops and an undercut pin to the rear of said stops, of a blade applicable to the seat and provided with an aperture engageable over the pin, the pin bein undercut so as to permit movement of the lade relatively to the pin and adjustment of the blade over the seat against said stops after en agement.

17. In combination with a double edged wafer type blade having oppositely posi tioned-shaving edges and having its sides converging oppositely in the direction of each shaving edge, and an aperture positioned intermefdlate of the shaving edge, the beveled side edges, the cutting edge and the aperture all being symmetrically positioned relatively to each other with reference to axes at right angles to each other, a razor having a guard edge and front stops adapted to engage the active shaving edge, and means for engaging the bevelled side edges adjacent the inactive shaving edge for advancing the active shaving edge against said front stops.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

MARCUS B. BEHRMAN.

Images