US2008025A

US2008025A - Razor blade sharpener

Info

Publication number: US2008025A
Application number: US728922A
Authority: US
Inventors: Luxmore William
Original assignee: ALBERT G MCCALEB
Current assignee: ALBERT G MCCALEB
Priority date: 1934-06-04
Filing date: 1934-06-04
Publication date: 1935-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1952-07-16

Description

MUY M l3. w. I LJXMORE 2,008,925

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER July '16, 193.

W. LUXMOR ,008,925

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed June 4, 1934 2 SheecS-Sheet 2 Q i@ I 1 IV a ingrdrawings, in which UNITED STATES? Patented July 16, 1935 PATENT oFricE RAZORABLADE `SHARPLMER Application June 4, 1934, serial Nq. "128,922` 16 Claims. ,(01. .t1-158)l i My invention relates to razor blade sharpeners and contemplatesthe provision of a simple and easily manipulated mechanism. which willper` form a superior job of razor blade sharpening by causing each cutting edge which is to be sharpened to travel between a pair of opposed honing surfaces with whichsuch edge alternately has sliding contact during the movement of the blade.

Inits more preferred embodiments, my inven` tion comprises Vtwo spaced-apart pairs of `elongatedl honing surfaces, the honing surfaces of each pair defining achannel adaptedto receive one of. the cutting edges of a blade which is sup.

ported and reciprocated and otherwisemoved between said pairs of honing surfaces, and between ment of my invention, the cover, with which thehoning surfaces of each pair, so that each cutting edge alternately has sliding contact, preferably ina line parallel to said cutting edge, withthe Vhoning surfaces of the pair between which that particular edge moves.` 4

Other salient features of the `invention are novel devices (a) for supporting and reciprocating ablade, (b) for moving each blade edge, by and during reciprocation, into andfout of contact with the honing surfaces which act upon-such edge, and (c) for insuring that the blade edges bear against their proper honing surfaces with a predetermined proper pressure regardless of the force which is utilized in reciprocating the bladev to be shapened. i

Other features, objects and advantages of 4my invention will appear from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompany- Fig. l is a top plan View of a preferred embodi-y -device may be provided, being removed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in the Figs.` 4, 5 and 6 are views which respectivelyY illustrate the blade 'carriage support,` the blade carriage,` and the blade holder,-these three views collectively showing `the said sub-unitsx of the Sharpener in animaginar-y exploded relationev ship;

tive base sections if desired; c b Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of my invention,the major portion of the the Fig. 7 is an isometric view illustrating howthe hones may be formed integral with their respeceV y their respective base sections 26a, and 2012 in any cover being broken away to reveal parts there beneath; i Y

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section taken in the vertical plane ofthe line 9- 9 `of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line Illlil of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View takenV v in the vertical plane of theline Il-H of Fig. 9; and y f Figs. 12,` 13,V 14 and 15 are views which respectively illustrate the blade carriage support, the twisted portion of the operating rod, the blade carriage and the blade holden-these views co1- lectively illustrating the said sub-units of the' Sharpener shown in Figs. 8to 11 in an imaginary exploded relationship. j,

Similar characters'of reference refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

` Referring first to that embodiment of my invention which is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,` the Sharpener comprises a base 20, and if desired,` a cover 2 I which is removed when the Sharpener is in use. y

I prefer that the base shall consist of two complementary sections or halves 28a and 20h, formed from a moldable composition, such for example, as a suitable one of the several well known moldable phenolic condensation products; these base halves being secured together, and held in proper alignment, by

screws

22, 22 and a key 23 which is formed `on one of said halves and engages a corresponding groove in the other. i

Carried by the base'sections 20a and 201i, respectively, 'are `the hones 24 and 25,-feach of these hones preferably, but not necessarily, being in the form' of, an elongated body of natural or artificial stone. The hones 2li and 25 are parallel, `arespaced apart horizontally, and are groovedonltheir opposed sides to provide two spaced-apart pairs of honing surfaces 24a, 24h and 250i, 25h. In this embodiment of my invention the hone grooves or channels are preferably V-shapedso that the honing `surfaces of each of the aforesaidpairs will diverge toward the other pair of honingsurfaces-allof the honing surfaces being disposed 'at equal angles to a horizontal plane passing through the apices of said V-shaped lgrooves or channels.

While the hones4 24 and 25 may be secured to suitable manner, I find it convenient to dovetail the' lower portions of the hones as shown and to embed them in the upper portions of the base sections when the latter are molded.

Formed in the opposed surfaces of the base sections 26a and 20h are semi-cylindrical grooves which together constitute a cylindrical chamber 26 which extends longitudinally of the base and terminates just short of each of its ends. Cylindrical chamber 26 opens upwardly, between the hones 24 and 25, through a slot 21,-the spacedapart surfaces of the base sections which define this slot being vertical and parallel.

The slot 21 may be extended somewhat beyond the ends of the cylindrical chamber 26, as indicated at 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) to accommodate maximum reciprocations of the blade carriage presently to be described. Moreover, for the same purpose and also to accommodate the abutment of the operating rod presently to be mentioned, a small chamber 30, which communicates with the cylindrical chamber 26 and slot 21, is formed in the base sections.

I now call attention to the blade carriage support 3l which occupies and operates in the cylindrical chamber 26 and slot 21 of the base. This blade carriage support, which preferably is formed of one piece of metal, comprises a pair of oppositely facing

channels

32, 32, and a cylindrically curved spring-web 33 which integrally `joins the lower edges of the

channels

32, 32.

The spring web 33 occupies the cylindrical chamber 25 of the base while channels 32, 32 embrace and bear against those parallel vertical surfaces of the base sections which define the slot 21. rI'he upper flanges of the

channels

32, 32, which slide upon the tops of the base sections, are horizontal, while the lower flanges of said channels are curved to bear snugly against the contiguous portions of the curved wall of cylindrical chamber 26. The pressure with which spring-web 33 urges the.

channels

32, 32 against the walls of the slot 21 is carefully determined because, as will hereinafter be explained, it is this pressure of channels 32,. 32 against the slot walls which determines the pressure with which the edges of the blade to be sharpened are pressed against the honing surfaces in the operation of the Sharpener.

Fixedly carried by one of the channels 32 of the blade carriage support is a pin 34, which is.

freely received by an aperture 35 in the other channel 32. This pin 34, which bridges the space between the channel backs (and servesv as the pivot for the blade carriage bell crank presently to be described) does not interfere with the lfunction of spring-web 33 to force the

channels

32, 32 firmly into engagement with the walls of slot 21 (see Fig. 3).

The blade carriage, indicated as a whole at 36, comprises an elongated body portion 31 which consists of a metal strip formed to give it'the shape of a narrow U in transverse sections,--the legs of this U being provided with oppositely turned horizontal flanges 3B-38. The lower left hand corner (Fig. of the carriage body member 31 is preferably cut away, asV indicated at 39, to enable movement of said carriage to the extreme left hand position indicated in Fig'. 2.

^ The right hand end (Fig. 5) of the carriage body member 31 is slotted to receive the lower and shorter arm of a curved leaf spring 40, which has its upper and longer arm disposed over the member 31 with a tendency to press against the latter. The said lower'and shorter arm of the leaf spring 40 is conveniently soldered in the slot by which it is received. Lying between carriage body member 31 and the upper arm of the spring 40, and clamped to the former, and by the latter, is a bar 4l having the cross sectional shape of a shallow inverted U, this bar having an integral upturned lug 42 which extends freely through a small aperture located near the extremity of the upper arm of the leaf spring 4D. A pair of spaced lugs 43, 43, turned upwardly from the right hand end (Fig. 5) of the bar 4| embrace the curved portion of the spring 46 between them, and, with previously mentioned lug 42, maintain the bar 4| in substantial alignment with carriage body member 31 and the upper arm of the said spring 4U.

It will be noted that a V-shaped notch 44 is cut in the lower edge of the carriage body member 31,-this notch serving to accommodate bell crank lever 45 and the previously mentioned pin 34, whereby said bell crank lever is pivoted to the

channels

32, 32 of the blade carriage support 3l. One arm of this'bell crank lever 45 lies between the spaced walls of the carriage body member 31 and is pivoted to the latter by pin 46. The other arm of said bell crank lever is pivoted by pin 41 to the bifurcated extremity of an operating rod 48.

Operating rod 43 is arranged to slide freely through a bearing in the right hand end (Fig. 2) of the base,-said bearing being formed by opposed semi-cylindrical grooves molded in the base sections a and 20h. At its outer end rod 43 carries handle 49 and, midway between its ends, may be provided with an abutment 5S. Handle 49 is rotatably mounted on rod 48. The abutment 5i), in the present showing, has taken the form of a partial sleeve soldered or otherwise fixed upon rod 48. The engagements of handle 49 and abutment 50, respectively, with the outer and imier surfaces of the right hand (Fig. 2) end wall if the base, determine the reciprocation limits of rod 48.

The blade holder 5| comprises a bar having downturned

lateral flanges

52, 52 arranged to rest on the

flanges

38, 38 of the blade carriage body member 31. Projecting upwardly from the upper surface of they blade holder bar are spaced

studs

53, 53 which are arranged to engage in suitable correspondingly shaped holes formed in a conventional two edged safety razor blade, indicated at 54. A flange 55 is preferably turned up at the left hand end (Fig. 6) of the blade holder bar to serve as a handle wherewith to manipulate the blade holder onto and olf of the blade carriage previously mentioned. Flange 55 also serves as a stop when inserting the blade holder into the blade carriage.

When it is intended that the Sharpener of the present invention shall handle safety razor blades of aplurality of styles and makes, the sharpencr will be equipped with a plurality of blade holders, each of these blade holders being provided with one or more lugs, corresponding to the

studs

53, 53 previously mentioned, shaped and disposed to cooperate with the openings found in the particular style or make of blade with which the holder is intended to cooperate.

In using the Sharpener just described, the blade toI be sharpened is placed on its blade holder substantially as shown in Fig. 6. The left hand end (Fig. 5) of the blade carriage bar 4l is then lifted against the pressure of spring 4B and the blade holder is slipped under said bar '4L-each edge of the razor blade occupying a position between the honing surfaces (24a, 241) and 25a, 25h) if each pair of opposed honing surfaces. The

lof

sharpeneris now readyto perform its function.

lThe handle 4S is'grasped and moved to its dotted line position from the full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.* At the commencement `of this movementfthe bell crank lever turns counterclockwise (Fig.` 2)`to raise theblade carriage and firmly press the blade edges intoen-` gagement withthe upperho'ning surfaces 24o and 25a,thc pressure -with which the -blade edges engage' the said honing surfaces being de" termined by the force necessary to overcome the frictionlbetween the channels 32` 32 ofy the blade holder support' and the vertical Walls of the base slot 2l. When that friction is` overcome, `the blade carriage support, blade" carriage, blade` holder and'the blade are moved lto the right (Fig. 2), each bladeedge having sliding Contact,

thebase, the blade edgesmove overtheflower honing surfaces Mb vand 25b-,`again in lines paral-f lel to said blade edges." i

recipfrocation of the handle 49 `continuestide blade edges, during movements of the handle in opposite directions,` alternately engaging the upper and lower honing surfaces which define the channels which the bladeledges move, and always yieldingly'bearing against those honing surfaces with pressures determined by the friction between the base `and the blade holder support 3l. i Y

` In the embodimentfof my invention just described, the edge forming angles atiwhich the honing surfaces engage the razor blade are determined by the angularity of the honing surfaces to the two parallel planes, upper and'lower, which the blade occupies and iniwhich it moves when reciprocating in oppositedirections.

`In Figf I have illustrated how the hones, of

Vthe type of-device depicted in the preceding gures, maybe formed integral with the molded base sections by which said honesiare carried. Fig. 7 shows butone of these molded base sections having a hone formed integral therewith. It may be assumed that the molded base section shown inthe figure under discussion is formed from a moldable phenolic condensation product having a` considerable amount ofsuitable abrasiveadmixed with it beforeV the performance of the molding operation. While in some cases it maybe possible to connethe abrasive to the honeregion ofthe molded base section, itis usually notl practical to do so. Therefore, when I form the hones integral with their respective base sections, and `incorporate abrasive material `into the base sections as just-explained, I prefer to line the walls of thebase slot 2'! with channels 5t, the purpose" of these channels being to be embraced by and to 'prevent `that undue wear of the blade icarriagef support channels 32 32 which would occur if such last mentioned channels were in direct sliding contactiwith base sectionwalls having a substantial amount of abrasive embedded therein, Otherwise than as just explained a sharpener comprising base sections each havingan integral hone;- as depicted in Fig. '7, may be identical in construction and modev of operationi With the Sharpener illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. both inclusive. 1 A i Inthe modified embodiment of my invention illustrated` inFigs. 8 to 15 inclusive, I provide a basell consisting of molded complementary base sections Ello and h secured together and held in proper alignment by screws GI, Bl and key 62. This embodiment of the invention also may be provided with a cover 63, of any suitable material, which is preferably removed when the Sharpener isin use. i

`Inthis form of my invention the spacedapart hohes S4 and E5, which are preferably formed of natural or artificial stone, are held upon their respective base sections Sila and Gllb by screws 6E, Eli-it being found advantageous,c in order to keepthe hohes in precise alignment with their respective basel1 sections and with each other, to provide each hone on its lower surface with. an integral rib B5 which engages in a correspondingly shaped slot formed in the upper surface of the base section by'which such hone isV carried.

v"I'he spaced-apart lateral surfaces of the

hones

64 and 55 are provided" withgrooves or channels so thateach hone presents a pair of opposed upper and lower honing surfaces,'-'the opposed upper and lower honing surfaces of the hone 64 being indicatedat `Sie, and'llib, respectively, and

` Y p l, thecorresp'onding honing surfaces of the hone 65 The operations justdescribed are repeated as being indicated attac and 652), respectively.

lInthis embodiment of my invention it is desirable to have the upper and lower honing surfaces of each honepa'rallel with each other, for the reason that the blade carriage, which servesrto shift; a blade to be sharpened into and out of engagement withthese honing surfaces, tilts laterally `on'its longitudinal axis, to determine the Vedge-`-fo1'ming angles between the blade to be sharpened and the honing surfaces with which its edge or edges engage in the operation of the Sharpener.

The base sections tea and Gill) are conformedto provide Athe elongated chamber Si which has upwardly converging side walls, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 10. Chamber 6l opens upwardly, betweenthe hohes, through a slot 68. The opposed surfaces of the base sections which define base slot 68 are vertical and parallel for cooperation with the blade carriage support next to be described.M

The blade carriage support, indicated as a whole at 6e, comprises a single vpiece of sheet metal conformed to provide aligned spaced-apart` rod guides lll, l, webs lll; liwhich bear yieldingly but with substantial pressure against the walls of base slot 68, and downwardly diverging flanges l2, 72, which bear against the upwardly converging walls` of base chamber 6l', to prevent the` escape of the said blade carriage support from the base wherein and wherecn itreciprocates.

The blade carriage indicated as a whole at 13 comprises a metal strap lid, which is turned back upon itself,v as indicated at to provide a spring arm T8, which in turn is provided near its free end with laterally projecting lugs 11, Tl. These Iugs Tl, 'l'i engage in correspondingly shaped apertures formed in a pair of spaced-apart lugs S, 78, which are struck upwardly from a channel member 19. Channel member i9, which serves as a clampfor the blade and -blade holder presentlyto be mentioned, is urged, by spring arm T5, toward the lower or body portion of the blade carriage strap 'M w Y soldered to the under surface of the lower or 8| of an operating rod 82, which, except at its twisted portion, is of square cross section.

The twisted portion 8| of the operating rodv cooperates with nut 8U and extends freely through the rod guides '10, l0 of the blade carriage support. Turning of the rod 82 about its longitudinal axis is prevented by a bearing 83, of sheet metal, which slidingly embraces the rod 82 at the right hand end (Fig. 2) of the base. This bearing 83 is held snugly in recesses formed in those opposed surfaces of the base sections between which said bearing is disposed (Fig. 11). At its outer end rod 82 is provided with the operating handle 84, the latter being rotatable on the former.

The blade holder of the Sharpener under discussion comprises channel member 85, the flanges of which are arranged to embrace the lateral edges of the lower or body portion of the blade carriage strap 74. The blade holder channel is provided at its left hand end (Fig. 15) with an upturned flange 86 to serve as a handle for manipulating the blade holder into and out of the blade carriage. Flange 86 also serves as a stop when inserting the holder into the carriage. The blade holder channel is also provided on its upper surface with a circular stud 8l and a generally A-shaped stud 88 for the reception by the apertures formed in a familiar style of safety razor blade, indicated at 89, which has but one sharpened edge.

In order to sharpen the blade 89, it is placed on blade holder channel 85, as indicated in Fig. 15, and the blade holder, with the blade thereon, is slipped under the blade carriage channel 19, with the flanges of the blade holder channel embracing the lateral edges of the lower or body portion of the blade carriage strap member |4.

The proper insertion of the blade holder into the blade carriage causes the sharpened edge of the blade 89 to lie in the channel formed by the upper and lower honing surfaces 64a and 64b o-f the hone 64. It will be understood, of course, that the blade 89 might be of a type having two sharpened edges, in which event the second of its sharpened edges would lie in the channel of the hone E5 for cooperation with the upper and lower honing surfaces 65a and 65h of said hone.

The blade is sharpened by reciprocating the handle 84 from one to the other of its dotted line positions, indicated in Fig. 8.

It may be assumed, for the purpose of drawing description, that the handle 84 is being reciprocated from its full line position to the left hand one of its dotted line positions indicated in Fig. 8. With the handle so moving the blade carriage is tilted to the position indicated in Fig, 10, due to the engagement of the nut 80 with the threaded portion 8| of the rod 82, and the sharpened edge of the razor blade bears against the lower honing surfaces 64b with the pressure determined by the force necessary to cause the blade carriage support 69, and parts carried thereby, to slide on and relative to the base, despite its frictional engagement with the latter.

When the handle '|4 has moved to the right (Fig. 8), the engagement of the nut 80 with the twisted portion 8| of the operating rod tilts the blade carriage through a few degrees, in a clock-- wise direction from the position sho-wn in Fig. 10,

to cause the sharpened edge of the blade to leave the honing surface 64b and engage the honing surface 64a with a pressure that can be determined by the sliding friction between the blade carriage support 69 and the base.

As the handle 84 continues to be reciprocated in opposite directions, the sharpened edge of the blade alternately engages the honing surfaces 64a .and 64b, and while engaging such honing surfaces moves with respect thereto in a line parallel to such edge. The edge-forming angle of the blade andthe honing surface which it is engaging in either of its reciprocatory movements, is determined by the tilt of the blade carriage with respect to the planes of the honing surfaces which, in the present embodiment of my invention, are all horizontal.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention in two preferred embodiments thereof, I do not limit myself to the details of construction herein described and illustrated, but, to the contrary, desire to secure all embodiments of my invention falling within the scope o-f the appended claims. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a pair of opposed honing surfaces defining a channel, a blade carriage mounted for reciprocation on the base and arranged to support and move a blade with an edge in said channel, means for reciprocating the carriage, and carriage shifting mechanism, responsive to movements of the aforesaid reciprocating means, functioning to effect a complete lateral shift of the carriage at right angles to the direction of its reciprocation to place the edge of a blade carried by said carriage in contact with said honing surfaces, alternately, when the reciprocating means is actuated to move the carriage in opposite directions, each lateral shift of the carriage, as aforesaid, accomplishing a movement of its axis laterally.

2. A razor blade Sharpener comprising a base, a pair of parallel spaced-apart hones supported by the base, razor blade edge receiving channels formed in the sides of said hones which are presented to each other, a blade carriage operating between said hones and arranged to carry a blade with an edge thereof in each of said channels, a'carriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, a bell crank pivoted to said carriage support and having one arm thereof pivoted to the blade carriage, and an operating rod to which the other end of said bell crank is pivoted, substantially as described.

3. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, a pair of parallel spaced-apart hones supported by the base, razor blade edge receiving channels formed in the sides of said hones which face each other, a blade carriage operating between said hones, a blade carriage support for sliding frictional engagement with the base, said blade carriage support providing spaced-apart guides for an operating rod, an operating rod having a threaded portion occupying said guides, and a nut carried by the blade carriage located between said guides and cooperating with the threaded portion of the operating rod to tilt the blade carriage about said rod as an axis prepartory to reciprocating movements of the carriage and carriage support accomplished by movements of said operating rod.

4.111 a razor blade Sharpener, the combination of a base, a pair of honing surfaces carried by Aaooaoet the base and defining a blade edgereceiving channel, a blade `carriagereciprocably mounted on the base, means for reciprocating the blade carriage, and carriageshifting mechanism responsive to actuation of the reciprocating means arranged and adapted to .cause an edge of the blade carried by said carriage to engage one and then the other of said honing surfaces as the carriage is reciprocated, said Vcarriage shifting mechanism comprising a blade carriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base and a lever pivoted to said blade carriage support constituting an `operating connection between the blade carriage and the carriage reciprocating means.

5. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, a blade carriage, a bladecarriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, said blade carriage being articulated with the blade carriage support for movement relativelyA to said blade carriage support, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception of an edge of a razor blade carried by said bladev carriage, and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage and blade carriage support, arrangedand adapted when actuated simultaneously to `reciprocate said blade carriage and said blade carriage support, and shift the blade carriagerrelatively to the blade carriage support, prior to each reversal of reciprocatory movement, to move an edge'of the blade away fromV one of said honing surfaces and place and hold said edge against the other of said honing surfaces with a honing pressure determined by that friction-between the base and the blade carriage support, which must be overcome before the blade carriage support and blade `carriage are reciprocated.' Y'

6. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in said base, an expansible blade carriage support having portions extending into said slot and bearing against the wallsrthereof fric,- tionally to oppose relative sliding movementbetween `the base and said blade carriage support, a blade carriage mounted on and shiftable with respect to said blade carriage support, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception i of an edge of a razor blade mounted on said blade carriage, and operating devices connected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage to reciprocate the same and shift said blade carriage relative to said blade carriage support prior to each reciprocatory movement to effect the movement of the blade edge from one to the other of said honing surfaces.

'7. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in said base, a chamber in the base with which said slot communicates, a blade ,car` riage support which comprises a pair of friction members bearing against the walls of saidslot and an expansible member occupying said base chamber and tending to press said friction members against the walls of said slot, a blade carriage mounted on and shiftable with respect to said blade carriage support, a. pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and dening a channel for the reception of an edge of a razor blade mounted on said blade carriage, and operating devices connected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage to reciprocate said last mentioned elements and shift said blade carriage relative to said blade carriage support prior to each reciprocatory movement to effect the movement of the blade edge from one to the other of said honing surfaces.

t 8. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in the base, a chamber in the base with which said slot communicates, a blade carriage "i support having a pairY of spaced friction members extending into said slot and provided withr offset terminal portions occupying said chamber, a spring-web connecting said friction members and .tending to press the same against the Awalls of saidslot, a blade carriage mounted'on and shiftable-with respect to said blade carriage support, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception of an edge of a razor blade mounted on said blade carriage, and operating devices con1 nected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage to reciprocate the elements last mentioned and shift said blade carriage relative to said blade carriage support, prior to each reciprccatory movement, to effect the movement of the blade edge from one to the other of said honing surfaces. i i

9. PIn a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in the. base, a blade carriage support comprising a vpair of spaced friction-members having corresponding edgesV joined by a spaced pair of substantially cylindrical springwebs', said friction members occupying said slot and being pressed against the walls of the slot by said springwebs, a non-rotatable threaded operating rod.` occupying said spring-webs and bridgingthe space between them, a blade carriage disposed above said blade carriage support and provided witlra nutcooperating with the threaded rod,

on'the base, means for reciprocating the blade carriage, and carriage shifting mechanism, re# sponsive to actuation of the reciprocating means, arranged and adapted to cause an edge of the blade carried by said carriage to engage first 'one and then the other of said honing surfaces as the carriage is reciprocated, said carriage shifting mechanism comprising a blade carriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base and a lever pivoted to said blade carriage support constituting an operating connection between the 'blade carriage and the carriage reciproeating means.` C

` 11.111 a `razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising an elongated bodymember,` a leaf spring'having `one end thereof attached tc one end of said body member, the other end of the leaf spring overlying said body member, a clamping bar which is of inverted U shape in transverse cross section, said clamping bar being carried by the free end of said leaf spring and being by the latter pressed toward the upper surface of said body member, and a blade holder of inverted U shape in transverse cross section adapted to lie between said clamping bar and the body mem` ber, and to embrace said body member, and pro`- jections on the upper surface of the blade holder adapted to project through apertures in a razor blade, said projections being received by the U-shaped clamping bar when the blade holder is positioned between the clamping bar and the body member.

12. In a razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising a body member provided at one end with an integral spring arm turned back to overlie said body member, a clamping bar of inverted U shape in transverse cross section pivoted to the free end of said spring arm and being by the latter urged toward said body member, a blade holder of inverted U shape in transverse cross section adapted to lie between the body member and the clamping bar and to embrace the body member, and projections on the upper surface of the blade holder adapted to project through apertures in a razor blade disposed on said holder, said projections being received in the channel of the clamping bar when the blade holder is disposed between the clamping bar and the body member and is embracing the latter.

13. In a razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising a body member, a curved leaf spring extending from one end of the body member and being turned to overlie said body member, a clamping bar of inverted U shape in transverse cross section disposed over said body member and carried by that portion of the leaf spring which overlies the body member, said leaf spring tending to urge said clamping bar toward said body member, and a blade holder of inverted U shape in transverse cross section adapted to embrace the body member and to lie between the latter and the clamping bar, and projections carried by the upper surface of the blade holder adapted to extend through apertures in a razor blade, said projections being received in the channel of the clamping bar when the blade holder is embracing the body member and is clamped to the latter by means of the clamping bar and its associated leaf spring.

14. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a. blade carriage, a blade carriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception of a razor blade carried by said blade carriage, and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage and said blade carriage support, arranged and adapted when actuated simultaneously to reciprocate said blade carriage and said blade carriage support and shift the blade carriage relatively to the blade carriage support, prior to each reversal of reciprocatory movement, to move an edge of the blade away from one of said honing surfaces and place and hold said edge against the other of said honing surfaces with a honing pressure determined by that friction, between the base and the blade carriage support, which must be overcome before the blade carriage support and blade carriage are reciprocated, the aforesaid operating devices comprising an actuating rod, mounted for reciprocation relatively to the base,

and a lever, said lever being pivotally connected with each of the rod, blade carriage support, and blade carriage.

15. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a blade carriage, a blade carriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception of a razor blade carried by said blade carriage, and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage and said blade carriage support, arranged and adapted when actuated simultaneously to reciprocate said blade carriage and said blade carriage support and laterally tilt the blade carriage relatively to the blade carriage support, prior to each reversal of reciprocatory movement, to move an edge of the blade away from one of said honing surfaces and place and hold said edge against the other of said honing surfaces with a honing pressure determined by that friction, between the ,l

base and the blade carriage support, which must be overcome before the blade carriage support and blade carriage are reciprocated, the aforesaid operating devices comprising an actuating rod mounted for reciprocation relatively to the base, :i

means for preventing rotation of said actuating rod, a nut carried by the blade carriage, and a threaded element carried by the actuating rod and cooperating with said nut.

16. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a blade carriage support mounted on and reciprocable with respect to the base, a blade carriage mounted on said blade carriage support for movement relative to the latter, an operating member con nected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage, said operating member being capable of alternate movements in opposite directions, instrumentalities cooperating with said blade carriage support, blade carriage and operating member and adapted, on reversal of movement of such operating member, to effect, rstly, relative movement between blade carriage and blade carriage support, and, secondly, movement in unison of blade carriage support and blade carriage relatively to the base, a pair of honing surfaces, stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for the reception of an edge of a razor blade carried by said blade carriage, one of said honing surfaces being engaged by said blade edge during movements in unison of the blade carriage and blade carriage support in one direction, and the other of said honing surfaces being engaged by said blade edge during movements in unison of the blade carriage and blade carriage support in the opposite direction, and resilient friction members acting between the base and blade carriage support to prevent reversals of movement of blade carriage support with respect to the base until a preceding movement of the blade carriage with respect to the blade carriage support has shifted the blade edge from one to the other of said honing surfaces.

WILLIAM LUXMORE.