US2057530A - Safety razor, hone strap, and container - Google Patents

Description

Get. 13, 1936. KAUFMANN 2,057,530

SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER Filed A ri; 6, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Harry H. Kaufman BY may; flflz'q7 fluab M ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 13, 1936. H, A K N 2,057,530

SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 13, 1936.

H. A. KAUFMANN 2,057,530 SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 7 A m L- liar/[11111111111104 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT orFicE SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP; AND

1 CONTAINER Harry A. Kaufmann, Highland Park, vMich. Applicati0n April 6,1931, Serial'No. 527,892

7 Claims.

My invention relates to razors and particularly to a safety razor and to a container'therefor which embodies a hone and a stropping mechanism for maintaining a sharp edge on the razor 5 blade.

In practicing my invention, I employ a box like kit or container for enclosing a razor and provide a hone and a stropping device within the container which requires only a slight increase in the size of the container over that for encas ing the razor alone. By providing a container or kit for a razor in which both a hone and stropping mechanism is embodied, I am able to supply blade to the razor which may be of the nonrenewal type and which is capable of being honed and then stropped by any one unskilled in the razor honing and stropping art. The razor is so constructed that it provides the means for holding the blade for shaving, for stropping and also for honing.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to provide a razor with a blade which is capable of being supported in any of three distinct positions, one for shaving, one for stropping, and one for honing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety razor in which the blade is of the nonrenewal type, being capable of being honed and stropped when supported by the frame employed for shaving. 1 I V A further object of my invention'is to provide a container for a safety razor of the above mentioned type, having means for honing and stropping the blade of the razor that is enclosed within the container.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pair of rolls for stropping a razor ofthe above described type which are movable laterally and angularly and are rotatable relatively to each other.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable retaining means for the razor which supports the razor within the container,

both in its shaving and stropping position, the adjustment being provided to regulate the positionof the blade edge relative to the stropping elements. I V

A still further object of my invention is to provide a handle for rotating the rolls of the stropping mechanism which is supported within the roll and which is movable a small distance l'aterally thereof to permit 'the"engagement between" the handle and a pronged member for moving the roll in a single predetermined direction.

; A still further object of my invention is to,

provide a retaining means for the cover of the base member of my kit which is releasably engageable with the cover and provided with openings by means of which the kit is ventilated.

- Numerous other objects and features of novelty 5 of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a razor embodying features of my invention with the blade thereof in shaving position,

Figure 2 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with the blade in stropping position, i J

Figure 3 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with the blade in honing position,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1, taken along the line 4-4 thereof,

Figure 5 is a'sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 2, taken along the line 5-5 thereof, 7

Figure 6 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the elements which go to make up my razor shown in Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a bottom view in perspective of the container employed for enclosing my razor,

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the bottom of the container showing the razor holding and stropping mechanism with the stropping element in longitudinal extending relation,

Figure 9 is a broken side view of the structure shown in Figure '7, illustrating the position of the razor and the stropping device in reverse relation with the cover.

Figure 10 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure l, with the stropping elements in vertical relation to each other and with the handle in outwardly biased aotuatable position,

Figure 11 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 9, illustrating the relation of my razor to the stropping elements.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 11, taken along the line l2,-l2 thereof, 1

Figure 13 is a sectional view of .the structure shownv in Figure 12, taken along the line l3- -l3 thereof,

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 13, taken along the line I l-l4 thereof;

'Figure 15 is a sectional'view of the structure 55' shown in Figure 14 taken along the line |5--|5 thereof,

Figure 16 is a broken view similar to the structure shown in Figure 9, illustrating a modified form of my invention, and

Figure 17 is a sectional view of the cover of my box and of a razor being honed on a honing element provided therein.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, I have shown my razor l9 as comprising five parts, a handle 20, a clamping member 2|, a supporting frame 22, a guard 23, and a blade 24 all of which will now be described in detail.

The guard 23 includes a cylindrical body portion 25, from which a plurality of teeth-like members 26 extend downwardly and are curved outwardly and provided with upstanding projections 21 on the end teeth, against the front surface of which the cutting edge of the blade abuts when.

mounted in shaving position on the holder; A stud 29 projects medially of the cylindrical portion 25, which is engaged by threads-3| provided in the small end of the handle 20. A pair of upstanding tongues 32 are mounted on the projections 27 for engaging the end of the blade and permitting a predetermined amount of movement of the blade therewith.

The supporting frame 22 comprises a central body portion 34, which is of arcuate shape conforming to the shape of the cylindrical portion 25 of the guard 23. The central part of the body portion 34 extends beyond a semicylindrical shape for the purpose of permitting the holder to be snapped over the cylindrical portion 25 and to be retained thereon by the spring engagement of the body portion therewith. A slot 35 is provided medially of the body portion, through which the stud 29 extends and which permits a predetermined amount of rocking movement of the holder relative to the guard.

An arm 36 extends frontwa'rdly of the body portion 34 at each of its ends, the outer ends of which are provided with a pair of inwardly projecting pins 31 for the purpose of engaging and supporting the razor blade 24. The inwardly projecting portions of the pins are conical shaped and are provided with a rearwardly projecting shank portion of reduced dimension which is pressed into the arms 36 for retaining the pins on the arms.

The blade 24 is provided with a cutting edge 45 and a back portion 4| of a thickness conforming to the taper at the; cutting edge. The blade is substantially a section of a. standard or straight razor-employed by barbers and is sharpened in the same manner, that is to say, by drawing the blade across a hone with the cutting edge disposed in the direction of motion frontwardly of theback portion 4|. The back portion 4| is of such thickness as to slope the blade relative to the stone and retain the sides of the cutting edge fiat on the honing surface. I

A pair of recesses 42 and 43 are provided in the sides of the blade near,,the .,back portion which are interconnected by a slot 44. The pins 31 engage the rearmost recess 42, on the body portion of the inwardly projecting cones, for supporting the blade in either shaving or stropping position on the holder. When the blade is to be honed, it is forced backwardly on the pins which slide frontwardly in the slot 44 until the points of the-pins register against the bottom of the recess 43 to-efiect a pivotal engagement to permit the blade to swing freely in the holder.

The recesses 43 are positioned frontward y from the back portion 4| of the blade a sufiicient distance to be frontwardly of the center of gravity of the blade to provide a preponderance of weight toward the back portion 4| in order that the blade will, of its own weight, swing on the pins 37 to have the back portion 4| extend downwardly from the holder 22 as shown in Figure 3 and in dot and dash line in Figure 17. In this position the blade is ready to be honed in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter.

When the blade is assembled in the holder, as shown in Figure 1, for the purpose of shaving, the blade is first adjusted relative to the guard 23, to advance or withdraw the blade from the end of the guard for positioning the cutting edge of the blade to. suit the individual operator. That is to say, some operators prefer to have the handle disposed normally to the face while others prefer to hold it in angular relation thereto, the various conditions being compensated for by the adjustment of the cutting edge of the blade relative to the end of the guard 23. A further advantage of the adjustment is to regulate the degree of closeness with which my razor is capable of shaving,

for a very close shave the blade is advanced toward the end of the guard. By having the handle 29. of the razor tapering toward the rear end, its center of gravity is close to the end, which permits the razor to stand up on the handle in stable position.

When the blade is to be stropped, the handle is loosened on the stud 29 and the holder 22 is rotated relative to the guard 23, to permit the cutting edge of the blade to clear the tongues 32 in order that the blade may be swung into extended position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, about the pins 31. The handle is then screwed upon the stud 29 to force the clamping element 2| against the holder 22 which is forced into firm engagement with the guard 23. The method of stropping my blade will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 7, I have shown a container 48 in closed carrying position with the razor 25, the hone and the stropping device enclosed within the container. The container 48 comprises a fiat base member 49 and a cover 50 which extends over the base member and is retained in fixed position thereon by suitable clamping means 5|.

Each end of the base member 49 is provided with an arcuate opening 52, across the outer ends of which a pin 53 extends. The pins are engaged by suitable spring clips 54 which are retained on the inner surface of the cover 50 by means of rivets 55 or any other suitable securing means. The openings 52 ventilate the container and permit the insertion of a finger to release a spring clip 54 to permit the cover to be removed from the base member.

A shoulder 51 is provided along the inner surface of the cover at a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the base member 49 against which the base member abuts when in either closed orstropping position as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. I have illustrated in Fig. 9 the base in reverse position on the cover 50, with the razor and the stropping device in position to be enclosed thereby.

A razor retaining member 69 is provided on the inner surface of the base member 49 for supporting the razor in carrying and in stropping position. The member is provided with a pair of upstanding arms 6|, having inturned flanges 62 thereon for the purpose of engaging the rear end of the handle of the razor which CIL is' -sna'pped against the bottom portion of the holder below the upper end of the upstanding member. The frontward end of the retaining member '60 is provided with an upstanding rearwardly curved spring portion 63, the upper end of which engages the inner portion of the guard when the blade is in shaving position on the holder, as shown in Fig. 9. The member 60 is widened at 6 for the purpose of having the outer edge of the wide portion engage the inner edge of the arms 36 to prevent a lateral movement of the razor relative to the holder.

- Recesses 65 are provided along the edges of the portion 64 to permit the arms 36 to extend therein, in order that the member 63 may engage the inner portion of the guard 23, above the center line through the handle. In this construction, both the upstanding members 62 and the member 53 effect a downward bias to the razor to retain it against the holding member 68. The razor is shown in dot and dash line in Fig. 9 to be retained in the above manner firmly on the base member against longitudinal or lateral movement.

- When the razor is to be supported for stropping, the blade is swung in extended position as shown in Fig. 2 and the upstanding portions 21 of end teeth 26 engage the underside of the member 63 as shown in Fig. 11, and the rearmost end of the handle 20 of the razor is snapped within the upstanding member 6! as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

To permit the longitudinal adjustment of the razor relative to the stropping member, a pair i of slots 5? are provided in the member 60, and

a pair of large headed screws 63 extend through theslot into the base member 39 for the purpose of retaining the holding member in fixed position thereon. Slots 69 are provided in the screws 68 of a width sufficient to receive a coin, which is a ready means usually at hand to permit the screws to be loosened and longitudinal adjustment of the holder made relative to the base and stropping members.

For stropping the blade I provide a stropping mechanism '50 which comprises a pair of rolls II and I2 which are actuated by a handle 99 to operate in opposite directions through the medium of a pair of gears I i. The construction of the stropping mechanism I is shown more clearly in the enlarged views I2, I3, I l, and I5.

The rolls 'EI and M are built up on a plurality of tubes in the following manner. A helical spring I is made of flat material which is spaced apart a-distance equal to the thickness of the stropping material i6 which extends therebetween. The stropping material is preferably made of leather and is provided in a strip of inverted T-shape, the flanges of the material extending inwardly of the spring I5. After a strip of material I5 is wound between the turns of the spring I5, a collapsible cylinder 18 is then inserted within the hollow interior of the assembly and is spread outwardly until the overlapping portions abut each other to comprise a complete cylinder which forces the material it firmly against he inner surface of the spring. A tubular member 80 is then pressed within the split tube I8 to provide a body portion for the roll, and a tube 81 is then pressed within the tube 80, the ends of the tube 85 being shouldered at 82, for a purpose which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A gear 8 is pressed on one end of the tube 0i, having a flange 85 thereon for increasing the frictional engagement between the gear and the tube, for retaining the gear in predetermined relation with the stropping element IS. The double row of teeth 86 are provided on the gear as shown in Figure 14, which are displaced one half of a pitch from the adjacent row of teeth, for the purpose of permitting a maximum lateral movement of the gears away from each other, without permitting the teeth to unmesh relatively to each other.

On the opposite end of the roll I2, a small washer 88 is pressed onto the tube 8|, which is in alignment with a larger ratchet member 89, which is pressed upon the shaft 8I of the lower roll II. The periphery of the ratchet washer 89 is engaged by a finger 90, as shown in Figure 13, which is forced against the ratchet by a spring QIwhich is Wound about a pin 92 upon which the finger 90 is pivoted.

Within the tube 8|, of the roll H, I provide a notched sleeve 94, which is pressed into firm engagement with the inner surface of the tube as shown in Figure 14. A shaft 95 extends through the sleeve 94 and is provided with a cross pin 95 on its inner end. A spring 91 abuts against the end of the cross pin 95 and is retained within the tube BI by a plug 98 which is pressed firmly within the end of the tube. The spring forces the shaft 95 outwardly, causing the pin 96 thereof to engage the notch of the sleeve 94 by means of which the roll TI is rotated by a handle 99, shown in Fig. 12.

A frame I00, of inverted U-shape, is provided with a pair of apertures I0! and a pair of slots 182, on the downwardly extending arms thereof, the apertures IiII receive the shouldered ends of the tube BI of the roll I2, which freely rotates on the frame. The slots I02 receive the shouldered ends of the tube 8! of the roll I! which permits the rotation of the roll relative to the frame and the longitudinal movement of the frame relative to the tube. The slot I02 is of such length that the lateral movement of the frame on the tube is limited to such a distance that the teeth 86 of the gears will be prevented from clearing each other and change the relation of the rolls relative to each other.

A suitable spring Ili i is provided over the ends of the tubes 8|, adjacent to the washers 88 and 89 and within the frame 5&0. for the purpose of forcing one end of the rolls toward each other. A similar spring i00- is provided over the webs 85 of the gears 84 for the purpose of forcing the o her end of the rolls together. The springs provide a proper tension for forcing the two rolls toward each other which engage the end of the razor blade with a predetermined pressure during the stropping operation.

A pair of L-shaped frame members I05, having apertures I (it therein are placed over the ends of the shaft 8I of the tube II and are mounted on the bottom member by a plurality of screws Iii? as shown in Figure '7. Notches I08 are provided in the top arcuate periphery of the frame members 505 and projecting pins I09 are provided on the sides of the frame I 00 which register with the notches I08 when the frame I00 is moved to a vertical position relative to the frame members I05.

After the stropping mechanism has been empioyed, the frame Q00 is first moved upwardly, relative to the supporting brackets I05 until the pins lii clear the notches I08, which upward movement is made possible by the slots I02 in the frame 0 The frame I00 is then revolved rearwardly into horizontal position, which is that shown in Figures 8 and 9, after which the handle 99 is pushed inwardly of the roll 1| and the cover 48 may be placed over the stropping mechanism, in engagement with the base member 49.

When a razor is to be stropped, it is inserted in the holder as shown in Figure 11, with the blade resting upon the lower roll. The frame I06 is then revolved counter-clockwise into its vertical position, during which movement the finger 90 engages the ratchet 89 and prevents the turning of the roll 1I counter-clockwise into the edge of the blade which would otherwise cause the stropping material I6 to be roughened or cut. After reaching its vertical position the frame I00 is drawn downwardly by the spring I04, causing the pins I09 to engage the slot I08 to retain the frame in fixed vertical relation with the bracket members I05.

The handle 90 is biased outwardly by the spring 91 until the pin 96 engages the notch of the tubular member 84in which position the lower roll may be turned in a clockwise direction. This movement is transmitted through the gears 84 to cause the counterclockwise movement of the upper roll I2, in which construction the stropping material of both rolls moves across the blade away from its cutting edge. The stropping material is positioned on the roll II in such manner as to be in offset relation with that of the roll E2, to permit the flexing of the end of the cutting edge of the blade from one direction to the other to thereby remove the minute rough portion thereof and to provide a smooth cutting edge.

The arm III of the handle 99 is provided with a pin like extension I I 2 on its outer end, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and a handle H3 is mounted on the pin H2, in such manner as to be capable of rotation about the end of the arm I I I as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The purpose of so mounting the handle is to have it engaged and retained by the frame I00 within the confines of the base member 49. In this arrangement, the handle II 3 is revolved 180 degrees about the arm III, from a position shown in Figure 10 and the shaft 95 is pressed inwardly within the tube 8I until the arm III is flush against the outer surface of the bracket member I05. The handle I I3 is then disposed inwardly of the frame I00, which engages the handle when moved to horizontal position, as shown in Figure 9, and retains it against the bias of the spring 9'! within the confines of the base member 49.

In Figure 16, I have shown a clip I I which may be mounted on the side of the bracket member I85, by any well known method, for the purpose of receiving the arm III and retaining it in firm relation to the bracket. Either or both methods may be employed for retaining the arm III within the confines of the base member 49 in order that the cover 48 may be disposed thereover without any difiiculty. By so mounting and retaining the handle as an integral portion of the stropping mechanism 10, I have eliminated the possibility of the handle being lost and have reduced the number of parts to a minimum, there being practically only three parts to my razor kit, which comprises the razor, the base member, with the razor supporting member and stropping mechanism mounted thereon and the cover, which is provided with the honing element.

In Figure 17, I have shown the cover of the container, in inverted position, with a honing stone III provided on the inner surface of the top portion thereof, with my razor in position to be honed. As pointed out above the blade is so constructed that the back portion 4| thereof causes the cutting edges to engage the stone at a proper cutting angle, and it is only necessary to move the blade backwardly and forwardly across the stone in order to sharpen the edge of the blade.

As the razor is moved forwardly in the direction of a cutting edge, one side of the edge is being ground away by its passage across the stone surface and upon reaching the end of the cover the razor is raised permitting the back end thereof to drop downwardly, due to the preponderance of its weight relative to the weight of the cutting edge of the blade. Upon a reverse movement, the back portion of the blade will first strike the stone and cause the blade to be rotated to have the cutting edge disposed in the direction of movement of the blade across the honing surface.

With my blade freely swinging on the frame 22, it is only necessary to sweep the razor back and forward across the honing stone and raising the blade at the end of each stroke a sufficient distance to permit the rotation of the blade 90 degrees because of the weight of the back portion thereof. The further 90 degree motion will occur as a reverse sweep of the blade across the hone takes place.

This construction eliminates the skill heretofore required in honing blades and permits anyone to sharpen a blade when supported in a, holder similar to that above described, as the personal element is eliminated by the blade supporting structure. After the razor is honed the blade is pushed forwardly in the holder 22 until the pins 3'! engage the rear recesses 42, in which position the razor is supported in the retaining member 60 and stropped. The blade is, thereafter, swung into engagement with the guard 23 and adjusted relative to the ends of the teeth 25 in position for shaving.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that many changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set fort in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes a guard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extending projections, and a blade having spaced, joined recesses in the end faces thereof which are engageable by said projections as the blade is shifted in the member.

2. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes aguard, of a handle, a. blade engaging member having inwardly extending projections, and a blade having two spaced recesses of different depths provided in the end faces thereof which are engageable by said projections for supporting said blade in shaving and honing positions respectively.

3. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes a guard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extending projections, and a blade having spaced, joined recesses in the end faces thereof which are engageable by said projections to permit the blade to be shifted on the projections from a'stropping to a honing position. 7

4. The combination with a blade holder of a razor whichincludes a guard, of a handle, a blade engaging member, having inwardly extending projections upon which the blade is swingably supported, and a blade having recesses in the end faces thereof positioned between the center of gravity and the cutting edge of the blade and between the center of gravity and the opposite edge of said blade and engageable by said projections.

5. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes a guard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extending conical projections, and a blade having oppositely disposed recesses in its end faces between its center of gravity and the cutting edge and between the center of gravity and the opposite edge and engageable by the points of said projections.

6. A safety razor including, in combination, a guard, a blade supporting member, a handle retaining said guard and a blade in fixed relationship, a blade having a thick edge on one side tapering to a cutting edge on the opposite side, the end faces of said blade in the thick portion thereof being provided with recesses, inwardly presenting projections on said member engaging said recesses to support the thick edge of said blade, and means on said guard for retaining the cutting edge of the blade relative thereto.

7. A safety razor including, in combination, a guard, a blade supporting member, a blade having a thick edge tapering to a cutting edge, the end faces of said blade in the thick portion thereof being provided with recesses, the recesses being so located relative to the center of gravity of the blade that when engaged by the blade supporting member at one pair of recesses, the thick edge of the blade will hang downwardly, and when engaged in another pair of recesses, the cutting edge of the blade will hang downwardly.

HARRY A. KAUFMANN.

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