US2582176A - Safety razor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. s, 1952 L, STOVER 2,582,176

` SAFETY RAZOR Filed Sept. 2, 1949 l r' F n I9 Kawa, a

Fl?" ROY LSTOVER Snventor Patented Jan. 8, 16952 UNI TED S TA'iTES (1F-F I CE SAFETY RAZOR Roy L. Stover, Wichita, Kans.

Application September 2, 1949, Serial No. 113,697

5 Claims.

lThis invention relates. to safety razors of the typehaving replaceable blades. The most commonly used razor of this typeincludes a curved surface blade backing plate, blade positioning bossesfon` theV plate, a cooperating curved blade clamping, plateand some means for urging the clamping plate toward the backing plate to tightly clamp ,the blade between the two plates. VIt alsoincludes a toothed guard extending along and closely adjacent the blade cutting edge.

`This type of razorhas several inherent disadvantages: (l) the blade positioning bosses fit the cut-outs in the razorblade loosely and as a result thecutting edge of the blade is seldom positioned parallel tothe adjacent edges of the blade backing and clamping plates; (2) to remove and replace theblade it is first necessary to loosen and detach the clamping plate from the rest of the razor; (3). the clamping plate, the blade, ,and backing plate must be cleanedvand dried separately; (4) when the razor is reassembled and stored for the next use the blade, which is of high grade steel, -isin firm contact with the backing and clamping plates,y which are usually of a dissimilarmetal. two. .metals often sets up an electrolytic action, which causes corrosion; (5) although the blade is forced by the twopplates to assume an arcuate form, the axis of curvature is parallel to thecutting edge of the blade, and the cutting edge itl self-lies in a straight line. As a result the cuttingedge itself is not4 stressed, and blade vibration occurs during the shaving operation, which seriously interferes with obtaining a smooth shave; y(6) the. rake type'guard forms a pocket extending along the inside surface of the cutting edge, and soap and whisker cuttings quickly accumulate and pack into this pocket, necessitating cleaning of the pocket several times during each shave. blade clamping plate in order to clean=out this pocket so that the accumulation will not interfer with the shaving operation.

rIt is thegeneral object of my* invention, .therefore, to providea razor so constructed lals to obviate all the above specified disadvantages.

The razor of the present invention automatically positions thecutting edge of the blade parallel to, yet spaced slightly from the guard, thus assuring that all parts of the cutting edge. will contact the skin with substantially` equal `pressure during the shaving operation. It provides for the release, removal, and replacement of the blade Without prior removalor disassembly of` anypart of.Y tberagor- It permits ,eentf cleaning. 0f; the

The dissimilarity of these It is often even necessary to loosen the blade withoutthe necessity of touching it or removing it from the razor. It permits storage of the blade without removing it from the razor, and without either of its side surfaces being Ain Contact with the dissimilar metal of which the razor may be made, thus eliminatingblade corrosion due to electrolytic action. Itv a-iords a means of stressing the'edge of theblade during the shaving operation, thus eliminating blade vibration. rThis latter -result is achieved by deiorrnng the blade edge into convex form, the axis of curvature being normalV to the cutting edge.

Last but not least thepresent invention provides an ope-n slot between the blade cutting edge and thek guard, so that the soap and cut whiskers resulting from the shaving operation may pass freely through the slot to a` position behind the blade. and its guard, and cannot possibly interfere with the proper functioning of either the blade or guard. Thus thev shaving operation can be continued until iinished with-V out the necessity of loosening the blade and cleaning out the accumulation of cuttings .and soap.

An additional object is the provision of a continuous smooth surfaced guard for the curved cutting edge of the blade, so that the skin being shaved presents a surface which conforms to the shape of the blade cutting edge, thus assuring an equal cut of hair all along the cutting edge.

The. details inthe construction of a preferred form of the invention, together with other objects, will be more clearly understood when the following description is read with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side views respectively of a blade handling clamp which constitutes a part of the razor;

Figs. 3 and. 4 are plan and side views respectively. of a clamp actuating yoke or lever, together with its cooperating pin;

VFigs. 5 and 6 are plan and side views respectively of a handle and its rigidly attached or integral-blade backing plate and guard;

i Figs. 7 and. 8 are assembled views of the razor with blade installed, Fig. 8 being a plan view, and Fig. 7 being a partial section along the line 1 ;1 of Fig. 8, the biadebeing shown in its free or non-.clamped position;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar respectively toFigs. 7 and 8, the blade being shown in its clamp-ed or shaving position;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the razor with blade removed, its relative installed position being indicated by broken lilies; and

Fig. 12 is a plan View of a blade suitable for use with this razor.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, a blade backing plate I5 is rigidly secured to one end of a handle I6, as by welding or brazing. The plate is arcuate, as shown, and includes a blade backing surface II (Fig. 11), and a rearwardly oifset rounded guard surface I8, the two being separated intermediate their ends by a through slot I9. This plate is also provided with a pair of oppositely positioned inwardly extending notches 2li, one in each of its ends, the purpose of which will be explained herein.

Near its attachment to the plate I5, the handle I6 is provided with an elongated slot 2l which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the upper edge of the plate I5, and in a plane common to the one in which the notches Z lie. The handle is also provided with an arcuate through slot 22, located near the rounded end of the slot El, as shown. The center of curvature of this slot 22 is located approximately at the rounded end of the slot 2|.

A blade handling clamp 23, is clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. It includes a cross bar 24, oppositely positioned integral aligned arms 25 and 26, a yoke bar 21, and a trunnion 2S. Slots 23 and Sil are provided on the inside edges of the arms 25 and 25 respectively, and are adapted to loosely receive the side edges 3l and 32 of a blade 33. The ears Sil and 35 of the blade 33 extend outward beyond these slots and rest on the arms proper, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, to support the cutting edge of the blade in the proper position with relation to the slot i9 and the guard It, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1l. y In assembling the razor the clamp 23 is slipped sidewise into the elongated slot 2l to the position shown in Figs. 9 to ll, with its arms 25 and 26 slidably positioned in the side slots 2S of the plate i5. In this position the clamp is slidable fore and aft from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

As a means of positively moving the clamp 23 between these two positions, a thumb actuated lever 3S is provided, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. rfhis lever is bifurcated to straddle the handle. Its spaced sides are provided with oppositely positioned, alined, U-shaped recesses 31, and alined perforations to receive the opposite ends .of a pin 38. The recesses 3l receive the opposite ends of the trunnion 28, and the pin 3S passes through the arcuate slot 22 in the handle. The ends of the pin are upset slightly after the lever has been installed on the handle in the position shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

Operation By the application of upward thumb pressure on its free end, the lever 33 is moved to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. During this movement the pin 38 moves to the aft end of the arcuate slot 22, and thereafter the aft walls of the recesses 31 exert a camming action on the trunnion 28. The blade 33, mounted in the slots 29 and 30, is moved forward out of contact with the backing plate I. With the parts in these relative positions the razor may be held under a stream of water and both sides of the blades washed clean. The guard Iii and the slot I3 will simultaneously be cleaned. The razor may now be set on any flat surface, ready for the next use. No electrolytic action can occur to cause 4 blade corrosion because the blade is not in contact with the backing plate I5. If it is desired to change blades it is only necessary to invert the razor. The blade will freely fall out of the clamp slots 23 and 30, and a new blade canbe inserted in its place.

To place the razor in condition for shaving it is only necessary to push downward on the free end of the lever 36 moving it into the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10. During this movement the pin 38 moves forward to about the fore and aft center of its slot 22, at which time the forward walls of the recesses 3'I contact the trunnion 28 and begin moving the entire clamp 23 rearward. When the blade I5 assumes the position shown in Fig. 10, further rearward movement of the arms 25 and 26 is prevented. Due to the fore and aft length of these arms, as designed, the trunnion at this stage of the movement is just forward of the position shown in Fig. 9. Further movement of the lever 36 forcibly moves the trunnion 28, bows the cross bar 24 of the clamp slightly, and forces the pin 38 to the forward end of its slot 22, in which position it is held tightly due to the spring force exerted by the slightly bowed cross bar 24. In this position of the parts forward movement of the clamp 23 is positively prevented, and the razor blade is locked tightly in shaving position.

It will be noted that the cutting edge of the blade is arcuately bent, thus stressing it and preventing blade vibration. Please also note, as clearly indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 11, that the cutting edge lies perfectly parallel to the guard I8, and terminates just short of the upper edge of this guard, thus leaving the slot i9 open so that soap and cuttings may pass freely to the aft side of the guard and plate I5. These relative positions of the parts will be maintained until upward thumb pressure is applied to the free end of the lever 36.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, the invention is not limited to the exact form shown, and is intended to include all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar with the art to construct and use it, I claim:

l. A safety razor including a blade backing plate and a rearwardly offset integral blade guard spaced from the blade backing surface of the plate by an elongated through slot, both the plate proper and its integral guard being permanently arced about a center transverse to the length of the plate; a blade clamp movable fore and aft with relation to the blade backing plate U and adapted to engage the opposite ends of a blade to support it independent of said plate, and to move it into and out of contact with said plate; a thumb operated lever operatively engaging said clamp for effecting such movement; and a handle rigidly connected to said plate and on which both the clamp and lever are movably mounted.

2. A safety razor comprising: a handle; a blade backing plate rigidly mounted in a tranverse position at one end of the handle; a bifurcated blade clamp mounted on the handle for reciprocating movement with relation thereto in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the front face of the backing plate, the spaced arms of the clamp extending to a point forward of the front face of the backing plate, one adjacent each end thereof, and adapted to receive and hold a blade between them independent of the backing plate; and a lever movably mounted on the handle and in operative engagement with the clamp lfor moving it fore and aft with relation to the front face of the backing plate.

3. A safety razor comprising: an elongated handle; a transversely disposed blade backing plate rigidly afIXed to one end thereof; a bifurcated blade holding clamp for receiving and holdlng the opposite ends of a blade and for moving the blade toward and away from the front face of said backing plate; a longitudinally disposed :,'iot in said handle adjacent the backing plate; a pair of oppositely positioned slots, one in each endof said backing plate, said blade clamp being slidably mounted in the three mentioned slots for guided longitudinal movement with relation to the handle; and a lever mounted on the handle and operably connected with the clamp for positively moving it between blade clamping and blade free positions.

4. A safety razor comprising: an elongated handle; a transversely disposed blade backing plate rigidly axed to one end thereof; cooperating slots in the backing plate and in the handle for slidably receiving a blade holding clamp and for guiding its movement longitudinally with relation to said handle; a bifurcated blade holding clamp slidably mounted in said slots; and a lever mounted on the handle and operably connected with the clamp for positively moving it between blade clamping and blade free positions.

5. The invention described in claim 4, and cooperating means on the lever and on the handle for locking the clamp in a blade clamping position.

ROY L. STOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,904 Humphrey May 6, 1913 1,478,160 Adams Deo. 18, 1923 2,219,099 Dunning Oct. 22, 1940

Images