US775134A - Razor. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

K. o. GILLETTE. RAZOR. APPLIOATIONPILED DEO. 3. 1901.-

No MODEL.

UNITED STATES kmo C. GILLETTE, F BROOKLINE,

Patented November 15, 1904 PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS, AssiGNoR, BY

MASSACH USETTS.

RAZOR.

srncmeafrronforming part tf Letters Patent No. 775,134, dated November 15, 1904.

Application tiled December 3, 1991. Serial Hu.`84,552. (No model.)

T0 (LM (1f/1,0m, it may concern,.-

Beit known that l, KING C. GILLE'rrn, acitizenoi the United States. residing at Brookline, in,the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention ls particularly applicable to' razors of the safety type, the use of which as heretofore constructed'involves a considerable amount o'f trouble, time, and expense on tliepart -of the user in keeping lthe blades.

sharp. notv only for the reason that the blades used in razors of this type require to be stropped and honed frequently, which cannot be done satisfwetorily by the average individual user himself` but also for the vreason that theblades are worn out by honing and have to be replaced at considerable expense.

A main object of my invention is to provide a safety-razor in which the necessity'of honing or stropping the blade is done away with, thus saving the annoyance and expense involved therein, and to this end .I make the blade of my razor of very thin sheet-steel, thereby getting rid of a large amount of metal which has heretofore been requiredto give the blade the proper 'amount of strength and rigidity, and .l secure 'this blade to a holder so constructed as to provide a rigid backing and support for the blade, as well as a handle therefon'so that although my blade itself is readily 'exible by reason of its thinness and lacks the rigidity of the ordinary razor-blade` yet when it is combined with its holder it receives a degree of rigidity sufficient to make it practically operative. Thus the material from 'which my blades are made need only be just thick enough to take a suitable edge, so that the blades require but a small amount f material and can be ground very quickly and easily. and hence I am able to produce and sell my blades so cheaply that the user may buy them in quantities and throw themlaway when dull without making vthe expense thus, incurred as great as that of keeping the pr1or` blades sharp, and, moreover, willalwaysbave the cutting,r edge of his razor-blade n the same perfect condition as that of a new blade. 1t

will be understood, of course, that my blades are made' of uniform size 'and are detachably combined, with the holders, so 'that a purchaser need buy but one holder and can Vthen readily substitute a sharp blade -for a dull one whenever necessary.

YOther objects of my invention are to provide a holder adapted to receive a blade having two cutting edges, so that the life of a blade maythus be doubled, and also to provide a simple arrangement for adjusting the cutting edge or edges of a blade toward or from the guard to accommodate 'light or heavygrowths of beard or-tosuit the skill and convenience of the user, and with the above ends in View I have devised 'a bladeholder which enables me to utilize 'the ilexibility and elasticity of my blades in a very advantageous manner, my holder being also simple in construction and easily cleaned and having other advantages .which will hereinafter appear.

My invention is illustrated inI the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of one form of my blade. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the eorresponding form ofthe complete holder and blade combined. Fig. 3 is an end View of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same parts slightly modified 'and without the handle, showing said parts .sepa- .rated from one another, but in position' to be clamped together. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken just above the guard` showing the latter in top plan view. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section through the razor-blade, guard, and adjacent parts;. and Fig. 7 is a plan -view 'of the outer face of the head of the razer. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the inner end of -the handle shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The blade 2 of my razors made of' sheetsteel having preferably a uniform thickness of aboutsix one-thousandths of an inch. and is shown 'in Fig. 1 as provided with two opp osite cutting edges 3, so that when one edge becomesdull the other may be used. Mybladeholder comprises Aa backing adapted to sfupport the blade in such manner aste give its cutting edge or edges sufficient rigidity, a

. present at the same time both cutting edges' c 2', 3, 5, 6, and 7 the sup the blade2 consists of a provide a receptacle for lather, its side edges eral movements, said blade may be provided l similarly 'slotted to bolt 14,'secu'red to,'the backing 4 and passing 6'5 'which is not only amply suficient to prevent guard arranged to limit the expo'sure of the cutting edge or edges of the blade and pre vent the skin of the user from being cut thereby, r. handle, and means whereby these parts are secured together and the blade is held against the backing with its cutting edgead' jacent fo the guard. My preferred form of holder is arranged to of the blade 2 in' position for usein order that either edge may be used without changing the position of the blade, and to this end the'two sides of the' holder are made alike, the handles of the device being located midway-between them and symmetrically arranged with respect thereto. Y

Accordingto the construction shown in Figs.

porting-backing for4 metal plate 4 of the same length as the blade, but slightly n'ar- 'rower than the same, and the guard '5, which may be stamped from sheet metal, is formed' to provide acentral portion V6, which is apn proximately semicylindrical in shape and presents its concave side to the backing 4 to,

.being notched to provide at each edge-a series 'of teeth 7,' which are bent outward and backward, as shown. The blade 2 is clamped between the backing 4 and guard 5,.and to provide means yfor engaging the inner surf face of the blade the guard mayA be'prov'idedwith a narrow longitudinally-extendimgl plate 8, secured to posts 9, formed integral with or otherwise secured to the guard at the ends thereof. In order to position the blade with respect to the guard and lhold it against latwith slots 10, adapted to receive the extended free endsl 11 of the posts 9, the plate 8 being receive the end portions 1 1 and supported on shoulders 12, formed at the base thereof. 1 prefer4 to make. the end portions 11 long enough to pass through corresponding slots 1'3, formed in the backing 4,- said backing also being thus positioned with vin elasticity of my blades, however, enable me respect to the blade and guard. The blade 2 is of course lsuitably tempered and is of such size that its-cutting edges project slightly beyond the rounded bases of the teeth 7, and it and the backing and guard are' detachably clamped together by means such as a threaded through a central perforation 15 in -the blade 2 and through corresponding perforations in the plate 8' and guard i-into the internally-V screw-threaded .hollow end of-a handle 16, which bears against the outside of the guard, the clamping'action being exerted in an ob When the parts arel thus clamped together, theblade is firmly supported so near its cutting edges that said edges are given a degree of rigidity f l new them'from bending or vibrating -in use, but

`is, in fact, considerably greater than is usually -found in razor-,blades of the common type,

which aregenerally concaved, to such an ex.

considerable vibration of tent as to permit a the cutting edge.

Itis desirable that .the edges 3 of the blade shall inc'li'ne sdniewhat toward the handle 16 inl'order that they may'be presented ,at a convenient angle with respect to the surface ot'4 the skin in the operation of shaving, and I` accordingly prefer to make the inner surface of the backing 4 slightly concave transversely and to lcauae the blade te conform to said surtface, sorthat both its cutting edges will point the desired directions. The exibilityand to utilize the transverse curvature of the backing 4 to obtain other important results by merely making the blades themselves flat, this being, moreover, the simplest and most i'nexf. pensive way in which they can be made. Thus when my flat tiexible blade is placed upon the .plate 8, which is curved vtransversely to correspond with tbe backing 4, the curvature of said plate will cause it to engage the blade along its longitudinal center only, and when said backing isV placed against theblade the itsedges only, and before the handle is screwed 'latter will be first engaged by said backing at up and made to-exert a clamping action on these parts the cutting edges of the blade will be separated from the edges of the guard by a distance depending on the lcurvature of said plate 8.' As the' handle is screwed up. however, the blade will be bent transversely, and

its edges ywill be thus madeto approach the edges of. the guard m'ore and more closely untiliinally the blade will be brought into contact throughout with.,the backing and the plate8 and clamped between the same with its edges close to the edges of the guard. When the handle is unscrewed, the edges of the blade will spring away from the edges of the guard as fast as such movement is permitted, and thus in a very simple manner I provide an adjustment for the edges of the blade toward and from the guard for varying the space between them to provide for light or'heavy growths-ofbeard or to suit the skill or 'custom of the user.. Furthermore, the act of bending the 4blade imparts a considerable amount of rigidity to it, partly because of the tension which is put upon it and partly because of the curved shape which it is made to assume, andthe pressure exerted by the elasticity of the blade tends to hold the handle by friction against the guard, and thus to pre vent it from becoming unscrewed accidentally. As an additional means for locking the handie in any desired position I have shown the guard 5in Fig. 5as provided with three small rounded projections 17 on its top surface beneaththe inner end of the handle, the latter being provided with a number of shallow re- IIO cesses 18, adapted to receive said projections. which arc'hcld therein by the pressure exerted by the bent blade ,with suflicient firm.- ness to prevent the turning of the handle accidentally. l

'lhc plate 8 may bc omitted` from the guard 5, if desired, in which case the blade will be supported directly on the shoulders 12, as

shown in Fig. 4; but when the blade is to be bent by the act of clamping it to the holder I prefer to employ said plate in order to provide a bearing for the' inner surface of the 'blade throughout its length.

In order to prevent the corners of thc blade 2 from coming in contact with and cutting thi-,skin of the user, l prefer to provide at cach corner of the backin'ga laterally-extending projection 23, so located. that it will extend slightly beyond the edge of the correspending corner ot' the blade and lie close against the same, 'thus covering the rear side thereof, as best shown in Fig. 7. 'Ihs arrangement for protecting'the corners of the blade is one of the important features of my inventionand has the advantage that being located on the rear or outer side of the blade it makes it'possible to leave a wholly-unobstructcd space betwecnthe edge of the blade and the guard, extending throughout the length of the'former and allowinga free passage of the lather at all points. To give sufficient flexibility to the projections 23 to enable them to follow the edges of the. blade 2 as it is bent and to lie close against the corners thereof at all times, notches 24 may be provided at the bases of said projections, as

, shown in Fig. 7, thus increasing the length and relative flexibility thereof.

vIt will 4be evident that the thinner the material is of which my blades are made the.

more flexible will the blades be and the greater will be the ease and speed with which their cutting edges may be ground, and I have found that sheet-steel as thin as three one- 'thousandths of an inch may be used for my blades practically and successfully; but tcmpered blades having the usual transverse di-4 mensions of safety-razor blades and made of stecl which is considerably thicker than 1 s required t'or a suitable cutting edge may still be suliiciently iiexible to be capable of adjust? ment toward and lfrom the ner described. Y While 1 'prefer to employa flexible blade guard in the manhaving two cutting edges, as herein described, `yet my invention is not limited to a blade with two cutting edges nor to the particular construction 'of holder herein described, since, so far as I am aware, I am the fii'st to produce'a razor-blade which'may be thrown away when dull without loss of economy and to combine such a blade with a holder adapted to support the blade andalso to give its cutting edge the rigidity necessary to make it operat'ive, which rigidity the blade itself lacks on account of its thinness and resulting flexibility. It will be evident also that the bladeholder herein described has novel features and advantages which arc independent of th.:` particular form of blade used with it, and I consider said h older itself to constitutean important portion of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, aflcxible and detachable blade for safety-razors.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a detachable razor-blade of such tbinness and dexibility as to require external support to give rigidity to1 its cutting edge.

3. As an article of manufacture, a flexible and detachable razor-blade having two oppo- -site cutting edges.

4. As an article of manufacture, a flexible and detachable razor-blade made of sheet-sfeel of uniform thickness and provided with tz'o opposite cutting edges.

5. As an varticle of manufactu re, a detachable, transversely flexible razorblade for safety razors, said blade having a longitudinal cutting edge. y

6. 'As an article of manufacture, a detachable, transversely-flexible razor-blade having two'opposite longitudinal cutting edges.

In.a razor, th'e combination witha ilexible blade of a holder comprising a handle, means for supporting the blade`l and giving rigidity toits cutting edge, and means for detachably securing the blade theretol 8. In a razdi', the combination with a`transversely-exible blade'having a longitudinal lfm cutting edge, of a holder comprisingahandle,

a guard, and meansI for bending the blade transversely and thereby adjusting its ncutting edge with relation to the guard.

- 9. In a razor, the combination with a flexif ble blade of a holder comprising a handle, a backing adapted to'support said blade and give rigidity toits cuttin'gedge, and means for detachably securing the blade thereto.

10. 1n a razor, the combination with aflexi I 10 ble blade of a holder comprising a guard, a handle, a backing adapted to support said blade and give Vrigidity to its cutting edge, and means for detachably securing the blade thereto.

11. In a razor, the combination with a flexible blade of a holder comprising a rigid backing adapted to support said blade and give rigidity to its cutting edge, a guard, and means for detachablyclamping the blade between F20 said backing and guard.

12. In a razor, the combination with a flexible blade having a cutting edge of a holder comprising a'handle, a rigid backing arranged to support said blade near its longitudinal 120 edges, a guard arranged to engage the opposite side of said blade-between said edges, and means for adjustably clamping said-backing and guard together.y

13. In a razor, the combination with a dat,

' spondingly-curved guard edges, andA means lis edges, of a holder comprising a handle.

v blade between 'flexible blade having two opposite `cuting a ouble guard, a rigid backing adapted to support said blade, and. means for simultaneously bending the blade transversely and clamping it against said backing.

14. In 'a razor, the combination with s. iiexible blade of a rigid backing adapted to'support said blade. a guard, a handle,`and meansoperated by said handle for bending the blade with respect to the guard and simultaneously clamping it against said backing.

15. In a razor, the combination with a exible blade having two opposite cutting edges,

'of a holder comprising a handle,

la rigid backing adapted to support said blade; a double guard, and means operated .by the handle for bending said blade .transversely and thereby adjusting its edges with relation to saidf'guard.

16. In a razor, the combination with aiiexible blade of a' holder comprising a handle, a transversely-curved, rigid backing adapted to engage said blade near its ""edges, a correadapted to engage the opposite `side'of said blade between its for'drawing said backing and guard together, thereby clampingl the them and bending it transversely. l

17. In a razor, the combination with a blade having two opposite cutting edges,of a guard having two opposite edges cooperating with said cutting edges respectively, means for clamping said-blade thereto, and a handle located midway between theedges of the guard.

18. In a razor, the combination with a blade having two opposite cutting edges, of a holder comprising a backing, a guard having two opposite edges cooperating with said cutting edges respectively, means forclamping the blade between said backing and guard, and a handle located midway between the edges of said guard and symmetrically arranged with respect thereto. i

19. In a razor, the-combination with a blade having two opposite cutting edges. of a holder comprising a central handle, aguard, a back-- ing, und means operated by the handle for clamping the blade between the guard and bucking. l l

20. ln a razor, the combination with a perforated blade havinlglr two opposite cutting' edges. of a holder comprising a guard having two opposite edgesicoperating with said cutting edges respectively, a backing, a handle, and clamping means passing through said blade. 'V

21. In a razor, the combination witha blade of a holder comprising a guard, a handle, and a backing located on the opposite side of the bladef rom said guard and handle and provided with projections, arranged to cover the corners of the blade without crossing its cutting edge. Y 22. In a razor, the combinationwith a blade ofa holder comprising .a handle, a guard, a backing havingprojections arranged to cover the corners of the blade without crossing its cutting edge, and means for vclamping said blade and backingtogether.

123. In a razor, the combination with a fiexible blade -having two opposite cutting edges,

of a holder comprising a backing adapted to support and give rigidity to said blade near its cutting edges, a double guard, a handle .symmetrically arranged with respect to the blade, and means for detachably securing the blade between the backing and the guard.

24. In a razor, the combination 'with a perforated blade of a holder comprisinga guard, abacking,a handle, and positioning and clamping means passing through the perforations in the blade. i

25. In a razor, the combination with a perforated blade of a holder comprising a cprrespondingly perforated guard, a backing, a handle, and clamping and positioning\means passing through the perforations in the blade and guard. V26. In a razor. the cqmbinatiomwith a perforated blade having two opposite cutting edges, of a holder comprisinga handle, a backing, a double guard, and clamping and positioning means passing through the perforations in the blade. .y

27. In a razor, `the combihation with a perforated iiexible blade of a holder comprising a transversely-curved rigid backing, a guard curved transversely to correspond with said backing, positioning means passing the perforatons in the blade, and means for detachably clamping the.bladeV between the backing and the guard. v 28. In a razor, a holder comprising a backing, a guard, positioning means secured to one oi' said parts and passing through perforations 'formed in the other of said parts, a handle,

and means for drawing the guard and backing together.

29. In' a razor, a holder comprising a guard having opposite longitudinal edges formed to cooperate with a double-edged blade, means for holding a blade inproper relation to said guard, and a handle secured to said guard between thc longitudinal edges and symmetrically arranged with respect thereto.

30. Asafety-razorcomprisingasupportingf plate having studs, a blade having openings iitting said studs,a securing-plate also having openings iitting said studs, and means for adjustin g said securing-plate with relationV to the supporting-plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub Vscribed my name this 23d day of November,

' KING C. GILLET'IE.

Witnesses:

E. D. CHADWICK, JOSEPH T. BRENNAN.

through' IOO

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